Famous American author and humorist, Mark
Twain, was once quoted as saying, “If voting made a difference, they wouldn’t
let us do it.”
This week’s presidential election in Iran
was anything but a real Democratic election, rather it was a “selection”
hand-picked by the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. “Only candidates approved,
vetted, and qualified by the 12-member Guardian Council are eligible to participate.”
The members of the Guardian Council are the most loyal puppets and servants of
the Supreme Leader.” What qualifies the candidates is not their education,
according to Marziyeh Amirizadeh, an Iranian American author and human rights
activist, who immigrated to the US after being sentenced to death in Iran for
the crime of converting to Christianity. “Their qualification is based
exclusively on their subservience to the Supreme Leader.” Marzieyh goes on
to explain that their qualifications must include “blood on their hands, and
supporting, organizing, and exporting extremist Islamic ideology and terrorism
abroad.”
On
July 5, in a special run-off, Reformist candidate, Masoud Pezeshkian, defeated
ultra-conservative, Saeed Jalili, by approximately three million votes, during
one of Iran’s lowest voter turnouts, since the establishment of the Islamic Republic. The mainstream media reported that the turnout was less than 50%, but
according to Marzieyh Amirizadeh, the turnout was less than 10%, with over 80
million Iranians saying “No” to the Islamic terrorist regime, and boycotting
the election. As a reformist, Pezeshkian has been an advocate of letting women
choose to wear the hijab and ending internet restrictions that require the use
of VPN to avoid government censorship. Pezeshkian claims to be a “voice for the
voiceless," urging police to refrain from violent confrontations with Hijab
violators. But once again, coming from someone who used to live under the
dictatorship government, Marziyeh is quick to expose this bogus claim by
Pezeshkian. She declares, “The reformist candidate is playing the part of a
candidate on the side of the people, seeming to care about their issues.”
When in reality, he is being used as a pawn to draw women and young voters to
the polls, trying to portray to the world, that Iran has democratic elections.
It is a well-known fact that the new
president is really not on the side of the people. It is an image-building
façade that the government is using to deceive the people. The new president
will continue to enforce the same policies of his predecessor, Ebrahim Raisi,
who was tragically killed in a helicopter crash on May 19. Pezeshkian’s loyalty
is not to the people of Iran but to the Supreme Leader and once again the real
victims will be those who accepted the façade and voted.
Iranians are hurting and desperate for
real freedom and have put their hopes in a new president who claims to be their
voice. More than 50,000 mosques have closed in the last two years. Iranians are
spiritually hungry and thirsty, searching for a god who really cares and will
do something to make their lives better. Transform Iran, a Christian
internet organization, dedicated to reaching Iranians with the gospel, recently
published a series of letters from members of the underground house church
movement. They were asked to describe the reality of the situation for those
living under the iron fist of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Their letters
revealed the voices of oppressed Iranians who have described their situation as
being hopeless with no future.
“The majority of people are depressed, writes
one house church member, This is no exaggeration. The opportunity to earn a
living and make a life for yourself is gone. Poverty is great. People are
hungry and powerless to change their circumstances. Prostitution is alarmingly
high. Real value and worth is fragile. Dignity is lost.”
Another
house church member writes, “The top three problems are poverty, addiction,
and joblessness. People are turning to drugs and getting high to forget their
troubles, even if just for a moment. They have lost all hope. Our girls, our
younger generation, are being lost to prostitution. Little children who should
be getting an education are instead out in the streets selling flowers, washing
car windshields, polishing shoes.”
I
want to be optimistic, but unfortunately, I have to face the hard reality. The
new president will not keep his campaign promises to the people of Iran. Like
most politicians, even those in Iran, he played the people for a fool to get
their so-called votes, but of course, it wasn’t a real election, but rather a
cleverly disguised “selection” courtesy of the Supreme Leader.
