I am Neda!
This is true in my case- my name is Neda. I am a young Iranian-American who has spent 90% of my life in United States. I am not a political person and my religion is humanity. Believing in Human Rights has been the reason I have been out every night protesting for Iran, online any time I am home and interviewing with media such as CNN, NBC & ABC. Posting news on Facebook, emailing friends, the White House, United Nation & media has become my routine. I am a believer that my voice counts and I remind myself daily what the beloved Gandhi said, “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” The events in Iran have made me grateful for my freedom of speech and realize the least I can do is to echo the Iranian protesters voice outside Iran.
Getting Iran back in the media is my goal and I support any grassroots activity. One of the many events I have attended was the New York Hunger Strike. The day I heard about the strike I turned to my mother and said I would love to go. Little did I know that it would turn to reality! The New York Hunger Strike in front of the United Nation was an experience that I will forever hold dear in my heart. What an opportunity to be with so many bright, open-minded, amazing intellectuals. It was an organized event held by local students and it was obvious they poured they heart and soul into the event. Since I did not know anyone, I had an opportunity to sit in silence and observe all the details of the event.
The event was held on July 22-24, 2009 from 8AM to 8PM inside a small park across from UN. The volunteers had to set up & clean up daily. There was a tent to sign up, purchase United for Iran items, donate and get information on the event. Another tent was set up for refreshments, I learned a political fasting is one where you are allowed to drink liquid but not solid food. The backdrop of the stage was a long list of 600 names of the known political prisoners; names in green where the ones in prison and the red the ones who have passed away. Chairs and carpets were set up so people can sit down and enjoy the program. People who were participating in the strike wore a green sash stating they are on hunger strike and per the organizers 168 people participated at the location while thousands came during the 3 days to support the cause. It was an international event; I personally met people from Australia, Germany, Canada and of course, all over US.
The speech and entertainment portion of program was from 11:00AM till 2:00PM and again around 5:00PM till 7:00PM. A break was given in between in which people would gather in circles and converse with one of many intellectuals present at the event. The program would start daily by Akbar Gangi explaining the event is a call on UN to pay attention to what is happening in Iran. Furthermore, he explained, we are not here to promote or speak against any political group we are all here for human rights case and to be united. We demand the release of all political prisoners regardless of their ideology, religious, ethnic or political background. This statement was repeated throughout the day so there would not be any misunderstanding that this event was sponsored by any political group.
Many professors, politicians, journalists, bloggers, doctors, artists, actors and singers came to support the cause and some performed and spoke during the event. Mr. Faramarz Aslani sang a beautiful song for our darling Neda, couple of members of Freedom Glory Project performed under the rain while dedicated Iranians stayed to support the event and Fared Shafinury, a young man who was born in the US, played the sitar and sang Saadi’s poem “Of one Essence is the human race…” Others like Googoosh , Isabella Rossellini and Shohreh Aghdashloo came for half an hour gave a speech and left while other supporters like Mr. Hooshang Tozih, Homa Sarshar and Shirin Neshat stayed most of 3 days. The talented Mr. Soheil Tavakolyi worked on two art projects during the 3-day event and his startling paintings were auctioned off.
It was a privilege to have two main scholars of our time with us during the hunger strike. Professor Noam Chomsky is well known in the academic and scientific community as one of the fathers of modern linguistics and he came to New York in person to show his support. Additionally, Professor Jose Casanova, who is one of the world’s top scholars in the sociology of religion also came in person and congratulated everyone on being able to hold such fantastic event. Having these two intellectuals there was an honor.
Speakers were intellectuals that I had to pick and choose who to write about: Mehrangiz Kar, the prominent Iranian lawyer, human rights activist and author delivered a wonderful speech. “With help of the Green Revolution and through freedom of speech we shall pass through green and reach a rainbow where we can stand next to each other with different colors, ideologies, and beliefs.” Dr. Hamid Dabashi, professor of Iranian studies at Columbia and NYU explained the economical sanction on Iran and reminded us that political sanctions were the cause of half a million Iraqi children dying and how neither a sanction nor a military move is the solution for Iran. Professor Hossein Kamali opened by reading a poem from Sohrab Sepehri titled "Rain"- “Baran,”- and ended with a quote from President Abraham Lincoln: “You can fool some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time.” Dr. Nader Naraghi spoke about basic human rights and Dr. Nayehreh Tohidi, Professor and Chair of the Gender and Women’s Studies department at California State University, Northridge spoke about role of women in Iran. Messages of support from loved ones that wanted to be there but could not were received and read to the public. Blogger Omid Memarian read a letter from Dr. Abdolkarim Soruoush thanking and supporting everyone and the cause. Loving, supportive and encouraging letters from Mohammad Reza Nikfar and Mohsen Makhmalbaf were read as well. Mr. Makhmalbaf stated, “The Green Revolution does not belong to Moussavi or any other political person, it belongs to the Iranian people.”
Other wonderful speakers were there as well. Mehdi Saharkheez, son of detained journalist, Issa Saharkheez was there. The second day Mehdi informed us that they were able to speak to his father for a few minutes. Issa Saharkheez is in a prison whose name he could not disclose with broken ribs! He asked his family not to wait for his release any time soon and asked for legal help against Nokia/Siemens since he was detained because his phone calls were traced. Also we had the dearly loved Ahmadzadeh family. This strong political family has lost 2 gems Majid and Massoud during the Shahs era and another gem, Mojtaba, during the current government of Iran. Mojgan Ahmadzadeh said, “I was raised outside of the prisons of Iran. I know exactly what these families are going through.” The wonderful surprise was when Ahmad Batebi showed up and spoke a bit about his experience in the prison of Iran. Last I had seen him was on his friends shoulder holding a bloody shirt for which he went to jail for 8 years.
During my stay in New York, one message was very clear. The power of this movement is bigger than any petty arguments, personal ideology, or flags. Iranians like me for the first time are experiencing what it is like to be a prideful Iranian and are touched deeply by the action of my country men and women. I witnessed change among people and the older generation gladly passed the torch to the young energetic generation so they can continue promoting the cause and echoing Iran’s voice internationally.
Standing up for Iranians by emailing the UN, the White House and signing petitions going to protests once a week is the least we can do for them. Please follow us on http://www.ocprotests.com/ and come join us.
In hope of better days for Iran
Neda
