Bergen welcomes its 9th ICORN resident the writer, journalist, and human rights activist Bahar Abbasi
In August 2025, Bergen welcomed Bahar Abbasi, a writer, journalist, and human rights activist from Sardasht, Kurdistan, Iran, as the city’s 9th ICORN resident. To mark her arrival, the City of Bergen hosted a welcome lunch where Abbasi shared her story and commitment to the causes she works on. Attending the event were Mayor of Bergen Marit Warncke, Director of the Agency for Libraries and Culture Julie Andersland, City Councillor for Industry, Culture and Sports Reidar Digranes, ICORN Coordinator Sara Nes, and Municipal Director Torbjørn Torsvik.
For many years Abbasi has worked on issues related to women’s rights, structural discrimination, and honour killings in Iranian Kurdistan. She also holds a degree in Political Science and a Master’s in Social Studies.
During her university years, Abbasi became active in cultural and political movements. Her advocacy for gender equality and Kurdish rights led to governmental pressure and persecution. Through her many reports and articles addressing discrimination, ethnic repression, and violence against women, she has sought to be a voice for silenced women and marginalised communities.
She was among the founders of social campaigns against honour killings in Kurdistan and played an active role in documenting protests and human rights violations during the 'Woman, Life, Freedom' (Jin, Jiyan, Azadi) movement. Her writings, a combination of personal narrative, civic resistance, and socio-political analysis, have been widely shared across human rights platforms and social media.
Now based in Bergen, Abbasi continues her journalistic work and collaboration with international human rights organisations. She believes that writing, in a land where speaking is a crime, is itself an act of revolution, and she uses her pen as a tool of resistance, hope, and freedom.
In September 2025, Abbasi participated in the Norwegian ICORN Network Meeting in Stavanger.
Bergen ICORN City of Refuge
Bergen joined ICORN in 2008, with Bergen Public Library administering the ICORN programme in the city.
In addition to Bahar Abbasi, Bergen has hosted eight other ICORN residents. These include journalist and human rights activist Shoaib Durrazai from Baluchistan, Pakistan, theatre director, playwright, and actor Kaveh Ayreek from Afghanistan, Uyghur linguist, writer and activist Weli Ayup, blogger Ratan Kumar Samadder from Bangladesh, journalist Kareem Amer from Egypt, Iranian poet Ayaz Khonsyawashan, and journalist, director, and actor Hossein Heydari from Iran.
