Author’s story inspires others to cherish human rights

August 20, 2013 · 0 Comments

By Mark Pavilons

A lesson in the importance and fragility of democracy came from an inspiring source recently at the Nobleton library.
The passion and strength of author Marina Nemat captivated a full house at the library for the event sponsored by the Nobleton Library Book Club. All eyes were focused on Nemat as she led the audience through a roller coaster ride of her life’s journey.
The native of Iran relayed the story of how her youth and life’s direction came to a screeching, horrific halt following the 1979 Iranian (Islamic) Revolution, which ousted the western-friendly Shah and replaced him with the infamous Ayatollah Khomeini.
The royal reign of the last Persian monarch was replaced by a harsh Islamic Republic.
Under the Shah, Nemat and her friends experienced the same things as Canadian teens – they spent summers by the sea; danced to the Bee Gees; read Jane Austen and watched U.S. TV programs. While she was a Christian growing up in a predominantly Muslim culture, she never felt different or out of place.
In those days, Iran was an educated country and women would become whatever they wanted. She had plans to become a doctor.
Then, in 1978, anti-Shah demonstrations began, soldiers and tanks appeared. Violence ensued.
After the Shah was exiled, they returned to school, and hoped everything would be back to normal. Nothing could be further from the truth. The first evidence of the horror to come was a new principal at her school, a young, inexperienced 18-year-old woman whose job it was to implement the Islamic cultural revolution. The former principal was executed.
Life went on, Nemat said, but Marxist ideology became vogue and teens of the time believed it was “cool.” Times were good for roughly one year as they enjoyed freedom among the chaos. And then the “ground disappeared from under your feet.”
New laws were written and the new system established.
“Horror happens little by little,” she stressed. “We lose our liberties little by little.”
In Iran they were trying to create a democracy, but it failed before it ever got off the ground.
Free speech was curtailed as newspapers were shut down and journalists fired. Dancing, singing and holding hands became “illegal.”
The hostage crisis, where 52 American diplomats were held for 444 days, focused international attention on Iran.
The months and years that followed saw protests, civil unrest and the rise of the Revolutionary Guards, the all-powerful force charged with protecting the country and influencing every aspect of Iranian life.
Nemat said mass arrests became commonplace by 1981 and each day at school, another desk was empty. How bad can it get? they wondered.
“Things can get really bad, really fast,” she observed.
One January evening in 1982 officers arrived at her home and took her away at gunpoint. She was 16.
She was taken to Evin Prison, where she was blindfolded, interrogated and tortured.
Authorities were looking for one of Nemat’s acquaintances and questioned her about attending protests and speaking out against the government.
That was enough to garner a death sentence, but hers was reduced to life. At the time, some 90% of the prison’s inmates were under 20.
She spent more than two years in prison and survived due to the affections of a prison guard, who she was forced to marry. His family obtained her release, and after he was killed, Nemat married her current husband. They came to Canada in 1991.
Nemat’s story is important in many ways. She tells her tale not to garner sympathy, but to make a point. Democracy is as fragile as holding water in your hands.
How does democracy die? she asked the crowd. She then asked how many have heard of Canadian Bills C-10, C-30, C-31 or C-64 – pieces of legislation that impact civil liberties.
Nemat notes we elect a government, put it in place and then go home and pay our mortgage. Our politicians are given great power, money and responsibilities and we expect them to do the right thing. “And when something goes wrong, we’re surprised,” she said.
Democracy needs attention and maintenance but the reality is for most average citizens we’re too busy going to work and “arguing with our teens.”
She told the audience to image what society would be like if our federal government outlawed “fun.” Similar to what happened when she was young, our teenagers would hit the streets in protest, but parents would remain concentrated on life’s demands.
Nemat never considered herself a political activist, but she was always a strong supporter of human dignity and human rights.
During her incarceration, she said the women spoke about what makes us all human. This, and her happy memories helped keep her alive.
Her memoirs and speaking engagements are so her friends won’t be forgotten. It’s also preventive medicine of sorts.
Nemat’s first book, Prisoner of Tehran, has been published in 27 countries. In 2010, she published After Tehran: A Life Reclaimed.
Nemat was awarded the first Human Dignity Prize in December 2007 by the European Parliament and the Cultural Association Europa 2004.
For more on her story, visit her website, www.marinanemat.com.