Adapted from a Persian field report originally published by Mehr News Agency in June 2011. The original report was among the outlet’s widely read environmental reports at the time. In the forests of Arasbaran in northwestern Iran, the conflict was once visible in the simplest way: wildlife retreating as bulldozers advanced. Arasbaran, recognized for its biodiversity and home to rare species including roe deer, bears, and the endangered Caucasian black grouse, was, even in 20

Connecting Culture, Samsaris, and Media Literacy

Women’s sports in Iran rarely remain just about sport. Especially during global events such as the Olympics, public debates often shift away from athletic performance to broader social and cultural questions—sometimes overshadowing the achievements of the athletes themselves. For years, this tension has shaped how Iranian female athletes are seen—and how they see themselves. More than a decade ago, I reported on women’s sports in Iran, a piece that later received recognition