Dear friends, extended community, and supporters,

My name is Katayoun, and I am a DJ, archivist, and collector of Iranian music.

My heart is aching - 111 records from my years-long collection of rare Iranian music are stuck at the Iran-Turkey border and are at risk of being permanently confiscated by the Turkish government. These records are more than music; they preserve irreplaceable cultural history. Every donation can help save them, and sharing this message can make a huge difference.

I went back and forth about whether to ask for help, but I’ve realized that reaching out is the only way to resolve this urgent situation, which comes with a significant financial burden. These records were originally brought out of Iran during a period of war to protect them, and now they face a new threat at the border.

This collection represents a lifetime of passion, research, and care. Each record tells a story of Iran’s rich musical heritage, and many are rare or impossible to replace. I have spent years searching for them, traveling, connecting with people, building relationships, and using my own savings to preserve this cultural treasure. The thought of losing any of these records is heartbreaking—it would feel like losing not only my time and effort but a part of history and Iran’s collective heritage.

In 2025, I had planned to spend an extended period in Iran with my family and manage the collection, but instability and war made that impossible. After the 12-day war, I was able to bring a portion of the collection out. However, much of it still remains inside Iran, at risk due to the ongoing conflict. Communication with people inside Iran has become extremely difficult, and shipping or air mail is virtually impossible.

Since January, Iran has experienced great upheaval, drastically reducing flights and exit options. At the end of January, an Iranian-Dutch friend of mine left Iran overland in a last-minute decision. He attempted to bring 110 of my 7-inch records and 1 12-inch record in his suitcase. Unfortunately, at the Turkey border, he was held up, and the records were confiscated and placed in a depot, where they can only be held for three months.

Initially, we hoped my friend could return to the depot and bring the records back to Iran, but with the ongoing war, that is no longer a safe or viable option. We explored alternatives, including transferring power of attorney to someone else to retrieve the records, but the bureaucratic and legal hurdles are too high, and sending them back into a war zone carries immense risk.

The only viable solution now is for me to travel to Turkey with my friend to begin the declaration process to officially bring the records into Turkey. This is a costly and complex bureaucratic procedure, with potential legal fees, but it is the only way to prevent my collection from being confiscated permanently.

This is not easy for me to ask, but these records are irreplaceable and deeply personal. They represent years of dedication and a connection to the soul of Iran’s music and culture. Losing them would be devastating—not just for me, but for anyone who cherishes this heritage. Despite the time, effort, and complex coordination required with Turkish authorities—with the invaluable help of Turkish friends—I am fully committed to saving and protecting these records.

How Your Support Will Be Used:

• Travel costs to Turkey: 500 euros
• Depot fees for storage: 350 euros
• Declaration and legal costs, which I could have circumvented entirely had this situation been different: 1,500–3,000 euros

Every contribution, no matter the size, helps. Sharing this message is also an enormous help. Your support can save these precious cultural treasures and protect a part of Iranian history.

Any remaining funds will be donated to the Iranians for Peace collective, which supports ordinary, working-class Iranians facing dire conditions due to the war.

Thank you for your time to read this, and for standing with me during this difficult time. Press the green ‘Nu Doneren’ button. Gofundme (US based platform) didn't allow me to make this funding request, hence I had to go with a Dutch platform. Thank you steunactie <3

With love and gratiude,

Katayoun