Statement of political prisoners in Evin prison in support of Nazanin Zaghari
15-October-2019
Category: Prisoners، Women
Breathing in Confinement _ ” Over the last many years, the persistence of the imposed separations and pressures on women prisoners, rather than being an effective factor to break them, has been clear evidence of their resistance and steadfastness as well as their determination in their struggle.”
When Nazanin’s daughter left Iran to join her father in England, and simultaneously with that, the women political prisoners in Evin, released a statement in support of Nazanin Zaghari – under detention in Evin prison, and also in protest against the harassments imposed on inmate mothers by separating them from their children.
The statement refers to the government’s combat with the freedom-seekers and in particular, to the fight of the misogynist rulers against the mother prisoners who have been suffering for many years only because of being a mother.
Women political prisoners, referring to the neglect of justice and human rights for Nazanin Zaghari, have written: “In the most recent case, Gisu- Nazanin Zaghari’s 5-year-old daughter, after being separated from her mother for 3 years and 8 months, inevitably left Iran to live with her father in the UK. This happened while the government’s authorities have subjected Nazanin’s release to the outcome of their negotiations and deals with the government of the UK. Meanwhile, what has been totally ignored are human beings, their rights, justice, and the truth.”
Below is a complete version of this statement- received by the Breathing in Confinement:
It has been a long time since the dictatorship, as well as the exploitation, have brought about nothing for the people of this country but the oppression, hunger, and deprivation. Throughout these years, there has been an ongoing fight and struggle between the dominant power and the freedom and justice seekers. On one side, has been the government with all means of repression. On the other side, however, the freedom lovers – men and women, with everything they’ve had, be it their pens or their lives.
Over the last many years, this fight and conflict have most obviously been manifested in the confrontation between the government and the mothers and their motherhood. The government despite overemphasizing the importance of motherhood to keep the women at homes, is in no way tolerating the motherhood of the women protesters. There have been many women who have born and raised their children in prisons.
Many mothers have even been deprived of the right to see their executed children’s bodies and to know their burial places. Others have been sent to the jail only because of demanding their children to be released or protesting their execution. Many were forced to leave their infants and to spend several years in prison apart from their children, without being granted even a single day of furlough. Many others have been even deprived of meeting their children in the prisons’ meeting halls. The anxious mothers who have been waiting for many hours for the basic right of embracing their beloved children have also suffered the similar pain.
Throughout these years, the struggle and fight of the misogynist government against the women and mothers who have risen for freedom and justice have been continuing. This fight undoubtedly reflects the growing awareness of women and the spread of their struggle and protests. Over the last few months, Farangist Mazlum in spite of being sick has been arrested only for defending her son-Soheil Arabi. Alireza Shirmohammadi’s mother lost her son in prison for failing to pay the bail amount of 6,500 dollars. Raheleh Asl Ahmadi was arrested for demanding her daughter (Saba Kordafshari) to be released. …and more examples…
In the most recent case, Gisu- Nazanin Zagari’s 5-year-old daughter, after 3 years and 8 months being separated from her mother, inevitably left Iran to live with her father in the UK. This happened while the government’s authorities have subjected Nazanin’s release to the outcome of their negotiations and deals with the UK government. Meanwhile, what has been totally ignored are human beings, their right, justice, and the truth.” From this point of view, the performance of both governments resembles the different sides of the same coin.
We, the undersigned, some of us have suffered separation from our children for many years reiterate our protest against the harassment of women and the inhumane behavior and injustice towards them. The historical experience and daily reality reveal that despite the wishes of the governments, the motherhood and its innate steadfastness and fruitfulness how tightly is entangled with the possibility and demand of emancipation.
We believe that the persistence of the imposed separations and pressures on women prisoners, rather than being an effective factor to break them, has been clear evidence of their resistance and steadfastness as well as their determination in their struggle.
We, the women of this land, on this side or the other side of the walls of the prisons, believe that the awakened conscience of our society will no longer stand the load of these oppressions and harassments. And through the grit and determination, the dawn of the freedom and emancipation for the suffered mothers will be rising soon. Let us hold hands together and be the voice of the inmates’ mothers in the hope of shiny days. So that the suffered society can be cured.
1- Yasman Aryani
2-Maryam Akbari Monfared
3-Sima Entesari
4-Aras Amiri
5-Marzieh Amiri
6-Leila Hosseinzadeh
7-Nazanin Zaghari
8-Zahra Zehtapchi
9-Athena Daemi
10- Fatemeh Ziai Azad
11- Monirah Arabshahi
12-Negin Ghadimian
13-Saba KordAfshari
14-Neda Naji
15- Narges Mohamadi
16-Asal Mohammadi
17-Sepideh Moradi
Evin Prison Women’s Political Ward
October 2019