Shole Pakravan is a powerful human rights activist who will forever be a strong voice for her late daughter, Reyhaneh Jabbari,who was unjustly executed on October 25, 2014, for defending herself against a government rapist. Her story will be featured in my new book, "Dear God: Please bring freedom to Iran."
Shole
Pakravan is a well-educated, open minded woman, and a real fighter! She fights
for righteousness, humanity, freedom and most importantly, fights against
capital punishment in Iran. Capital punishment is the satanic adversary that
shadowed and oppressed her life and her family’s life for 7 long agonizing
years until it fastened its noose around her beautiful daughter’s neck in
Rajaee Shahr Prison in Karaj. When Reyhaneh Jabbari was unjustly executed,
Shole was determined to become a strong voice and a fierce opponent of the
death penalty that has claimed the lives of thousands of young people in the
Islamic Republic.
Since
her daughter’s execution Shole has become a dedicated anti-death penalty
activist, standing up and supporting the mothers who have lost their children
in the unjust and fake courts that are controlled by cruel Mullahs! Shole is
also a dramatic actress, director, and a loyal mother and wife.
One
sultry hot summer day in July 2007,
Reyhaneh was assaulted by a former intelligence agent who had lured her under
false pretenses to an empty and abandoned house. Terrified of being raped, when
Morteza Sarbandi physically attacked
her, Reyhaneh defended herself by stabbing him in the shoulder with a knife,
and then managed to escape. Sarbandi
bled out and died from his stab wounds. Unfortunately, Reyhaneh was completely
unaware that the Islamic authorities are always prepared to victimize one
innocent figure in order to conceal their own devilish deeds. Iran is a very
man-centered society and the reputation of a member of the intelligence
ministry is far more important than the accusation of a “so-called” rape victim.
Reyhaneh refused to change her story from rape to consensual sex and that
sealed her fate. She was arrested at 19 and at the age of 26, she said goodbye
to her life and her family in the early morning hours of October 25, 2014 after a seven-year imprisonment. She proudly and
courageously faced the noose on the gallows and her spirit flew away to rest in
peace.
By
executing Reyhaneh, The Iranian regime intended to scare all girls to let them
know that they cannot resist the sexual harassments of government agents. A
powerful message was sent that women would be severely punished and executed
for yelling rape!
They killed
Reyhaneh, the beautiful and kind girl who was described by many prisoners and
even jailors, as the one with a bright sign of hope and taught many solitary
women prisoners the ways of mutual respect. They murdered her in order to put
hope, generosity, and kindness to death. However, they did not realize that
Reyhaneh was actually a seed planted throughout Iran’s soil. They only killed
one Reyhaneh, whereas thousands of “Reyhanehs” have grown and multiplied like
seeds that have blossomed into lovely flowers.
In
2016, Shole was summoned before the Ministry of Intelligence and warned by the
authorities that there would be grave consequences for her other daughters if
she continued to speak out against executions. Shole had been busy posting pictures
one her Facebook page showing her standing in support of other mothers who had
lost their children to executions. Realizing the danger that her activism was causing
her family, Shole and her daughter Shahrzad secretly fled into Turkey and applied
for asylum. After several months, through the hard work and connections of
other human rights activists, they were accepted by the German Immigration
board and were able to leave Turkey. Today, both Shole and Shahrzad are busy
studying the German language and assimilating as refugees in their new home.
They are hoping that soon the rest of their family can join them in Germany.
In
remembrance of her courageous daughter, Shole has written a powerful and moving
tribute describing her commitment to never stop being a voice for Reyhaneh:
“Inspite
of all of the agony that I have gone through, I am well prepared to fight for
your honor. I’ll never stop being your voice since you opened my eyes! As I
promised you, now my hands are your hands, my feet are your feet, and my voice
is your voice.
You
have already forgiven the judges and tormentors and murderers, but I can never
forgive the one who suppressed you, invented false allegations, and signed your
execution order, prepared the gallows, and tightened the noose that stopped you
from breathing. I want them to punished in this world and be sentenced for
their crimes, so that no other mother will ever have to see their child being
executed before their own eyes.
Now
your soul has been integrated into my whole body and I’ve dedicated my life to
reclaiming your honor. Even after a thousand
years, every single particle and dust of my essence will continue to cry out
your name. I will live to see your victory over this dictatorship government.
At
dawn, on the 25th of October, 2014, you were standing in the middle
of execution field atf Rajaar Shahr prison with your hands tied, staring at
your murderers with your beautiful brown eyes, and you shouted, “You may take
my life, but you can never pollute it with the shame of surrender!”
Although
you are gone, now is the time to proudly announce that the “Reyhan Foundation”
in Europe is formally registered on the internet. The Reyhan Foundation
supports all of those sentenced to death, and the families of rape victims.
This foundation will be a strong voice for the families of the executed and
also those who have been the victims of rape. It is my duty and commitment to
you to fight as long as it takes to put an end to the horrible executions in
Iran.”
*Editor’s
note:
To read the complete story of Reyhaneh’s
tragic life and execution, you can purchase the book, written by Randy L. Noble
on Amazon. Com. It is entitled, “Reyhaneh:
A beautiful fragrance.”
