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Religion, Culture & Politics: An Interdisciplinary Panel on Iran Convenes in Toronto
TORONTO — Aura Art Group, in collaboration with the Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture (CCVT), Aura Wellness Group, and NAVAJAM, will present a comprehensive panel discussion titled “Religion, Culture & Politics: A Panel Discussion on Iran.” Gathering scholars and community leaders under the banner of “Different Perspectives. Shared Dialogue,” the symposium addresses the intersecting dynamics of faith, institutional power, and civil society.
Thematic Overview
The socio-political evolution of modern Iran remains inextricably bound to both historical religious traditions and modern institutional forces. Rather than analyzing these facets in isolation, the panel provides a critical space to interrogate the cultural and socio-political landscape through the distinct lenses of four major traditions: Zoroastrian, Christian, Muslim, and Baha’i.
Key discussions will focus on the tensions between state ideology and public life, the structural realities faced by minority communities, and the broader intellectual and cultural paradigms shaping identity both within Iran and across the global diaspora.
Distinguished Panelists
Dr. Mahmood Karimi Hakak
A distinguished theatre artist, poet, scholar, and Professor of Creative Arts. Dr. Hakak's career spans decades of analyzing the intersections of artistic practice, censorship, and social justice. His participation provides key insights into how literary expression, theatrical narrative, and collective memory act as counter-narratives to religious and political orthodoxies.
Ervad Dr. Kobad Zarolia
An ordained Mobed (Zoroastrian priest), scholar, and prominent community leader within the North American Zoroastrian diaspora. Dr. Zarolia contextualizes Iran’s indigenous pre-Islamic ethical and theological heritage, examining the long-term sociological, legal, and cultural preservation of historical minority traditions amidst shifting state structures.
Dr. Ezzat Mosallanejad
A political economist, human rights analyst, and Senior Policy and Settlement Counsellor at the Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture (CCVT). Author of extensive research on systemic violence and political persecution, Dr. Mosallanejad brings an institutional human rights framework to the discussion, critically analyzing the instrumentalization of religious dogma within governance and its human impact.
Event Information & Venue
- Date: Friday, September 25, 2026
- Time: 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM EDT
- Venue: North York Memorial Community Hall
- Address: 5110 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M2N 6M1
- Partners: Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture (CCVT), Aura Wellness Group, NAVAJAM
