Political prisoners in Iran - part 1

The list of those detained on November 4th or the few days leading to this special day is growing rapidly. Add these names to all those who have already been arrested since the unrest began back in June of this year.

Keep in mind, that the names we hear of the most are those who are relatively well known, either journalists , or those some how or another connected to people that hold top positions in the political scene in Iran, or sadly we hear of them only after the fact: either killed (a few brave families have not caved under the pressure of keeping scilence) or those few who have decided to come forward with reports of abuse and rape. Its only logical to assume there are many many more that we know nothing of. 

Many are not heard from for months and months, many are held with no charges, their families are either frantically searching for them or if they are the "lucky" ones that have been told their sons or daughters are indeed held captive, of these many have no visitation rights. In fact, there have been more than one report that the family has finally learned the fate of their loved one only after they had appeared in the orchesterated "confession" and "trial" shows televised on state TV.

I have been hunted by thoughts of all these men and women - (or should I say boys and girls, as most are so so so young), thoughts of what their families must be enduring, and also how similar the situation seems like the 80s in Iran when wave after wave of political prisoners many under 18 were executed, quietly and under the radar.

Listen to this song from Siyavash Ghomeishi, old school, highly respected. song writer, singer, guitarist famous for his beautiful poetic lyrics and his warm velvet voice.  Translation follows. I have been listening to this song often, thinking of walls that separate families from their loved ones. If you still pray, think of them. 

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I sing for you
still from this side of the wall
where ever in your mourning you are
hold on to your memories

you don't know my dearest
about how we fair
in memory of the mirror, keep count
of each and every event

they have taken the sun from us
thanks to the night, stars are visible
from our gaze, there are sparks
that alight hundreds of lanterns for a dream
I sing for you
the best of songs
bring fear to the hear of the wall
freshen our solitude

you that share my sorrow, sing with me
in this endless prison
Damned be red light
Damned be green light