A follow-up to Iran Conference 1, held at the University of Twente, sharing further updates on Iran and the state of human rights in the country — and concluding with an extended Q&A session with the audience.
On 23 March 2026, Mithra (Lion and Sun Foundation) convened Iran Conference 2 at the University of Twente in the Netherlands. Building on the foundation laid by Iran Conference 1, this gathering brought together an engaged audience of students, academics, and community members to continue the conversation about Iran’s evolving situation and the global response to it.
The event opened with updated reports on the human rights situation inside Iran, including the ongoing aftermath of the 2026 uprising. Speakers highlighted persistent patterns of repression, the targeting of civil society actors, and the increased number of executions. These accounts reinforced the importance of maintaining global visibility and sustained pressure on those responsible.
Discussion then turned to the role of universities and academic communities in supporting freedom of thought and expression. The University of Twente setting was fitting: academic institutions have a unique platform and responsibility to amplify marginalised voices and foster informed public discourse. Participants reflected on how research, publication, and international academic exchange can all serve as meaningful acts of solidarity.
The conference also examined the growing network of diaspora organisations working to document human rights violations, support those inside Iran, and advocate at the international level. The coordination between these groups and institutions such as the European Parliament was highlighted as an area of growing momentum and increasing impact.
The event concluded with an extended Q&A session in which audience members posed searching questions to the panel — on topics ranging from the prospects for political transition to the practical challenges facing Iranians seeking asylum in Europe. The open and wide-ranging dialogue reflected both the depth of concern and the breadth of engagement that the Mithra (Lion and Sun Foundation) continues to inspire across the Dutch academic community and beyond.
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