Aida Coertse
Cape Town - I AM an Iranian woman living in South Africa for over 23 years.
For my freedom and a better future for my children, I had to leave my children, my family, my emotional support.
I moved to South Africa in 1999. My dream was to one day bring my children to this newly free country for them to experience freedom of expression and equality.
South Africa was a safe haven to me, an abused and heartbroken woman.
I worked hard for years before being able to see my children once again. In fact, despite all the legal struggles, it took me 6 years to bring my 16-year-old daughter and 15 long years to be able to bring my two sons and reunite with all three children in South Africa.
This is not only my story, many Iranian people have left Iran to move to other countries in the hope of finding freedom, equality and peace.
On September 16, Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian woman, was arrested by the morality police in Iran.
She was killed, by the morality police, because her hair was not fully covered by her scarf or, as the morality police say, her hijab was not perfect.
A week later another girl, Hadis Najafi, was shot dead on the street as she bravely took her scarf off in support of Mahsa Amini. All she was saying was: “NO to mandatory hijab”. People are protesting all over Iran and outside of Iran against this cruelty since Mahsa’s death.
These protesters are not seeking violence, destruction or vandalisation.
They are not disrespecting anyone’s religion or religious beliefs, or any religious figures.
They are simply supporting women and women’s rights, asking for freedom of choice.
However, protesters received violence and gunfire from the government, and internet blackouts to stop people from communicating with each other and the outside world.
Many people are killed and wounded and so many more are arrested.
No one knows what the real numbers are, not what is happening to people who have been arrested there!
Today millions of people in Iran and outside of Iran are rising in support of Iranian women’s freedom of choice.
I would like to say to Mahsa Amini, Hadis Najafi and to many other women and men that their blood has not been shed in vain!
That they have many brothers and sisters all around the world who have risen up and stood together, claiming their rights.
There have been over a hundred million #mahsaamini in a matter of days and the awareness continues rising. Many years ago l predicted that the next revolution in Iran will be initiated by women.
The time is NOW! As a woman, as a mother, a daughter, a sister and most importantly as an awakened human being, I, Aida Coertse, stand next to my sisters in Iran. I ask for freedom of choice, I stand for equality! Women should be free to choose.
They should be free to wear hijab if they choose to, as much as they should be able to, not wear hijab if they choose to.
Finally, it is time to know Iran not by its government, nor its oil, its carpets or its saffron, it is time to know Iran by its courageous women.
After all, Iran is a female name we use for our daughters, maiden warriors of this time.
Cape Times