From Editor’s Desk

Shahrokh Ahkami, Persian Heritage, #113, Fall 2024 —

Once again, the publication of Persian Heritage was delayed by week or two due to excessive concerns about the dangerous, terrifying, and alarming transformations in the Middle East. Even in these late hours of the night, with the dawn soon to follow, I have anxiously looked at the latest world news several times, especially regarding Iran and the Middle East, to stay informed about what I should share with the loyal readers of Persian Heritage. The Iranian people have suffered for so many years in their efforts to attain the most basic and fundamental human rights, such as freedom of speech, freedom of belief, and freedom of dress. How many brave young people have lost their precious lives for these rights so far? Why must a country so rich in human and natural resources, burden its’ people leaving them desperate and helpless.

Iran is a country whose youth are among the most capable scientific, economic, and technical figures who in other parts of the world live good lives. Why must they live, within Iran, under minimal conditions, struggling to make it through each day. Just today, I read that a 14-year-old boy defeated the world’s number one table tennis player, a Gold Olympic champion, in an international competition. Such talented youth, and many like him, are abundant in our ancient homeland. At the same time, as I looked at the photo of this champion, I suddenly saw the image of six other young people on this very paper on which I am pouring out my thoughts to you. It was an article from Radio Zamaneh with the headline, ‘At least 19 prisoners executed in less than two weeks in just one prison in Iran.’ The article reported that out of those 19 prisoners, 14 men were executed at Adelabad Prison in Shiraz, either for drug-related offenses or murder. However, the Iran Human Rights Organization stated that the number of prisoners executed at Adelabad in the past two weeks was 36. But the organization has not been able to confirm 17 of the executions.

Radio Zamaneh writes: ‘A team of United Nations experts, including Javaid Rehman, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, announced that, based on the information received, the Islamic Republic executed at least 81 people in the month of August, nearly double the 45 executions reported in July.’ The UN has confirmed that the Iranian government has executed at least 400 people, including 15 women, so far this year. In the first seven months of this year alone, the Iranian regime has executed nearly 300 individuals, and according to another report, 370 people. Last year, the regime executed over 800 individuals, with a significant portion of those executed belonging to ethnic minorities, including Baluchis, Kurds, and Arabs.

According to Radio Zamaneh and other news outlets, political and non-political prisoners in at least 21 prisons across Iran have, for the past 35 weeks, joined the campaign ‘Tuesdays: No to Executions’ and engaged in collective hunger strikes to protest the issuance and execution of death sentences by Iran’s judicial system. In a joint statement from a group of human rights activists and the Boroumand Foundation, it was reported that the record for executions in Iran over the past decade has been broken (Voice of America).

When the Iranian government sees danger, it increases the number of executions. A country whose religious leaders speak of Islam and of its kindness, compassion, forgiveness, and renounces revenge, instead of offering guidance and direction to heal the poverty, ignorance, and misguidance, they instead offer nothing to help its’ citizens to endure their hardships. With hatred and enmity, they see the only solution to these missteps as being the execution and destruction of a handful of young people—many of whom have been driven to addiction, trafficking, and misguidance due to poverty, desperation, hopelessness, and social and familial pressures.”

They have turned to drugs and crime. Young people protesting for the freedom to choose their clothing, beliefs, and lifestyle are either blinded or maimed by cold pellets or thrown into prison, only to be executed under various pretexts. In these days of economic crisis, with rising prices, food and clothing shortages, and the people’s inability to afford their daily bread, food, and clothing, we suddenly hear the tragic news of the horrific explosion at the Tabas mine, which claimed the lives of 52 worthy and honorable young men. As our heroic champion from Khorasan—whom many young Iranians compare to Takhti, (a very popular humanitarian and wrestling champion) having only read and heard about the legendary champion Takhti—has said, “we see and read daily in various media about the sacrifices and hard work of our renowned and honorable champion, Rasoul Khadem. In Balochistan and Sistan, he works alongside the good people of that region, helping those in need.”

Champion Rasoul Khadem says that the workers who lost their lives in Tabas were employed ‘like slaves’ just for a piece of bread, working 800 meters underground. Many of these people and young men died from severe gas poisoning after the explosion, as other parts of the mine were not evacuated. According to Rasoul Khadem, more than 50 families have been left fatherless, without husbands or children. These men were content with the bare minimum wages just to provide for their children’s needs, but it led to this tragic end.

One of the innocent victims was Farhad Pirzad from Quchan, who ranked 180th in the 2012 Humanities National University entrance exam. He was studying law at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. However, due to extreme poverty and the need to provide for his 4-year-old child, he had to work in this mine, where the high levels of methane gas had been repeatedly reported to the authorities but were completely ignored. This capable and talented young man, along with other workers, lost his precious life due to the greed, dishonesty, and corruption of those in power. It is likely that their destitute and impoverished families, overwhelmed by hunger and helplessness, are now condemned to a life of fear and misery.

