“An Iranian dies but does not accept humiliation,” chanted the freedom-seeking Iranians who took to the streets on Feb. 14 and Feb. 20 of this year. “Political prisoners must be freed!” they chanted, burning pictures of the late Khomeini and of supreme leader Ayatollah Syed Ali Khamenei in the streets of Tehran and in other large cities. “Tehran, Cairo, dictators must go!”
I murmured along with the slogans every time I watched the footage on YouTube. “Mubarak, Ben Ali, now it’s Syed Ali’s turn!” people shouted in harmony in Iran, and we repeated here in Mel Lastman Square.
Less than four decades ago Iran prided herself on freedom and a booming economy. Back then, Iranian-Canadians were welcome and trusted by the rest of Canadians.
I regret that I wasn’t born then, that I missed those smiles and that friendliness. In 2007, when I entered Canada, my country’s name was associated with terror. “I don’t want anybody to bomb my kids when they go to school,” said the gentleman fishing next to me at a riverside in Windsor. How could I make him believe I did not want anyone to be bombed! Tears formed in my eyes but I didn’t let them roll down.
Thirty-five years ago, Iranians were angry that their king was despotic and corrupt. The shah and his family were living in luxurious palaces while hundreds were struggling in poverty. Protesters took to the streets to ask for justice and democracy, and the Islamic revoluti... >>>
Person | About | Day |
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نسرین ستوده: زندانی روز | Dec 04 | |
Saeed Malekpour: Prisoner of the day | Lawyer says death sentence suspended | Dec 03 |
Majid Tavakoli: Prisoner of the day | Iterview with mother | Dec 02 |
احسان نراقی: جامعه شناس و نویسنده ۱۳۰۵-۱۳۹۱ | Dec 02 | |
Nasrin Sotoudeh: Prisoner of the day | 46 days on hunger strike | Dec 01 |
Nasrin Sotoudeh: Graffiti | In Barcelona | Nov 30 |
گوهر عشقی: مادر ستار بهشتی | Nov 30 | |
Abdollah Momeni: Prisoner of the day | Activist denied leave and family visits for 1.5 years | Nov 30 |
محمد کلالی: یکی از حمله کنندگان به سفارت ایران در برلین | Nov 29 | |
Habibollah Golparipour: Prisoner of the day | Kurdish Activist on Death Row | Nov 28 |