Iranian Refugees in Transit - by Maral Jefroudi (Hardcover)

About the Book

"This book examines the dynamics of Iranian political refugees settling in and migrating through Turkey after the 1980 coup and how they were able to influence its asylum policies. Maral Jefroudi presents a comprehensive picture of one of the biggest migration waves in contemporary history. Bringing together interviews with refugees from the period, analysing the cultural products by and on them, and tracing their footsteps in newspapers, archives, and scholarly literature, this book presents a thorough ethnography of Iranians in transit in Turkey after the 1979 Revolution"--

Book Synopsis

This book examines the dynamics of Iranian political refugees settling in and migrating through Turkey after the 1980 coup and how they were able to influence its asylum policies. By analysing the relationship between three main actors in Turkey after the coup in 1980 - the refugees, the UNHCR, and the Turkish state - Maral Jefroudi presents a comprehensive picture of one of the biggest migration waves in contemporary history. Taking an intersectional approach from the angle of precarity, narratives of refugees are presented in their own words as we understand their gender, class and political affiliations within Turkish socio-political context.

Bringing together interviews with refugees from the period, analysing the cultural products by and on them, and tracing their footsteps in newspapers, archives, and scholarly literature, this book presents a thorough ethnography of Iranians in transit in Turkey after the 1979 Revolution. Their story provides an example to how laws are made and challenged by the very people they are made to regulate. With the formation of the EU and its border regime Frontex, Turkey has solidified its role both as a border guard and a transit country. This book provides an introduction to understanding the dynamics of this current "refugee crisis."

Review Quotes

This book captures the poignant journey of Iranian leftist refugees in transit across Turkey post-1979 through a compelling narrative rich with migrant footstep tales. Jefroudi draws from novels, biographies, and films to offer a deep exploration of the struggle of refugees within the fortified borders of Europe. With thick dialogue, the book becomes a profound testament to the enduring struggle of displaced people and the global policies aimed at making borders impenetrable.
Shahrzad Mojab, Professor, University of Toronto, Canada

This book is a very humane and sympathetic study of Iranian refugees in transit through Turkey. It is especially rich in throwing light on the strong ethics and world outlook of leftist activists from Iran in the aftermath of the 1979 Revolution.

About the Author

Maral Jefroudi is Co-Director of the International Institute for Research and Education (IIRE), Amsterdam. She studied in Bogaziçi University, Istanbul and received her PhD from the International Institute of Social History (IISH) and Leiden University in 2017. She is a co-editor of Iran in the Middle East: Transnational Encounters and Social History (2015, I.B. Tauris).