Solidarity with the mourning mothers of Iran

Thursday, 23 July 2009 The Answer of the Women in Black to the appeal of Shirin Ebadi, Nobel Peace laureate 2003

In response to the appeal of Shirin Ebadi, Nobel Peace laureate, we express our solidarity to the Iranian mothers and to all women who, in Iran and elsewhere in the world, even at risk to their own lives, go out on to the streets to demand justice and truth, so that silence does not fall on the victims of repression and power that uses force of arms to silence those who struggle for their rights. While we extend our solidarity to the Iranian mothers, we also raise our voices so that their suffering will not be used to justify military "solutions" to the crisis in Iran, as the repression of Afghan women was used to justify the war begun in 2001 and continuing today. Message of Shirin Ebadi to the women of the world, calling for solidarity with the mourning mothers of Iran. Conscientious women of the world: The tragedy in Iran is much larger than we had imagined. People who took to the streets to express their objection to the election results peacefully were met with bullets and truncheons. Many of those who survived the confrontations were arrested in the days that followed the protests. Iran's state radio and television broadcasts initially announced the number killed as eight and later eleven. However, more than twenty-five days after the street demonstrations, there are still many who have disappeared and their names are not on the lists of those who have been killed or arrested. Many mothers have been anxiously going to any authorities who may give them information about their disappeared loved ones but have received no answers. Now that families are slowly receiving the bodies of their slain children, it has become clear that the number of fatalities is much higher than what the government of the Islamic Republic has published. Moreover, the families are being forced to sign legal covenants that they would not disclose how and when their loved ones died. But it is not possible to hide the truth forever, and it is not possible to silence the cries, so the tragedy of the past weeks is showing larger in the eyes of the Iranian people as days pass. Many mothers whose children were killed, are still among the disappeared or are in prisons have formed the Committee of Mourning Mothers. Every Saturday from 7 to 8 PM, the members of this committee and other women who empathize with them dress in black and gather in public parks in their cities and towns to stand vigil and silently express their pain. I would like to express my deep sorrow and condolences to the mothers who have lost their loved ones for freedom and democracy in Iran, and I stand in solidarity with women who are still searching for their disappeared and the large number of young Iranian women and men who are now in prisons because of their civil activism. I invite all freedom loving women of the world to dress in black and gather in solidarity with the Committee of Mourning Mothers every Saturday in their own cities and towns to help make their voices heard throughout the world.

Solidarietà con le madri in lutto in Iran

giovedì 23 luglio 200 Donne in Nero Rispondono all'apello di Shirin Ebadi Premio Nobel Per la Pace 2003

Solidarietà con le madri in lutto in Iran Rispondiamo all'appello di Shirin Ebadi, premio Nobel per la Pace, ed esprimiamo la nostra solidarietà alle madri iraniane e a tutte le donne che, in Iran e ovunque nel mondo, anche a rischio della loro vita, scendono in strada per esigere giustizia e verità, perché non scenda il silenzio sulle vittime della repressione e del potere che usa la forza delle armi per mettere a tacere chiunque lotti per il rispetto dei propri diritti. Mentre estendiamo la nostra solidarietà alle madri di Iran, alziamo anche le nostre voci perche' la loro sofferenza non venga usata per giustificare "soluzioni" militari alla crisi in Iran, come e' stata usata la ripressione delle donne di Afghanistan per giustificare la guerra, lanciata in 2001 che continua ancora oggi. Messaggio di Shirin Ebadi alle Donne del Mondo chiedendo Solidarietà con le madri in lutto in Iran Donne libere del mondo, La situazione in Iran è peggio di quello che pensavamo. La gente che era contro i risultati delle elezioni in Teheran e le altre città iraniane è andata in strade e in modo pacifico ha manifestato il suo dissenso, la risposta per loro sono state pallottole e bastoni, qualcuno ha potuto scappare ma in un'altra occasione sono stati arrestati di nuovo. Radio e televisione ufficiali iraniane hanno confermato all'inizio 8 morti e dopo hanno parlato di 11 morti. 25 giorni dopo si è visto che tante persone non erano arrestate ma decedute senza informare le loro famiglie. Le madri angosciate sono andate dappertutto per avere notizie del loro figli ma non hanno avuto risposte; ora che le madri pian piano prendono le salme del loro figli, si capisce che il numero dei morti era molto più grande di quello che era stato annunciato ufficialmente e nel momento della consegna delle salme dicono che non dovete parlare con nessuno. Ma non si può nascondere la verità per sempre e non si può tenere il dolore nel petto a lungo, per questo ogni giorno le dimensioni del disastro davanti agli occhi degli iraniani appaiono più vaste. Le madri che hanno perso i loro cari figli o i cui figli sono dispersi o in prigione hanno creato un comitato. I membri di questo comitato e le altre donne che sono solidali con loro ogni sabato pomeriggio alle ore 19.00 per un'ora si riuniscono in un parco in Teheran con vestito nero in segno del lutto e in silenzio fanno sentire il loro dolore ai passanti. Con le mie condoglianze a tutte le madri che hanno perso i loro cari figli per la libertà e la democrazia e con la mia solidarietà con le madri che ancora stanno cercando i loro figli dispersi e con il mio dispiacere perchè tanti giovani iraniani solo per loro attività civile e pacifica sono in prigione, chiedo a tutte le donne libere del mondo, di riunirsi ogni sabato sera dalle 19 del pomeriggio alle 20 in un parco della vostra città vestite di nero e far sentire la vostra solidarietà con le madri in lutto in Iran facendo sentire la loro voce al mondo. Shirin Ebadi Luglio 2009

Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin Ebadi´s letter to the Freedom Loving women of the world about Mourning Mothers of Iran

http://mothersoflaleh.blogspot.com/2009/07/nobel-peace-laureate-shirin-ebadis.html http://www.sign4change.info/spip.php?article4344 SUNDAY, JULY 19, 2009 Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin Ebadi´s letter to Mourning Mothers of Iran Conscientious women of the world: The tragedy in Iran is much larger than we had imagined. People who took to the streets to express their objection to the election results peacefully were met with bullets and truncheons. Many of those who survived the confrontations were arrested in the days that followed the protests. Iran's state radio and television broadcasts initially announced the number killed as eight and later eleven. However, more than twenty-five days after the street demonstrations, there are still many who have disappeared and their names are not on the lists of those who have been killed or arrested. Many mothers have been anxiously going to any authorities who may give them information about their disappeared loved ones but have received no answers. Now that families are slowly receiving the bodies of their slain children, it has become clear that the number of fatalities is much higher than what the government of the Islamic Republic has published. Moreover, the families are being forced to sign legal covenants that they would not disclose how and when their loved ones died. But it is not possible to hide the truth forever, and it is not possible to silence the cries, so the tragedy of the past weeks is showing larger in the eyes of the Iranian people as days pass. Many mothers whose children were killed, are still among the disappeared or are in prisons have formed the Committee of Mourning Mothers. Every Saturday from 7 to 8 PM, the members of this committee and other women who empathize with them dress in black and gather in public parks in their cities and towns to stand vigil and silently express their pain. I would like to express my deep sorrow and condolences to the mothers who have lost their loved ones for freedom and democracy in Iran, and I stand in solidarity with women who are still searching for their disappeared and the large number of young Iranian women and men who are now in prisons because of their civil activism. I invite all freedom loving women of the world to dress in black and gather in solidarity with the Committee of Mourning Mothers every Saturday in their own cities and towns to help make their voices heard throughout the world.

Gathering of mourning mothers: every Saturday at 7 pm in Laleh Park, in memory of Neda and others who were killed

MONDAY, JUNE 29, 2009 http://mothersoflaleh.blogspot.com/2009/06/gathering-of-mourning-mothers-every.html Gathering of mourning mothers: every Saturday at 7 pm in Laleh Park, in memory of Neda and others who were killed Change for equality: On saturday June 20th at 7 pm, another young blossom of our land was crushed in front of our eyes. Neda Agha Soltan, is a symbol of the young women and men of this land who pursue justice and equality lawfully and are confronted illegally and killed ruthlessly. In less than two weeks, more than 800 of our children were arrested, hundreds were injured, and tens killed. For what sin are you murdering our children? For what crime have you made all mothers of Iran mourn the deaths of their youth? We will not give up our rights and the rights of our offspring. Until the release of all detainees who were arrested for protesting election fraud, and until the end of violence and until the murderers of our children are prosecuted, we will gather to mourn in silence every Saturday at 7 pm near where our dear Neda was killed, in Amirabad Street, Laleh Park, by the pond. We invite all mothers who are concerned for the well-being of their daughters and sons, the real treasures of this land, to join us.