At the same time that the country mourned the loss of 52 innocent lives, there was no statement or expression of regret from the officials in charge. Everywhere, these fallen workers were referred to as mere ‘victims’ or ‘deceased.’ It is possible that the government issued orders to censor and control news related to this tragedy. Meanwhile, the newly elected president and his entourage were en route to New York. Mr. Pezeshkian spoke of laying down arms, but sadly, no attention or media coverage was given to their fruitless trip to New York. Simultaneously, reports of large-scale thefts and embezzlement from the state treasury by those controlling the country’s economy and financial resources were published in some media outlets.”

The voices of some of our sports elites, who perhaps possess more courage and integrity than many of our intellectuals, have been raised. Ali Daei, a beloved figure among many Iranians, voiced his protest against the Islamic Republic’s neglect of the innocent workers killed in Tabas and the vast, unchecked spending on ‘Gaza, Lebanon, and Iraq.’ This was reported in some newspapers, that during these times of crisis, “numerous planes with large shipments of food, medicine, and clothing are being sent to Lebanon. Half of the Imam’s Khums fund, as per the leader’s orders.”

In these times of crisis, many planes carrying large shipments of food, medicine, and clothing are being sent to Lebanon. Half of the Imam’s Khums fund, according to the leader’s orders and some religious leaders, is being allocated to Lebanese victims. Of course, no one has precise knowledge of the amount or extent of this half of the Imam’s unregulated treasury. Similarly, no one knows how much of the funds will be deposited into personal accounts in London, Dubai, and other countries, or how much will actually reach the people of Lebanon and Gaza. As the saying goes, ‘A light that is needed at home should not be given to the mosque.’ It is a disgrace that the country’s already empty treasury grows emptier each day while the pockets of a handful of privileged individuals and their associates get fuller.

Keeping people distracted and filling them with fear of war on one hand, and on the other, deploying the morality police—a group of thugs and killers—onto the streets is perhaps the only way this handful of incompetent and unworthy rulers can extend their rule in this country.

I have endured 45 years of instability and fear, 45 years of anxiety and distress, 45 years of terror, wondering if there will be a tomorrow. How long will this continue?

These days, foreign powers with influence and media resources have created an image of Iran and Iranians that is far more hideous and ugly than during the hostage crisis. In every conspiracy or act of terrorism, not only the Iranian government but also every Iranian—regardless of their hatred for war, destruction, and devastation—gets implicated. Vice President Kamala Harris in a 60 Minutes interview said that Iran is the biggest enemy of the United States, not China. This is wrong and misleading! No way can you compare Iran with China. Other nations and ethnic groups fight amongst themselves, while Iran’s rulers, by emptying the country’s treasury, rush to their aid, leaving their own people surrounded economically, politically, and security-wise. At any moment, a terrifying war could engulf Iran, the Middle East, and the world. Perhaps, because they managed to preserve their regime through 8 years of war with Iran, destruction, and the loss of one million Iranians, they believe starting another war will again guarantee the continuation of their rule and power.

What is strange is that Iran is currently providing financial aid to Iraqi widows, while its own youth lose their precious lives 800 meters underground, with no attention given to their own people.

With the rising prices of dairy products, the possible increase in gasoline prices, a 55% rise in the price of water, the soaring cost of food and clothing, the declining value of the currency, and the decreasing purchasing power of the people, perhaps a day will come when protests against these hardships, these injustices, and this oppression will end. Perhaps the honorable people of Iran will finally achieve what they deserve—a peaceful, dignified, and secure life.

These days, the class divide in Iran has become so deep and vast that, just like the Tabas mine that exploded under the pressure of methane gas, beloved Iran may one day explode from within due to the immense pressure of oppression, injustice, and the tribal rule. Instead of being turned to dust by foreign missiles and bombs, it may witness an internal revolution by its people, who will free themselves from this tyranny and achieve what they want—freedom, equality, the right to choose their clothing and beliefs, and the beginning of a dignified life.

Jahangir Sedaghatfar said it well:

Didn’t I proclaim since the beginning,

A blood stained curtain has been draped across the horizon?

Didn’t I proclaim that, like a slaughterhouse,

The ground has been drenched with the blood of poppies?

Didn’t I proclaim that the gods of the world, out of deceit,

Have incited one tribe against another?

Nor, did I say that all leaders, wise and noble,

Are seemingly cultured, yet they are ignorant?

I said, yes, that when you look at any passerby,

You see the oppressors, with swords drawn, ready to strike.”

“They, in their pursuit of vile goals,