I’m not afraid Anymore
Friday, July 31, 2009 16:26I just read (in Persian) a beautiful description of what happened yesterday in Tehran’s cemetery to the people that were planning to go to Neda’s grave. The description is so poetic and beautiful that I decided to translate it to English to share with you. (read the original text in Persian here)
It is hot. I am tired. It has been two nights that I haven’t had proper sleep. I just came directly from my village next to Isfahan to Beheshte Zahra. I’m still wearing green scarf and haven’t had a proper meal since morning.
Sun is shinning on our head and we are chanting slogans, but we are late…
The riot police have surrounded section 257 [where Neda’s grave is]. Riot police is standing in front of us. We are a lot, we are chanting slogans and going forward and the Police are retreating. We have the good feeling of Victory.I tell my friend:
Who are all these people? How is it that they’re not getting tired? How is it they have so much energy?
A lady next to me was shouting: “Government of Coup, Resign, Resign”
I am feeling so tired, tell my friend: “I’m not planning to get martyred today, shall we go home?”
She asks me: “are you afraid?”
I reply: Maybe, since the day that I saw the police hitting that young man on the head with baton and seeing the blood from his head, I got afraid. These days when I get home midnight, until I hear that all my friends have also got home safe I feel my heart in my mouth.What time was it, Yeah it was around 6. Suddenly they started attacking us. I was still wondering if I’m afraid or not. They started hitting us with their batons. My friend and I are now separated.
I’m standing, suddenly I’m feeling calm. I don’t feel like running away. The black dressed riot police come towards me, moving their batons and swearing.
I’m still standing. A riot police stands in front of me and shouts: “Piss off”, but I’m still standing. It is the 254th section.
I’m all alone. They fired tear gas in the next section. Smoke and dust makes it difficult to see. I look around me. Look into the eyes of the riot police that is staring at me behind his mask. Hatred is in my eyes. I’m not afraid. I don’t “piss off”.
I’m standing here. In 254th section of Beheshte Zahra. The police spray pepper in my eyes. Someone shoots tear gas towards us.
I’m still standing, I’m still standing. My face is burning. Someone grabs my hand and pull me.
BUT I’m NOT AFRAID ANYMORE….
