Tag Archive | women

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

Ten shining souls

Jun27

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It would have been better to be executed

Than continue to be in prison under those conditions

It was the early days of the revolution and 

Many Baha’is were imprisoned and a number of them were executed

There were no social media back then

No online campaigns

These dark deeds took place 

Without the knowledge of others

Only the family of the prisoners and their friends

Would find out their fate after it was too late

Illegal arrests and imprisonments

No lawyers

Sham court proceedings 

Torture 

Asking the prisoners to recant and be set free

Asking them for money to spare their lives

Unspeakable acts 

The prisoners’ only refuge 

Their Faith

Their support for each other 

Their determination to stand firm 

To hear the moaning of other prisoners in pain

To witness the result of the torture of their friends 

To be insulted and humiliated 

It was easier to be executed and set free of those terrible conditions 

But Olya was released 

And she did was she promised the others

She told the story of the ten brave women of Shiraz 

Now the whole world knows what went on

During those terrible days and

The sacrifices that were made by these pure souls 

They were released from this mortal world

And their spirits soared towards their Beloved

Their suffering ended 

And they proved their love and devotion

Those were dark days 

But the light these souls shine 

Will illumine our world forever 

June 15, 2023

Inspired by a talk by Olya Roohizadegan  

about ten Baha’i women killed in Shiraz in 1983

A woman’s voice

Jun21

 

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A meeting is in progress over Zoom

University professors and administrators at work

I hear the confident voice of a woman 

Who seems to be chairing the meeting

The cadence of her voice 

It’s tone

The words she uses

All tell of her competence

And her assurance that she is being heard

Because she has ideas that are important to share

I hear men’s voices too 

But hers is dominant

They are obviously solving problems and making plans

How wonderful to see women in science

In the highest echelons 

Voicing their opinions

Leading the charge

This is how it should be in all areas

This is the sign of things to come

June 21st, 2023

Every day should be women’s day

Mar8

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Every day should be women’s day

After all they are our mothers, sisters and daughters

After all it’s women who raise the next generation

They sacrifice their ease and comfort

They are the glue that keeps the family united

They are strong in times of turmoil

They are compassionate and patient

What can men do to show their appreciation?

Treat them like they want to be treated

See them as equals in decision making

Support them so they can achieve their potential

Appreciate all the sacrifices they make

Acknowledge the important role 

They have in educating children

Give them the attention they deserve

Listen to them when they want to talk

Treat them as equals in relationships

Respect them as partners in their lives

Happy International Women’s Day

March 8th, 2023

The answer is no!

Mar5

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You want me to cover my hair

I say no!

You say it’s the sign of piety

I say no!

You say it will protect me from harm

I say no!

You say otherwise I’ll excite men

I say no!

You can’t convince me to do something I don’t want to do

You don’t realize how strong I am

You have tried to put me down

But each time, you see me rise 

You fear me and my courage 

You should!

I am determined and won’t back down 

I will continue this fight 

I see you are worried and

You should be! 

Women, life, liberty!

March 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

Nobility

Nov7

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If they don’t treat women well

It doesn’t bode well for the rest of society

If they don’t treat religious minorities well

They will eventually denigrate other groups as well

The thinking that sees one group as better than others

Eventually will see everyone else as other 

Only those in power will be immune to oppression 

When they don’t treat women well

It means one day they will not treat you well

Let’s stand up not just for our own rights

But the rights of every marginalized group in society

This is the sign of nobility 

November 7th, 2022

Anthem of unity

Oct18

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The hallmark of this movement is unity

Unity between the university students and their professors

Unity between the Turk and Lor and Bakhtyari

Unity between the less fortunate and the affluent

Unity between workers and society

Unity among the students in high schools

Unity among the people marching in the streets

Unity among young and old

Unity among all strata of society

This is unprecedented in Iran

This revolution has a beating heart

That of valiant women and girl children 

This revolution has strategy

Creative ways in expressing their demands

This revolution has momentum

It’s a movement that cannot be stopped

The dam has broken and it can’t be shut

I salut the women and girls of Iran

I salut the university students and professors

I salut the workers who are on strike

I salut the business people who close their shops

I salut their cries for equality

I salut their courage which is awe-inspiring

I salut their perseverance and steadfastness

I salut the audacity of those who walk around without their head scarves

This road may be long

Many lives are being sacrificed

Many are spending their time in captivity

But there is no turning back

The world is watching in admiration

And I pray and hope that the dawn is nigh 

October 18th, 2022