Looking back at the Diversity Week 2026

Gilda Sahebi is a trained medical doctor, political scientist and journalist. She works as a freelance writer on socio-political issues such as racism, antisemitism, human and women’s rights, questions of social cohesion and democracy, as well as political developments in the Middle East. Her analyses and commentaries are published in outlets including taz, Der Spiegel and various programmes of Germany’s public broadcaster ARD. Particular attention has been drawn to her work on the political situation in Iran, the protest movements there, and the regime’s responses. She is currently focusing closely on recent developments and the escalation in the Middle East.

Gilda Sahebi completed her journalistic training at Bayerischer Rundfunk. She has since worked, among other roles, as an author and editor for Neo Magazin Royale and as project lead for the “No Hate Speech Movement” at Neue deutsche Medienmacher*innen.

Alongside her journalistic work, she is also active as an author, publishing books on democracy, social cohesion and discrimination. In Unser Schwert ist Liebe (2023), she examines the feminist revolt in Iran; in Wie wir uns Rassismus beibringen (2024), she analyses debates on discrimination in Germany; and in her most recent book, Verbinden statt spalten (2025), she explores the dynamics of social polarisation and outlines ways to recognise and overcome divisive narratives — issues that are also at the heart of her keynote at our event.

In her lectures and public engagements, Gilda Sahebi communicates her analyses and complex political and social contexts in a clear and nuanced way. As an analyst of power structures, conflicts and social cohesion—both internationally and locally—she contributes to informed public debate in a pluralistic society. She also regularly shares her perspectives online via her social media channels and the podcast Gilda con Arne, reaching a broad and diverse audience.

We are delighted to welcome Gilda Sahebi to the University of Cologne as the keynote speaker for this year’s Diversity Week.