Tag Archive | freedom

My heart aches

Oct10


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My heart aches for the people of Iran

For the young boys and girls in the streets

Who sacrifice their freedom and sometimes their lives

Standing up for what they believe in

Their hearts are on fire

Their rage against injustice fuels their actions

They know their rights

They know they are deprived of them

And they can no longer stay quiet

It breaks my heart that speaking up for their rights

Can lead to their death in my country of birth

That these young lives are snuffed out so cruelly and easily

As if their existence matters not

I feel deeply for the values they are fighting for

Covering one’s hair is not a sign of modesty

Why should women hide their beautiful hair from view?

All the excuses that are given are just that, excuses

Behind these dictates are the desire to subjugate women

And these things are as clear as daylight to the youth of Iran

These brave girls who die for lighting their head scarves on fire

Will be remembered long into the future

Their lives will be celebrated and their courage will be lauded

Years after those who jailed them or killed them are gone and forgotten 

October 10th, 2022

A new dawn

Oct7

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For a future that is bright

For a time when the sun shines equally on everyone

For freedom of speech

When one can speak about what’s in one’s heart

For a time when a dual life ends

When one can behave the same way inside and outside one’s house

For the dawn of the equality of women and men

For the fruition of a cause long fought for

For the feeling of the wind in one’s hair

For biking and swimming in freedom

For a time when ethnicity matters not

For a time when freedom of religion exists

For a time when people stop leaving their homeland

Because they cannot see their future in Iran

For a time when love and harmony reigns

When hatred is gone

For the time of coming together of a nation

To demand their freedom of thought

For unity

For solidarity

For compassion for one’s fellow man

For decency 

Transparency

And leaders one can count on

For Mahsa

For Nika

And so many more who sacrificed their lives

For the dawn of a new day in Iran

October 7th, 2022

Solidarity

Oct6

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The watchword of this movement is solidarity
Solidarity among those who have been wronged
Solidarity among those whose freedom has been robbed
Solidarity among men and women
Solidarity among old and young
Solidarity among Kurd and Lur and Bakhtyari
Solidarity among those who live throughout Iran

People are speaking with one voice
Women and the youth are leading the way
They are trying to silence their voices
With brutality and cruelty, senseless
But this is a giant that has been awakened
It’s impossible to tie her down
All the efforts to quell this fire
Will lead to it further spreading far and wide

The world is witnessing these events
They are hearing the cry of freedom
Women across the world are cutting their hair
In solidarity with the women of Iran
These women are lionesses who won’t back down
They are aware of their own power and will persist
The day is coming that they will celebrate victory
Sadly the price they are paying is very high

October 6th, 2022

Leaders

Oct5

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Who is their leader?

They lead each other

Who inspires them?

They inspire each other

What are they fighting for?

Justice

What are they demanding?

Equality

One can’t impose unjust laws forever

One can’t sew the seeds of division ceaselessly

These young women

These freedom fighters

Tired of years of being controlled

Tired of not seeing any hope

Tired of ears that don’t listen

Tired of mouths that don’t tell the truth

These women are a force

That cannot be stopped

A damn has been opened

And it can’t be shut

The day is approaching

When they will march in freedom

The day is approaching

When all are equal

October 5th, 2022

Because

Oct4

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Days go by

And others join the cry of freedom

Even high school students are tired

Of being dictated to

They have arisen to demand their rights

The song of ‘baraye’ is being song everywhere

It has become an anthem of unity

For dancing in the street

For basic human rights

Because of being tired of covering their hair

For man, country, rebuilding

For woman, life and liberty

Because the status quo won’t do

Because of justice, long overdue

Because minorities have rights too

Because they’re tired of disunity 

Because of the power of this song

Because of the strength of unity

The dawn is near and they know it

And the sun will shine eventually

October 4th, 2022

Woman

Oct1

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Woman, life, freedom

Zan, zendegi, azadi

The cry of not only women

But also men who support them

Because lifting up women

Will lift up society, which includes men

Women are centre stage

Women lead

And when women lead

Things are bound to change

Their passion, their conviction

The wrongs they have suffered

Have fanned the flames 

Flames that are spreading like wild fire

And burning the structures that have 

Tried to keep them in their place

October 1st, 2022

Only my pen

Sep30

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You are on the streets

Demanding your rights

Demonstrating for equality

Jeopardizing your life

I only have my pen

And with my pen

I will sing your praises

I will applaud your courage

I will celebrate valour 

You are heroines raising your voices

Voices that are being heard around the world

You are sacrificing your safety

Risking arrest and imprisonment

Even death

I only have my pen

And with my pen

I will ask others to pay attention to your cause

To demand justice and cry out your names

In great assemblies

So we can honor the memory of all the Mahsa Aminis of Iran

I only have my pen

 

September 30th, 2022

Freedom fighters

Sep28

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My brain needs a break

From the bad news, the good news

All the emotions that they evoke

All the expectations and hopes

But they don’t get a break

They are in the streets everyday

They are sending their videos every night

They cannot afford to rest or take a break

The work of a freedom fighter is not for the faint of heart

They sacrifice, they get injured, they get arrested

They raise their voices for change

I can take a break here from the news

When it becomes overwhelming 

But they can’t 

My hat is off to them

September 28th, 2022

Sun of Justice

Sep26

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The difference is conviction

The difference is ardour and being on the side of justice

The difference is they are not obeying anyone

This is their fight

They are the soldiers and the generals

A fire has been lit for freedom

Its flames are growing everyday

The winds of opposition only cause it to spread

You can’t control a wildfire

The energy of youth

Youth who are tired of lies 

Youth who know their rights are being trampled on

Youth who feel they have nothing to lose

This energy feeds the fire

Injustice can prevail for a while

It can maintain its strong grip on power for some time

But those who are tired of corruption and empty promises

Those who long for freedom and equality

They can only be suppressed so long

The night of oppression is dark

But we can see the glimpses of the dawn

A dawn that will come because of the sacrifices being made

A dawn that will have its price

But soon will the sun of justice shine
For the brave people of Iran

September 26th, 2022

The point of no return

Sep25

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I see people persisting and persevering

I hear their cries

Asking for freedom

Asking for equality

Asking for justice

I see people paying a price

With bullets in their bodies

With their bruises and injuries

With being intimidated and arrested

I see people’s bravery

Women removing their headscarves

The symbol of subservience

When not their choice

Men standing with women

Boys and girls arising

I see Iranians outside Iran

Supporting their bothers and sisters

Worrying for their safely

Admiring their courage

Praying for their well being

I wonder how long those in Iran have to

Put their lives on the line?

When will other compatriots join them and support them?

When will government agents stop hitting

And  sometimes killing their own people?

Their own brothers and sisters?

Their own compatriots?

When will this talisman break?

When will this darkness give way to light?

When will the people’s wishes for justice materialize?

The future is bright

But the path is to freedom

Is paved with blood and sacrifice and

Unity is the hallmark of victory

We are reaching a point of no return

Can this nightmare be coming to an end?

September 25th, 2022

For the brave women and men of Iran