Regime Change in Iran: Project or Revolution?

The TISHK Center for Kurdistan Studies is pleased to host the eighteenth seminar of its 2026 seminar series, entitled “Regime Change: Project or Revolution?”

This seminar focuses on a critical discussion of the current political situation in Iran in light of the recent Guardian article by Behrouz Boochani and Mehdi Jalali Tehrani, So much for a ‘final battle’ – once again the Iranian people’s peaceful and democratic demands have been silenced. The article examines the latest wave of protests in Iran, their socio-economic origins, and the dynamics of repression, ideological mobilisation, and international intervention shaping the unfolding crisis.

Behrouz Boochani is a Kurdish journalist, writer, filmmaker, and human rights activist. He studied political science in Tehran and was forced into exile due to political persecution. Boochani gained international recognition through his writings and films documenting years of detention in Australia’s offshore immigration camps, most notably through his award-winning book No Friend But the Mountains. He regularly contributes to international media and collaborates with global human rights organisations.

Mehdi Jalali Tehrani is a political scientist and political commentator. He studied political science at the University of California, Berkeley, and international security policy and Middle East studies at Columbia University in New York. He is a member of Iran Third Frontier, a pro-democracy political opposition group, and frequently publishes and comments on Iranian and Middle Eastern politics. His research interests include democratisation, state–society relations, and political transformation in Islamic societies.

The seminar will be moderated by Zhila Mostajer Human rights activist and co-founder of the Hengaw organization.

The seminar will take place on Sunday, 1 February 2026, at 8:00 p.m. (Berlin time), the seminar will be conducted in Persian.The session will include a 10-minute introduction, a 30-minute presentation, a 25-minute Q&A session, and a 10-minute panel discussion and concluding remarks.

 Participants can join via Zoom using the provided link.

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