Asieh Amini (born 14 September 1973) is an Iranian poet and journalist currently residing in Trondheim, Norway. She is a Women's Rights activist fighting against the death penalty in general and specifically against the stoning of women and minors in Iran.
Early life
Amini grew up in the Mazandaran Province in northern Iran. She was the third of four sisters. Her family originated from the gentry of feudal times.
Aminis father was a teacher. Amini and her sister's spent a lot of time reading, writing and painting. She started visiting an afternoon's poetry circle at a local library. Asieh wanted to become a painter or writer.
Amini's life changed after the Iranian Revolution. She hated the mandatory black hijab all girls had to wear and cried when she put it on. Her mother explained to her that it was a rule no one could disobey.
Career
Amini started studying journalism at Tabataba'i University in Tehran in 1993. While still studying she started writing for newspapers. Later, she moved on to the larger newspaper Iran. When a colleague was supposed to interview a poet that Amini liked he took her along. The poet invited her into his writer's circle. The newspaper Iran started a youth supplement and Amini became the cultural editor. For these times in Iran, a woman being in such a senior position was unusual. When Mohammad Khatami was elected president in 1997, the bans were lifted a little and more daring publications emerged. More women entered journalism. Amini took up a job at the newspaper Zan, which covered women's affairs. Although Amini opposed the idea of segregating news by gender, she took on the job. The newspaper Zan was unfortunately banned. Subsequently, Amini took on freelancer work. After giving birth Amini started working as the social editor of the newspaper Etemaad. She also ran a website called Women in Iran. After the presidential election 2009, many of journalists and activists were arrested and situation in Iran became too dangerous for her. Amini decided to leave the country. Through a friend she got the opportunity to become a guest writer within the ICORN network in Trondheim, Norway from 2010 until 2012. She stayed in Norway and completed a master's degree in Equality and diversity at NTNU. Amini is a member of the Norwegian PEN Board of Directors.
Activism
Amini founded the 'Stop Stoning Forever Campaign' in October 2006. She worked together with a well known feminist from Iran and two writers from outside the country who could publish without censorship. She is fighting gender- based injustices in Iran's judicial system and is advocating for an end of stoning as a form of execution.