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Paula Slater, Fine Art Sculptor Neda & Sohrab Portrait Sculpture Asian Bronze Gallery 07-987-2048 800-675-5067
Please also visit www.Monasdream.com to learn about the torture and execution of ten women of the peaceful Baha'i faith and the persecution of the Baha'i in Iran by the brutal Islamic Regime.
When Mona was 16 years old she was arrested for being of the Baha'i faith. Brave young Mona was then hanged when she refused to renounce her faith. Mona was called the "Angel of Iran" also. A feature film is being made of this tragic and heroic story. |
Below are scenes from the protests in Iran Many brave souls are risking their lives daily in Iran in their fight for freedom and Democracy: The official figure of 55 dead is widely disputed. An Iranian parliament committee says 300 died. The tally, complied with the help of human rights groups and campaigners, shows 800 dead, around 7500 still detained, just under 100 released and 1000 Iranians missing. The bodies of several young Martyrs have been turned over to their families in recent weeks, all showing signs of brutal savage beatings and other abuse while in custody.
What can you do to help? Put this information on your blogs, on your twitters, on your facebooks, on your websites, in your emails, talk about it with friends and colleagues, spread the word, participate in 'Free Iran' events, display Freedom for Iran bumper stickers and wristbands. Phone or email your public leaders, Congressmen, Senators to let them know you support Freedom in Iran. This is a raging river that cannot be stopped, but each one of us can help to speed its momentum.... Do it for Neda.
I want to express my deepest thank you to all those who have written to me and posted comments on facebook and internet message boards. Your outpouring of positive words about the portrait busts of Neda have been overwhelming. My thoughts and prayers continue to be with the Iranian people.
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What can we do to help? To the left and below are scenes from peaceful but powerful Iranian protest marches. "This movement needs the awareness of people all over the world to succeed," an Iranian person writes to me. They started as a protest against the fraudulent election results. But they have evolved into the Iranian people wanting to overthrow their tyrannical dictatorship. The Iranian people want freedom and Democracy. "Don't underestimate the Iranian people. The protestors are no longer supporting former Prime Minister Mir-Hossein Mousavi; they are chanting "Death to the Dictator" [Khamenei]. They are opposing the Islamic Republic." 75% of the population in Iran is under the age of 30. From the scores of emails I have received, it is evident that these young people are intelligent, modern and educated. "Neda was martyred, we will never forget her. She and the other freedom martyrs (Sohrab, Taraneh, Ashkan, Kianoosh, Meddi, .........) made us stronger in our will." emails a young Iranian man in Tehran. They write that they love America and want the freedoms that we in free countries enjoy. They want separation of religion and government. These brave people are sacrificing their blood to claim a free Democratic future for themselves and their children. "With her life Neda told the world that Iran is not Ahmadinejad!" declares another email from Iran. Now that the Islamic Regime has clamped down on the right to assemble, these freedom fighters are risking their lives daily. In his email another person in Iran states, "Oh, yes, we will stand to the end, to get our freedom, for sure. I know my people, they don't give up, because they have nothing more to lose. No other choice actually." We in this free world, must ask ourselves, "What can we do to help?" "Neda died and gave life to a movement that will result in the freedom of a nation," exclaims an email from Iran. This is a pivotal point in history, I pray it does not escape us. This is not the time to be apathetic or uninformed. "It is so comforting for us to see other people care about our cause. It makes us stronger and makes us not give up," another emailer from Iran writes me. We as women need to stand in solidarity with the courageous Iranian women who are on the frontlines in the fight for human rights. "The next revolution in Iran will be for Democracy and freedom, made by our courageous Iranian women," proudly writes an Iranian man. The women in Iran are standing up, declaring freedom and Democracy not only for themselves but for their daughters--so that they will not be born into oppression, fear and torture. An email from
another Iranian in Tehran,
"The Islamic system in Iran, has nothing to do with our Iranian culture
and history, it is a foreign and imported religion that destroyed our
country. However, we are determined to stop this and kick this destructive
force out of our country and bring freedom to our nation, and join the
global community, especially our American brothers & sisters. In
Iran, we love Israel and America and would love to have a great cultural
relationships with these nations." Writes an Iranian American living in the Bay Area, "I feel so helpless and all I can do is to help spread the word and protest on their behalf. It gives me so much hope and comfort knowing that the international community has shared in my pain and horror of the inhumane crimes that have been committed in Iran. WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP?
Neda as spirit, as the angel, "with the maidens at the Palace of Fine Arts who will mourn for her loss forever." Photograph by Raymond Van Tassel. |
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