Things I have been silent about:
She said: "They blindfolded me; brought me to a room and put me on a bed. Still blindfolded, they tied my feet with a really thin wire. The wire was so thin, that if I moved it would cut me. Then the interrogator started to speak. He gave me a sense that he was capable of doing anything to me [rape?]."
Her crime?
Having received a phone call from a friend who had fled Iran, after 4 of her siblings, one as young as 16 was executed in 1988 ...
I cannot look at Iran's news without nausea these days; I cannot stomach that charade that is taking place in our courts. I cannot stomach that at last, for the first time, at least someone who has participated in establishing the IRI is coming out to decry: "They have raped young women so savagely that their reproductive system is torn; they have raped young men thrusting them in deep depression." I cannot stomach the Talibanism that is unfolding in my country. I just want to save my loved ones. I want to save my family; my friends; I want to empty Iran of all that is beautiful and leave its cadaver to these hyena and not give a damn anymore.
I feel my neo-resistance is breaking
I am tired
...
21 comments:
When you write with so much passion, it is patently clear you will not give up on Iran!
Please continue with your excellent commentaries, they are very instructive for outsiders like myself.
NIAC has issued a statement of condemnation of the administration there: "Reports of systematic torture and inhumane treatment, including the rape of young men and women in detention, have outraged the Iranian public and led to calls by opposition leaders for accountability."
This morning from Press TV: “If just one officer commits an indecent act that is enough for us to call days of national mourning, not to mention a situation where shocking actions may have been carried out against a group of young people,” he added. Rezaei, who is also a member of the country's Expediency Council, went on to point out that the Islamic Republic's “true asset has always been human and Islamic values.”
Amnesty is urging the administration in Iran to allow observers into the trials.
Human rights activists are appealing to the UN to take action on Iran.
I'm not sure whether those will bring you some measure of solace knowing that you are not alone in facing the inhumanity of AN and his thugs. They are NOT Iran! Nor are they HUMAN! Whatever the burden, you (and we) need to go on.
So, have a short rest, Naj, and do take proper care of your body as well. You will need the strength in the coming weeks and months. Whenever I'm down, I always return to this Craig Murray's quote: “The thing with tyranny is that, if you don’t try to fight it when it starts, it very quickly gets too strong for you. If you achieve a voice that will be heard, you should use it to speak up for the voiceless and oppressed. If you possess any power or authority, you must strive to use it to help and to empower the powerless.” I also asked an activist scholar once how he managed to stay away from the abyss and he replied simply: "By constantly trying to DO things, and knowing that I am doing my best, although my best will never be good enough." [He capitalized 'DO', not me.]
Affectionately,
Gene
Don't give up; it might take some time but the people would eventually wrestle the country away from these people dictators.
Thought this might make you laugh for a few seconds if you haven't seen it already.
We can't put the mountains and orchards and the doogh on a plane and ship them to Fiji! :(
We'll have to dig our brain and find another alternative!
Naj, with the rapes and all this, it is exactly what they want to do, break people so they will become empty passive shells and yield to their power.
We can't let that happen. Don't give up.
Though the powers that be may be cowards and aren't doing much, the world is still watching, and we are with you.
We must bring back MORE beauty inside Iran, not remove it. Only then can these evil bastards begin to be defeated. Iran does not belong to them!!!!! It is time that they learn this.
naj- I am an american who relies on you heavily for English translations and insight into the events unfolding in Iran. I have followed your writing silently for a long time. Please stay. And, sadly, it is not just Iran, but rather human nature that takes this course again and again but never takes over because of new resistance that arise to defeat that base element, neo-resistance. Please stay for all of us.
Beth
Naj - I'm from Italy, have been following your blog for some time with great respect and affection.
I think what you are describing here is a kind of collective "toxic shock" - but the acute phase will soon be over, the strength to react will soon return: I cannot believe Iranians - as a people - will let their beloved country die of septicemia!
So don't despair - night appears darkest just before dawn.
Lisa
Lisa
Dear all,
Thank you for your kind notes of encouragement. I am happy to recognize I have so many silent and caring visitors.
(Un)fortunately, as I say in my profile, mine are tales of resilience. So, I cannot give up; naturally. I must find a streak of light though. I must find the root cause of all this. This is not a simple fight between good and evil. This is an internal fight about two different visions for different versions of Iran's place in history.
What is clear to me is that a lot of rats are jumping ship; recognizing they are in the wrong chapter. The best outcome of all this is that the IRI's been FORCED, by the huge demonstration of the will of the people, to gut out itself.
If it weren't for that million strong protest in Tehran, they will have gone on, like the naked king in invisible gown, assuming themselves glorious. That has come to an end now.
There is just so much dust; that needs to settle. And the fact is, our governments have always had assistance from their "foreign" friends or foes, in hurting us, the people, in exchange for clinging to their power and their vision for Iran.
In nay case, I will share with you, if something worthy of your attention and my time comes up.
(I am going to dig up some poetry in the meantime)
Regards
Naj
Remember your own words: the path to peace crosses through the battle with self..... so battle yourself.
Neo-resistance can get tired... but it should never break up.
Dear Naj,
it's very beautiful that quite a number of "fans" interested in and relying on your blog/work get in touch with you via internet onto your blog. So there obviously seems to be someone[s] like the "third musketeer". Every blog- and Dumas-reader knows, that "the three musketeers" [each one of them] cannot always be "in good form" or whatever one might call it. Everyone knows, that even a "musketeer" urgently needs a rest, has to stop off at an inn,has to have a meal, want to drink wine, has to sleep, has to enjoy himself, [in modern times: has/wants to read, to go shopping, to watch TV etc. pp. - you name it], is informed about bereavements, has to come to terms with disappointments, personal or interpersonal or wider social or political disasters, wants and needs to laugh.
