Tag Archive | Iran

Resistance

Nov21

You insist on taking our rights away

Our right to wear what we want

Our right to dance in public 

Our right to voice our opinions without fear of reprisal

Our right to be the voice of other women 

Our right to be free

And yet we resist

There is no truing back

You lash out with the hijab police

We continue to walk without our headscarves

You imprison those who speak out

They continue their work in prison and win awards

You pass laws to increase the restrictions on us

We continue to do what we want

Women’s resistance may be quieter than that of men

But women are strong 

They don’t back down

Even if they are not demonstrating in the streets

They are still furthering their cause

And if you ask me 

Women will win this fight

Nov. 21, 2023

I say no!

Nov5

You say cover your hair

I say no!

And my daughter says no 

And her daughter will say no

It’s not possible to control half of society

There has been an awakening

You can’t turn the clock back

You put more forces on the street 

Go ahead 

This is not a battle that you can win 

One woman here

One woman there 

We are supporting each other every day

Our dark long hair is flowing on our shoulders 

And down our backs 

The wind plays with it joyfully

You hear my laughter as I chat with my friends

We will bring joy back  

Times have changed 

Jail time and arrests don’t frighten us

This is a worthy cause 

Each generation will be bolder than the one before 

And things will be different as time goes by 

What you want is against reason

And it’s plain to see 

Women are smart and they know that 

You say cover your hair

I say no! 

Nov 2, 2023

You are victorious

Jul27

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I see your long black beautiful hair moving side to side

As you walk with your back to the camera

Sometimes your hair is blond, sometimes curly

Sometimes mid-night black

Strong like you

Luxurious

Unabashed 

Confident 

I see you standing up for your rights

Fear has left you 

Intimidation does not alarm you

Unlawful laws don’t deter you 

A few angry men cannot control you 

I see you walking tall

I salute you, the women of Iran

And the men who support you

Times have changed

And the dictates of a regime in turmoil

Cannot stop this evolution 

You are victorious 

July 19, 2023

Tragedy and comdy

May19

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I go to Youtube as I do every morning

To hear the news of the day about Iran

I play a clip about three innocent young men

Who were executed ruthlessly

To serve as examples for others who want to protest

Then I play a clip of a Finnish comic

Making interesting observations about the English language

Finnish is a most interesting language too

With words as long as a sentence with no space

Why switch from serious to silly you may wonder

Because the news of the world is too hard to bear

Without some comic relief

So much injustice

So much pain

My psyche can’t handle too much of that

I need the comic relief

To be able to get on with my day

May 19th, 2023

Freedom cries

May14

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When the price of protest songs is solitary confinement

When rappers end up bring tortured

When freedom of speech is non-existent 

When so much in your life is controlled and inspected

Freedom cries 

Liberty dies

Justice is hand-cuffed 

And beauty must hide

When youth leave their country

Because they don’t see hope 

When corruption is rampant

Inflation roars 

When the retirees and teachers protest

When the prisons are full 

When the courts are only a show

And lawyers get arrested

Tears run down the face of a nation 

And joy is hard to come by in most places

But no matter how dark the night  

The dawn will come and the sun will rise 

May 14th, 2023

Prisons in Iran

Apr29

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Prisons are usually a place to house 

People who are dangerous to society

In Iran, that is the case as well

But prisons also house people who are dangerous to the regime

Writers who criticize

Environmental activist who tell it as they see it

Members of religious minorities

Those who oppose the government

Those who take part in peaceful protests

Those who lead these protests

Prisons have become the gathering place of 

Those who want change and are not afraid to talk

April 28, 2023

Let us breathe

Feb15

 

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What we want is an ordinary life

We don’t ask for much

Just allow us to wear what we want

What’s the harm in that?

Just allow us to speak freely

What are you afraid of?

Just allow us these normal things

Safety in the streets

Practicing our religion

Equality regardless of ethnicity

Just treat women like you treat men

This is the 21st century

The old ways of looking at the world do not work

Old rules and laws do not suit our society 

What we ask for are simple things 

Just let us breathe!

February 25th, 2023

What a waste of talent

Feb11

What a waste of time

What a waste of talent

To confine a person with so many gifts 

And why?

Because he cares about the education of the next generation

Because he  cares about good morals and serving one’s community

Because he wants to spread joy and love

And for these reasons he must be confined 

What an utter waste of talent and time 

February 10th, 2023

For Afif Naimi who was sentenced to seven years in prison in Iran for being a Baha’i 1DB80D46-52F8-44EE-A16D-0B2BDE282F5B

Your prize

Feb9

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The suspense is over

You got the prize

It’s seven years

Seven years of sacrifice

And as they hand you the trophy

You smile and give thanks

That you have won yet again

This is the second time

Some will say 

This is not a prize

How can it be?

They can’t see the medal 

The standing ovation

Or the podium you stand on

But in your heart you know

This is better than any recognition you could have got

Your face is serene

Your heart is full of love

You gladly accept this honor

And what is to come

February 8th, 2023

Dear Afif Naimi, a former member of the leadership of the Baha’i community in Iran, has been sentenced to seven years in prison after having already spent ten years there in the past.

I can’t imagine

Jan22

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I can’t imagine how it feels

When your destiny is in the hands of those 

Who don’t have your best interest at heart

Those with ulterior motives 

With no concern for justice 

I can’t imagine how it feels

To wait three more days to have their verdict

Freedom or jail 

And how long?

It’s like deja vu

After all, this happened years ago as well

And the result was ten years of imprisonment

I can’t imagine the strength it takes

To deal with this uncertainly  

And accept what comes with acquiescence 

Acquiescence resulting from faith and certitude that all will be well 

Having tasted the feeling of freedom 

After five months of imprisonment 

I can’t imagine how one prepares oneself for any eventuality 

Knowing that one could be in confinement

Far from friends and family again

I can’t imagine 

January 22nd 2023

For my dear friend, Afif Naimi 

who was imprisoned for ten years because he is a Baha’i

and is awaiting a court date again