Where can the people of Iran turn to for
hope? Who can they trust that will make a profound difference in their
desperate lives? The members of the house church that wrote these letters have
the answer. They found their hope and freedom in Jesus. They found a savior who
satisfies their spiritual hunger and thirst. They made a choice that has put
their lives in jeopardy, forcing them to meet secretly to worship and read
their bibles.
Jesus is calling out to hopeless Iranians
with a promise to radically transform their lives and give them real hope and
rest. Jesus declares:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and
burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For
my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
(Matthew 11:28-30)
Phony politicians will come and go, their
empty promises will do nothing but line their own pockets with wealth. However,
Jesus keeps his promises. He will not lie. He will never leave and forsake a
desperate heart that is crying out to him. True freedom and democracy is coming
to Iranians, not in a new government, but in a faithful savior, whose words
have stood the test of time.
*Quotes from Townhall article by Marziyeh Amirizadeh
Just a few seconds before she was gunned down by security forces in the city of Karaj during a peaceful protest, Hadis Najafi is seen in a video tying back her hair in a ponytail.
This is an excerpt from my book, "Uprising: We Are The Revolution," on Amazon.com
Hadis
Najafi ended her shift at the Takata Fast Food Restaurant at 5 pm and clocked
out. It had been a very busy afternoon for the lead cashier in one of the most
popular cafes in the city of Karaj. The city of Karaj lay nestled up against
the majestic foothills of the Alborz mountain range, a distance of just six
miles from the capital city of Tehran. Karaj city was a haven for young
students studying art and medical science at Azad University. For Hadis, being
a student was not her passion in life. Instead, she was a dedicated “social
media geek.” She loved to display the latest fashions on her Instagram account
and treat her fans to Persian dancing on TikTok. Politics and religion didn’t
interest her. She spent her money investing in VPN, to overcome the filtering
of the internet, so she could talk to her friends online every night. The
Islamic Republic of Iran along with the help of the cyber police had blocked
the major social media platforms, Facebook, Twitter, Telegram, Youtube, etc.
The only way to overcome government censorship was to purchase the virtual
private network app.
As Hadis left the restaurant and stepped
out onto the sidewalk, she looked carefully in both directions, to see if she
could spot the Morality Police Van and then ripped off her hijab and threw it
down on the ground
“I hate that damn thing!” Hadis muttered
to herself.
This evening, Hadis was not her cheerful
self. She was not in a good mood. The tragic death of Mahsa Amini had tormented
her mind all day. Dealing with impatient customers paying for their meals and
complaining about the prices had pushed her to the limit. She wasn’t in the
mood to listen to them, especially when a young Kurdish girl had been beaten to
death by the Morality Police. Hadis had never been outspoken or political, but
tonight was different. Every time she gazed at the picture of Jina Mahsa on her
cell phone, lying comatose in a hospital bed, she couldn’t hold back the tears.
Deep down in her soul, she felt an irresistible urgency to see justice for
Jina. Hadis felt it was her duty to humanity to be Jina’s voice and scream
loudly against the government‘s unjust murder of an innocent young woman.
Hadis arrived at the bus stop and broke
away from the crowd of people for a few moments. She quickly speed-dialed her
friend Farzad.
“Dorood, Farzad (Faris for hi) Chetori?”
(Farsi for, “How are you?”)
“I’m good. You just get off work, Hadis?”
“Yes. I’m on my way home. Listen, I wanted
to tell you. I am going to join the protest tonight. I heard they will be out
on Eram Boulevard.”
”Hadis, are you crazy? You’ve never been
political.”
“I know. I know,” Hadis replied, stepping
onto the arriving bus, “But I must do this for Jina. I believe we must be her
voice. Women have got to rise and let this damn government know that we will
not be oppressed anymore. We have the right to wear what we want to wear!”
“Please be careful, dear friend,” Farzad
cautioned Hadis.
Hadis clicked off her cell phone and
relaxed back in her seat, taking a deep breath. Tonight, was Wednesday,
September 21. Wednesday was her usual night for doing live Persian dancing for
her fans on TikTok, but that would have to be postponed. She would celebrate
with her fans later, but tonight was reserved exclusively for Jina. “Justice
for Jina” weighed heavily on Hadis’s mind, and nothing would stop
her!
