Injustice in Iran | Women, Life, Freedom
Today we hear that Voria Ghafouri, an Iranian soccer player who was not chosen to go to the World Cup this year, has been arrested, tortured by now and who knows what else. He spoke out against the current regime, and most recently, he offered sympathy for the death of Mahsa Amini. A 22 year who died at the hands of the regime's morality police. Being a well-known figure, they obviously decided they needed to silence him quickly and swiftly since his support brings with it more supporters for the current protests to end the current regime.
Ali Khamenei, THE SUPREME LEADER of Iran, tweeted that there is a "massive propaganda system that the enemy is using against Iran.The Satellite networks, this social media with it's strange behavior, & these mercenary, hired tv stations are all working to kill hope in he people of Iran. But fortunately, hope is alive"." Let's be clear facts are facts. They are obviously scared. Hope is indeed alive but not for his regime. People all over the world support the protestors risking their lives for freedom, especially the freedoms of the women in Iran. Human rights violations, torture, beatings, imprisonment and death. It all needs to end.
The UN today has finally decided to start investigating human rights violations in Iran. Of course, the Iranian regime's representative in Geneva called it "Appalling and disgraceful." Like all regimes, they do their best to change the narrative. While outside the country, we hear from the people inside, the people still on the sidelines see news propaganda put out by the regime saying things like outside forces are at work targeting Iran. Or it's foreign agents trying to take over the country. Why don't they blame it on ghosts, goblins, and aliens? That might be more believable. They can't seem to see that the people see their people in the street with their own eyes. Cousins, sisters, brothers, neighbors, classmates, and people they know well. Those who are too afraid are still protesting from their homes.
Any Arab or Iranian will tell you that protesting is not a small thing. It is forbidden, and it carries a heavy penalty not just for them but their families, whether they knew they were protesting or not. It's medieval, but I have heard firsthand the stories of many people who were forced to flee their countries in fear for their lives. A family that was close to me in Syria was forced to flee when an uncle spoke out against the regime and not only was he targeted for elimination so was everyone who bore the same family name. Men, women and children. Everyone had to flee.
Unfortunately, this regime in Iran is not intelligent enough to realize that it is too far out of their hands unless they intend on losing most of their population to prison camps and mass shootings. Sadly this is not the first regime in the region to mass execute its people for raising their voices, and it won't be the last as long as we allow it to continue.
May their fight be successful not just for their freedom but for the inspiration and courage they give women in countries all over the region who are oppressed, degraded, and forced to be silent.
A good ruler knows how to listen this one appears to be deaf.
There is an old story about a prince. The prince who would one day be king had a tutor. One day without warning his tutor struck him across the face for no reason. The prince was never told why. When he became king, he summoned the tutor and told him, "I am king now, and I'll have my revenge for that slap, but first, tell me why?" The tutor said, "I knew one day you would be king, and I wanted to help you understand injustice. For he who has tasted injustice will never force others to suffer the same". The king always remembered that slap whenever his power went to his head.
It's clear the members of this regime were never taught what injustice feels like; if they were, they didn't absorb the message. All the people of Iran and especially the women know the feeling of injustice well and their tired of being silent.
Elise Evans
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