By Lisa Daftari
To my dear Iranian countrymen,
This letter is for the dear mother whose only son was killed in the Iran-Iraq War, and for the valiant father who struggled to obtain his PhD. and now sells pistachios in the local bazaar to bring food home for his family. It is for the young girl who has had to turn to prostitution in order to sustain her life. It is addressed to the battered woman who has had to stay with her abusive husband because Islamic courts will not grant her a divorce. This is a letter for all the young students at Iranian universities, whose hopes and dreams are not much different than ours, yet at the same time, live half a world away. We dedicate these words and greetings to our brave brothers and sisters who have courageously filled the streets of Iran fighting for our freedom. This is a letter from all of us: your countrymen who live outside Iran yet yearn to be one with you at this difficult moment.
We know that the last 30 years have been like a long nightmare, leaving you terrified to go on and even more fearful to wake up to your own reality. You gave of your children, your hopes, your dreams and aspirations. You put aside your social preferences for fear that they would be called un-Islamic. You denied any political convictions knowing you would be called an enemy of the regime. The Bahai, Jew, Christian and even Muslim among you practiced your religious beliefs in private for fear that they would be seen as heresy to some. A neighbor was no longer someone who lends you saffron, rather someone who would report you to the Islamic guards. You picked up the phone and always anticipated an eavesdropper. You sent out an email knowing there would be an audience. Human rights seemed like lofty dreams far from reach. Read more ...
To my dear Iranian countrymen,
This letter is for the dear mother whose only son was killed in the Iran-Iraq War, and for the valiant father who struggled to obtain his PhD. and now sells pistachios in the local bazaar to bring food home for his family. It is for the young girl who has had to turn to prostitution in order to sustain her life. It is addressed to the battered woman who has had to stay with her abusive husband because Islamic courts will not grant her a divorce. This is a letter for all the young students at Iranian universities, whose hopes and dreams are not much different than ours, yet at the same time, live half a world away. We dedicate these words and greetings to our brave brothers and sisters who have courageously filled the streets of Iran fighting for our freedom. This is a letter from all of us: your countrymen who live outside Iran yet yearn to be one with you at this difficult moment.
We know that the last 30 years have been like a long nightmare, leaving you terrified to go on and even more fearful to wake up to your own reality. You gave of your children, your hopes, your dreams and aspirations. You put aside your social preferences for fear that they would be called un-Islamic. You denied any political convictions knowing you would be called an enemy of the regime. The Bahai, Jew, Christian and even Muslim among you practiced your religious beliefs in private for fear that they would be seen as heresy to some. A neighbor was no longer someone who lends you saffron, rather someone who would report you to the Islamic guards. You picked up the phone and always anticipated an eavesdropper. You sent out an email knowing there would be an audience. Human rights seemed like lofty dreams far from reach. Read more ...
Source: FPM
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