Today, June 18th, marks the fortieth anniversary of the execution of ten Baha’i women in Shiraz, Iran, because they would not recant their faith.
The youngest, Mona, was only 17. The eldest was 56 and the mother of Roya who was also killed. One wanted to become a veterinarian. Mona taught children. They were all trying to better their communities and serve others. Each had families, hopes, and dreams.
The 10 Baha’i women were executed because they believed in a faith that promotes gender equality, unity, justice, and truthfulness. The women were hanged one by one, in the dead of night, each forced to witness the next women’s death in a harrowing attempt to coerce them into renouncing their beliefs. None did so.
This month, the Baha’i International community has launched a global campaign called #OurStoryIsOne to share the stories of these women and to “demonstrate the shared story that exists between all groups in Iran and their sacrifices and efforts towards equality.”
There are many people currently under arrest in Iran for their beliefs in gender equality, justice, and truthfulness.
Two such Iranian women, Mahvash Sabet and Fariba Kamalabadi have already made great sacrifices. In July 2022 they were arrested and in November were each sentenced to ten years in prison, having already completed a 10-year sentence from 2008-2018, for actively working to make their communities better through practicing the Baha’i teachings. There are many more ‘women today who continue to fight against the forces of oppression in their homeland.’
We’ve heard stories of prisoner’s experiences including lashings and torture. No doubt even the simple pleasures we may take for granted are denied to those who are imprisoned. An example of one of those simple pleasures is going outside at will, taking a deep breath, and looking up at the sky in all its various moods and expressions.
Today I will begin posting on Instagram a small painting of a sky each day of this year-long project called Skies She Didn’t See, intended as a reminder of the courage and fortitude of these ten women gone before and those struggling now. It is dedicated to Sabet and Kamalabadi and all the others who are imprisoned in the struggle for equality and justice.
I hope through it we may continually call to mind their sacrifices and struggles for justice and to establish equality and the right to worship without reprisals.
Along with each painting, I’ll offer a prayer for them.
I invite you to do the same.
You can see the paintings as I post them on Instagram, and when you do, perhaps you’ll join me in praying for them, for all the many Baha’is under arrest, and for prisoners of conscience everywhere.
Instagram – @skiesshedidntsee
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