Abbas Shokri was born in February of 1955 in the Darwaza Saadi, an old neighborhood in Shiraz, Fars province in Iran.
Shokri was the last child of his family. He lived in the same neighborhood until the end of high school and then went to Tehran Tehran to join the army for compulsory military service (conscription in Iran). From there, he went to Gilan university and returned to Fars province after completing a four-year bachelor's degree in Financial Management. Later on, in 1988, in order to save his life, he fled from Fars province back to Tehran. Then, he made the decision to stop constantly escaping and lying to himself. After eleven years of teaching at high school, university and working in financial affairs, he opted for voluntary exile. He has been living in Norway since 1988, and during this time, due to his interest in culture and literature, After leaving his homeland and going to Norway, he published the cultural and literary magazine "Aftab" for fourteen years alongside his studies and work.
His interest in journalism led him to India, where he obtained a doctorate in "Journalism and Communications." Throughout these years, he has collaborated with Persian-language media, and the result is hundreds of articles published in print and online publications.
Early Life
After migrating to Norway, Shokri initially pursued his regular job in financial management, but his passion for literature and reading books, followed him like a constant shadow. His passion for books led him to start a literary magazine called "Aftab" (Sun) and for 14 years, this publication was sent to different corners of the world. Later, he received a scholarship from Norwegian television to continue his studies in journalism in India. In India, he obtained both a bachelor's and a doctorate degree in journalism and communications. During his studies, he worked as a journalist for Radio Farda. Upon returning from India, he collaborated with numerous magazines, particularly having a steady partnership with the magazine "Shahrvand Canada." However, as censorship pressure in his home country, Iran, intensified, he decided to launch the "Aftab" publication, in September 2016, to bypass censorship and allow artists and authors in Iran to publish their works without censorship.
Literary Research and Criticism in Persian Literature Views
Shokri is a literary researcher and critic in Persian literature over the past four decades in exile. A part of Shokri's interview with Radio Zamaneh about his view on Persian literature in exile: "Iranian exilic literature is thriving and expanding, thanks to the contributions of renowned writers and poets who have been forced to leave their homeland. It is also influenced by new voices emerging in the free spaces of other countries. The works of second-generation immigrant writers, although not necessarily in Persian, play a significant role in documenting and narrating the literary experiences and issues of Iranians in exile. To effectively critique these creations, one must possess a strong understanding of literary criticism theories and approach the task with a focus on analysis rather than mere book introductions. When critiquing a work, it is essential to consider one of the following characteristics: Analyzing a text involves examining its grammar, language details, and structure. Evaluating its storytelling looks at grammar, narrative elements, and execution. Interpreting a text involves identifying signs and symbols, exploring underlying layers, and actively engaging with the text to create new meanings."