October 1, 2025, Zurich – On this date, Verein Welle presented the official conclusion of a months-long project dedicated to connecting Iranian culture with the promotion of human rights. The project results were showcased at a public friends’ meeting, emphasizing cultural identity, historical awareness, and human rights advocacy.
The event, which began with the aroma of freshly brewed Persian tea, was deliberately structured to present culture and human rights not as separate, but as interconnected domains. Participants—including activists, former political prisoners, artists, and supporters—visibly embodied this connection from the outset.
Art exhibition: linking past heritage and present struggle
A central element of the closing event was an extensive exhibition presented in its entirety for the first time. It featured:
- Contemporary Iranian artworks, including calligraphy, photographs of historic cities, and visual depictions of daily Iranian life.
- A thematic presentation on historical artifacts and motifs from ancient Iran, inspired by archaic symbols, relics, and art traditions from the Elamite, Achaemenid, Parthian, and Sassanid eras.
The exhibition was designed to juxtapose traditional and modern elements. The display of historical objects aimed to illustrate Iran’s long cultural continuity and civilizational significance. Crucially, documentary reports on the current human rights situation in Iran were integrated among these cultural objects, creating a conscious contrast between a rich historical heritage and contemporary state repression.
Educational project modules and speeches
Following the official welcome, the project’s educational modules were introduced. Neda, a Verein Welle volunteer and experienced human rights activist, spoke about her work at the United Nations and her involvement in an international campaign to save the lives of imprisoned women’s and human rights activists in Iran.
She explained how individual reports and documented solidarity can activate international mechanisms. “When people in freedom raise their voices, it can save lives—even behind prison walls,” she stated.
Eyewitness accounts: documenting resilience
Another key focus of the project was the systematic inclusion of eyewitnesses. Ali, who spent seven years in Iranian prisons, described his experiences, focusing on collective resistance strategies used by prisoners. His contribution will be used as a module on resilience and awareness-building in the final project documentation.
Several other former political prisoners also introduced themselves and described the duration of their imprisonment. This moving segment of the event was filmed and included in the final report dossier.
Multimedia and media literacy components
A film report was presented, profiling women’s and human rights activists who were released due to international intervention. This video forms part of the project’s media archive, intended for future public outreach.
A young Verein Welle volunteer detailed the association’s collaboration with an independent 24-hour satellite channel. He explained how the project developed media literacy training to strengthen access to independent information—particularly for women and youth in Iran who face systematic censorship.
Cultural conclusion and social exchange
The cultural segment featured Maestro Taherzadeh—accompanied by a Tonbak player—who performed traditional music pieces on the Setar and violin. This musical performance was conceived as a “cultural bridge” and was recorded as a documented element of the project’s conclusion.
A shared dinner featuring traditional Persian dishes followed, providing space for exchange, networking, and informal evaluation of individual project components.
Join Verein Welle: connect culture and Human Rights
The successful completion of this project demonstrates the powerful role that culture and historical awareness play in supporting human rights advocacy.
Support Verein Welle in our mission to use cultural heritage as a platform for global human rights awareness and solidarity with the Iranian people.
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