In other words - I cannot imagine anyone, even one of the Dumas-esque "three musketeers", to be in the saddle riding through the desert of narrowness, stupidity and [often or as a rule psychopathic] clowns crowding our century, over days, weeks, months and years without any interruption, rest, recovery, stay, stop and welcome distraction.
In the hope that you - please - take care [of yourself] -
remains
German
Naj,
When your fans incude British Investment Bankers, like Rupert Neil Bumfrey you really need to start asking yourself some serious questions.
It is this type of person that Arabs (and Persians in 1953) have been directly and indirectly killed for for the last 85 years. The British state's revenue stream will be fantastically reduced if it wasn't for "investments" from the British concocted statelets in the Persian Gulf.
The work that this type of person does is entirely predicated on the division, war and expoitation of Arabs. And the same thing will happen to Iranians if you are not careful.
The foreign policy of the British elite has always been to worm its way into the veins of other nations. Let's face it if this person wasn't helping himself to the wealth of the Persian Gulf, where woud he be? The UK?
At the moment, you are only complaining about torture, if the British get there way, believe me their will a lot more to complain about and Investment Bankers will then smile at you and say, "you're ony saying that because your Persian!"
Dear Naj,
I think many of us are tired. But giving up now is the worst thing that can happen. These days I'm reading the news of arrests, listening and watching of the rape stories, watch the faces of people in Sham trials, but still don't wanna give up, my only way to save myself from getting too depressed is writtings
Watching music like this one or this.
We should keep the faith...
I can only think of one Thomas Paine who said these words during our own American revolution:
THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated.
I could find no better words than what he wrote.
@Nu'man
I do think you overstate the power/influence of the British and Britain, which I am very proud to be a citizen of.
Over the past two months, on twitter (@rupertbu), I have been accused of being "MI5 agent" (MI6 is the UK'S Overseas Intelligence Service!) and recently a "commie pinko", now here of being an "Investment Banker"!
Good to realise the Iranian situation is bringing such diverse people and opinions together. Long may the dialogue continue.
The situation in Iran has seemed pretty bleak for weeks now. But, there are small rays of hope. The opposition has not been completely crushed. Earlier today, I read that a group of reform politicians has sent a letter to the Assembly of Experts asking for an investigation of Khamenei. I wouldn't be surprised if Rafsanjani arranged for this letter to be sent. I understand that the majority of the members of the Assembly still support Khamenei though. So, it seems unlikely that he will be removed from power.
At least the opposition in Iran can still voice its dissent. The situation hasn't yet devolved to a point similar to Nazi Germany where all voices of dissent were silenced. I truly hope that Iran will not go down into that sort of Hell.
Dear Naj,
the citizens of Iran, and especially, you - Naj - and your "comrade in" dialogical, rational, argumentative and artistic "arms", remind me of the fable of that one brave frog (of the two) who wasn't at all prepared to get drowned in that pail of milk - and successfully so in the end.
Here the respective lines/rhymes:
Two Frogs
Two frogs fell into a deep cream bowl,
One was an optimistic soul;
But the other took the gloomy view,
"I shall drown," he cried, "and so will you."
So with a last despairing cry,
He closed his eyes and said, "Good-bye."
But the other frog, with a merry grin
Said, "I can't get out, but I won't give in!
I'll swim around till my strength is spent.
For having tried, I'll die content."
Bravely he swam until it would seem
His struggles began to churn the cream.
On the top of the butter at last he stopped
And out of the bowl he happily hopped.
What is the moral? It's easily found.
If you can't get out -- keep swimming around!
Yours,
German
@Rupert,
No one's asking you not to be proud of being British.
As far as Investment Banking is concerned, that's how I read your blog. Obviously, your some other type of investor.
However, to circumvent the issue, that Britain wants to lay and gorge into Iranian wealth so as to make sure that British business, sport and neo-colonialism should be the first priority of Iranian resources is simply being perfidious.
hi naj- i lost where i had saved your blog. my feelings are alot like yours. but you ,please don't stop, you can make butter of that cream & we will support you. i almost wish for my ignorance back. i don't have words, but you must know that we want to help in any way we can (millions of people in the world). :(
LOVE YOU NAJ
SUPPORTING YOU ALL THE WAY
TEARS DRIP FROM MY EYES
PRAYING FOR YOU AND YOURS DAILY AMERCAN MAN WITH A HEART BROKEN
GOD/ALLA BE WTIH YOU ALL MY DEAR FREINDS
AMWEICAN MAN
LOVE AND DEEP PRAYERS
JOHN
NAJ i AM PRAYING FOR YOU
American Man,
Things are catastrophic for some (a few); not for all though. Still people have time to get married, to go on summer holiday, to shop till drop, to go to circus and to movies; to buy homes and decorate and renovate them.
Seriously, that my state of mind is so bleak doesn't mean we are desperate or anything :)
So, I think you should smile a little. Plenty of good things are happening in my country now. Nothing good ever comes to any place without hard work; and we are just doing some hard work. Some of us get tired (like I did), and some other carry me when I am tired. But Iran is not built by mopers and whiners; we WILL prevail :)
Post a Comment