Mothers second statement

WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2009 Mothers second statement Change for equality: The silent mourning of mothers on Saturday June 27th 2009 in Laleh Park in Tehran was violently suppressed by security forces. A number of mothers and young women attending this peaceful gathering were detained by the security forces. Despite the crackdown by the security forces and their attempt to disperses the attendees, more than 500 women and mothers were able to continue with the sit-in and gatherings in the main spot of the park. These mothers were peacefully gathering to commemorate the young men and women who had participated in the non-violent post-election demonstrations and had been martyred. Following our first announcement, we- the mourning mothers of the martyrs- will continue with our peaceful sit-in in Laleh Park and other parks in Tehran. We will do so till we see the end of violence on the streets, freeing of all those arrested for participating in the peaceful protests after the June 12th election specially our fellow mothers who had been arrested last Saturday and the prosecution of those responsible for our children’s death. Our sit-ins will be in Laleh park and the following parks every Saturday from 7-8 p.m. Laleh Park Andishe Park Mellat Park Gofegoo Park Dear Mothers! Our mother instinct has forced us to demand justice for our children and freeing those who are detained or in prisons. We invite you to join our grassroots peaceful gatherings in the above-mentioned parks on Saturdays. To our boys and brothers in the security forces! We are your mothers. We treat you as mothers and with respect. Respect us and our wishes and refrain from inflicting harm onto your mothers. Our sighs will follow you if you treat us with violence. The Mourning Mothers of Iran

Based on what sin have you murdered our children?

Based on what sin have you murdered our children? ... http://www.ips.org Along these lines, a group of women calling themselves "The Mourning Mothers" issued a call for peaceful protests at Laleh Park at 7:00 on Saturdays, near the area where Neda was killed on Saturday, Jun. 20. The statement reads: "Based on what sin have you murdered our children? Why have you forced all mothers into mourning?" The mothers have demanded an end to violence, the prosecution of those who have committed violence, and the release of over 800 persons arrested over the past two weeks. It seems that with this new call to action, women will continue to have an active presence in the protests, which have taken on new dimensions objecting not only to election fraud but to violent suppression of peaceful dissent.