*****************
Hadis walked through the front door of her
home, exhausted, but energized to go back out. She decided to change her
clothes and grab a quick bite to eat before joining the protest.As soon as she entered the kitchen, her
mother noticed her flowing blonde hair draping down over her shoulders and a
frustrated look in her brown eyes.
“Where is your hijab, Hadis? Didn’t you
wear it today?You must be so careful
now these days.”
Hadis flopped down in a chair at the
kitchen table and grabbed an apple to eat.
“I threw that damn thing away. I hate it!”
Hadis answered back while munching on her apple.
Mrs. Najafi sat down at the table across
from Hadis with a worried look on her face.
“Hadis! Don’t say that! You worry me! Look
what happened to that Kurdish girl just last week!”
Hadis set the apple down in front of her
and stared back intently at her mother.
“That’s why I threw my hijab away, Mom. I
did it for Jina. I did it for every Iranian girl. We are tired of being
oppressed and told what to do!” Hadis shouted back, banging her fist on the
table.
Mrs. Najafi sat quietly and took a nervous
deep breath. There was no arguing with her daughter. She was very high-spirited
and independent. Hadis quickly stood up from the table and dabbed her lips with
a napkin.
“I must go out tonight, dear mother. There
is going to be a protest on Eram Boulevard. I need to go for Jina.”
Mrs. Najafi rubbed her hand across her
forehead and bowed her head in fear for a few moments. Then she stood up and
hugged Hadis.
“I understand Hadis. But I am so worried. I
am so afraid. It is so dangerous.”
Hadis gave her mother a reassuring look
and kissed her softly on the forehead.
“I must do this, Mom. I will be careful. I
promise I won’t stay out very long.”
Hadis left the kitchen and hurried into
her bedroom. She quickly changed into a pink tank top and put on a fresh pair
of blue jeans. She flopped across her bed and turned on her cell phone. The
first picture that appeared was that of Jina Mahsa Amini, sitting in her living
room last year, in front of a chocolate cake, celebrating her 22nd
birthday. Hadis smiled. It was one of the happiest moments for Jina. Hadis was
also 22 years old, just like her hero, who was cruelly murdered just a week
before her 23rd birthday. Tears filled her eyes. She blew a kiss
toward the picture on her cell phone screen.
“Tonight, I will be your voice, dear Jina
and I won’t stop shouting until you get justice!”
***************
“Death to the dictator! Woman, life
freedom!”
The angry loud shouts of protesters
filled the cool night air on Eram Boulevard.It was just a few minutes before 8 pm as Hadis turned on her cell phone.
She aimed the camera toward the protesters filling the streets. Just up ahead
she noticed a bonfire in the center of the street and watched several women
setting their headscarves on fire. Running swiftly toward the scene, Hadis
began narrating the live video she was creating for her friends.
“This is a scene of women burning their
hijabs,” Hadis shouted out loud in laughter. “You go girls!”
In the distance, she heard sirens and more
angry shouts of protesters chanting. Tonight, she felt energized and unafraid.
She had never been to a protest before. Hadis remembered back to 2019 when more
than 1500 peaceful protesters were gunned down in the streets. At that time,
she vowed never to be political and just mind her business. But all of that
suddenly changed with the death of Jina. Tonight, was personal. Tonight, she
had to make a stand for the women of Iran. She regretted her decision for being
so selfish and passive a few years ago, but that had all changed.
Passing a local hardware store, Hadis
paused, catching her breath, and spoke directly into her cellphone continuing to
film the protest.
“I hope in a few years, when I look back,
I will be happy that things have changed for the better. I like to think that,
when I look back at this a few years later, I’ll be pleased that I joined the
protest.”
A few women, following close behind her,
began chanting, “Woman, life, freedom.” They were carrying signs with a picture
of JIna Mahsa Amini. At the bottom of the sign, it read, “We are all Mahsa.”