چرا از ما می ترسند !؟ بازداشت بیش از 20 نفردر راهپیمایی آرام مادران عزادار

آزاده حاجی زاده 7 تیر 1388 http://www.sign4change.info/spip.php?article4263 تغییر برای برابری - درپی فراخوان جمعی از مادران عزادار که قصد داشتند ساعت 7 بعدازظهرشنبه در پارک لاله با سکوت، راهپیمایی آرامی به دور استخر یا آب نمای پارک داشته باشند به پارک لاله رفتم هر چند مادر نیستم ولی برای احترام به مادران عزیز دلم می خواست که تنهای شان نگذارم . این مادران در فراخوان شان نوشته بودند ساعت 7 شنبه شب ، همان ساعتی که به ندا آقاسلطان بیرحمانه شلیک شد ه و اینک سمبل مقاومت فرزندان ما لقب گرفته به یاد بقیه عزیزان کشته شده هم هر هفته ساعت 7 بعدازظهر در حوالی محل کشته شدن ندا خیابان امیرآباد – پارک لاله جمع می شویم و با سکوت خود بغض و غم مان را نشان می دهیم . جند نفر از مادرانی که فرزندان شان جزو گمشده ها هستند عکس پسران شان را آورده بودند که دستشان بگیرند و تعدادی از مادران هم با شمع های سیاه و روبان های سیاه آمده بودند که شاید بتوانند در محلی کنار آب نما نشانه ای از عزاداری درست کنند . سکوت و بغض شان هم پیدا بود که چه می خواهند شاید سکوت شان گوش ماموران را کر می کرد که بی طاقت شده بودند و گردان گردان نیرو پیاده می کردند و نمایش می دادند. از ساعت 5 بعدازظهرنیروهای پلیس مانع از نشستن زنان روی نیمکت های اطراف استخر شدند و زنان را از پارک خارج می کردند برخی که اعتراض می کردند می گفتند همه بروند این خانم بماند تا خدمتش برسیم . زنی با چادر مشکی اعتراض می کرد که بگو حکومت نظامی است تا من بروم . چنان دشنام های رکیک به زن داد که مادری دیگر طاقت نیاورد و گفت ما شما را با لباس شخصی ها فرق می گذاریم شما نباید اینطور صحبت کنید شما نیروی انتظامی هستید و باید قانونی صحبت کنید در جواب ، مامور نیروی انتظامی حرف زشت تری به آن مادر زد که همه حرکت کردند به سمت دیگر پارک . برنامه نشستن و راه رفتن با سکوت را ساعت 7 بعدازظهر اعلام کرده بودند ولی از ساعت 5 بعدازظهر زنان که اغلب میانسال به بالا بودند همه نیمکت ها را مخصوصن سری دوم یعنی پشت نیمکت های اول را اشغال کرده بودند و همین طور به جمعیت اضافه می شد که دیگر از ورود زنان بخصوص زنان سیاهپوش به پارک جلوگیری کردند . و اتوموبیل های پلیس را به داخل پارک آوردند . یک نفر از ماموران شروع به فیلمبرداری از چهره زنان کرد که همه یکصدا اعتراض کردند و ماموران همه را به یک فرعی هدایت کردند و مورد ضرب و شتم قرار دادند و عده ای را دستگیر و تجمع را متفرق کردند . تعداد زنان دستگیر شده که به بازداشتگاه موقت شاپور منتقل شده اند بیش از 20 نفر است البته شاید تعدادی را هم به بازداشتگاه وزرا منتقل کرده اند خبری از بازداشتگاههای دیگر نداریم . در بین بازداشت شدگان رهگذرانی که هیچ اطلاعی از این حرکت مادران نداشتند دیده می شدند . بهر حال به نظر من حرکتی بود خودجوش که می تواند هر هفته تکرار شود به شرطی که نیروهای پلیس با عقلانیت بیشتری به موضوع نگاه کنند چرا که : نه راه بندانی ایجاد شد ، نه شعاری داده شده نه اعلامیه ای پخش شد. هیچ! فقط تعدادی مادر نگران و داغدار با فاصله از هم نشسته بودند و می خواستند با سکوتشان فریاد بزنند . باورنکردنی است که در کشوری که رئیس جمهور آن می گوید در کشور ما آزادی نزدیک به مطلق وجود دارد ازحضور چند مادرآنهم چند مادر داغدار و نگران ، آقایان چنان به هراس می افتند که گویی خدای ناکرده آمریکا یا اسرائیل حمله کرده و طوری نیرو پیاده می کنند و نمایش های رزمی می دهند .و پارک را محاصره می کنند که رعب و وحشت عجیبی در بین مردم هم ایجاد بشود تا مبادا دست از پا خطا کنند . شرمنده ام نمی دانم چرا . نمی توانم به چشمان این مادران نگاه کنم ولی صداهایشان در گوشم زنگ می زند : چرا از ما می ترسند ؟ اشتباه می کنند باید بگذارند ما مراسم مان را انجام دهیم و کمی آرام بگیریم . اونقدر می آییم تا ذله شان کنیم مگر ما حقی نداریم ؟ همه حق ها مال زورگویانه ؟ بابا این تاج و تخت به کسی وفا نکرده به این ها هم وفا نخواهد کرد باید احترام خودشان را حفظ کنند بچه های ما چه گناهی کرده اند که عدالت را باور کرده اند . تقصیر خود ماست سی سال پیش اگر نمی رفتیم تو خیانونها الان بچه هامون راحت تر بودند . پسرم کنکور داشت گفتند برای کنکور آزادش می کنن یک هفته دویدم ولی به قول شان عمل نکردند یکسال درس خونده بود برای کنکور ولی جا موند . صدا و سیما میگوید ندا را اغتشاشگران کشته اند ؟ منظورش مردمه آخه کی باور می کنه ؟ اگر اغتشاشگران کشته اند چرا اجازه مراسم ختم نمی دهند ؟ از صدا و سیما نگویید که اصلن ملی نیست من یک نسخه فراخوان را برای صدا و سیما ایمیل کردم . اگر ملی بود امروز می آمد اینجا و یک گزارش خوب تهیه می کرد اونوقت می گن چرا به صداهای بیگانه گوش می دهید. پلیس های زن هم آورده اند . واقعن این مامور ها چی فکر می کنن. زندگی راحتی دارند ؟ بدبختی ها را نمی بینند ؟ جوانهای خودشون به این راهپیمایی ها نمی روند ؟ چرا اینقدر سعی دارند سرکوب کنند .واقعن از سن و سال ما خجالت نمی کشند ؟ آ آزاده حاجی زاده 7/4/88