Hadis was excited to see that that two young men were in the crowd of women
chanting along with them. It was so encouraging for her to see men involved in
the uprising and defending the rights of women.
Suddenly, the sounds of security forces
yelling for protesters to halt or they would shoot startled Hadis. Beads of
sweat began rolling down her face. She took an angry deep breath and vowed once
again to not be afraid. Putting her cell phone in her pants pocket, Hadis stood
still for a moment. She tied back her blonde hair into a ponytail and twisted a
rubber band around it to hold it into place. An exhilarating feeling of courage
surged through her body. Tying back her hair was like preparing for battle.
Tonight, Hadis was making a bold statement to the government that she refused
to comply with the man-centered Hijab Law. This was her hair, her body, and no
man had the right to control it or tell her what to do.
The security forces began clashing with the
protesters, beating some in the head with their batons. Instead of cowering in
fear, Hadis closed her eyes and in her mind’s eye, she remembered back to her
favorite movie, “Braveheart.” She could see the chilling scene, where William
Wallace was lying across a torture rack and the King pleading with him to
recant and beg for mercy. She smiled, remembering the famous last shout from
William Wallace’s lips, when he screamed, “Freedom!”
The first shot terrified Hadis! She
clutched her abdomen in excruciating pain. A barrage of shots immediately
followed the first one, sending frightened protesters scrambling for cover.
Hadis collapsed backward on the hard pavement, struck by five more bullets in
the neck, chest, and face. The beautiful blonde freedom fighter lay dead on the
street in a massive pool of blood. She had made her courageous last stand on
Eram Boulevard in the city of Karaj, unafraid and unashamed to die as a martyr
for freedom in the never-ending struggle against gender apartheid in Iran.
******************
A few days after her tragic death, a video
surfaced showing a young woman tying back her blonde hair and preparing to join
the protest in Karaj. The video was attributed to Hadis, just seconds before
she was fatally shot. Although there is some controversy concerning the video
being that of Hadis, nevertheless, it had been unanimously attributed to her as
showing the final seconds of her life.
Security forces refused to hand over
Hadis’s body to her family at the hospital until they signed a pledge stating
that she died of natural causes. Devastated over her tragic death, a family
member, who was enlisted in the Basij (Iranian paramilitary) was finally
granted permission to make a formal identification of the body. He verified
that it was indeed Hadis and was horrified upon examination, that she suffered
at least 20 gunshot wounds to her body at very close range.
Mrs. Najafi, even though being warned by
security not to speak publicly about her daughter’s death, declared, “My
daughter was murdered for the hijab, for Mahsa Amini. She wanted to keep
Masha’s name alive. Mahsa is also my daughter and all those killed are my
children. She died for Mahsa. She sacrificed herself for Mahsa.”
Shortly after her death, Hadis’s sisters,
Afsoon and Shirin, published her photos and told people that she was shot,
defying the government ban.
*****************
Reflection
Understanding the great risk, Hadis Najafi
bravely took to the streets and proudly declared her right as a woman, to
display her beauty, rejecting the mandatory Hijab Law. She died for the right
to choose and the freedom to say no to a dictatorship government. In the last
seconds of her life, she spoke up for Mahsa Amini and all Iranian women, when
she tied back her hair and faced the firing squad.
Jesus proclaimed in John 10:10:
“The thief does not come except to
steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and
that they may have it more abundantly.”
For
more than 40 years, The Iranian people, especially women, have suffered greatly
at the hands of a corrupt and controlling government. They have had their
dignity stolen, their freedom suppressed, and their lives destroyed by satanic
forces. Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He desires to gently lead and guide us.
Satan desires as his core mission, to kill and destroy us. In contrast, Jesus
promises to protect and provide for his people. His mission is to bring us life
and life to the fullest. He came to bring you true hope and freedom. He
promises to remove the shackles of your oppression and give you a life filled
with meaning and purpose.
