Mohammad and His Fight for Freedom
The elections in Iran on Friday meant a lot to me. I have made an online friend with a young man named Mohammad, who lives in Tehran. We have exchanged emails with photos of our homes, our backyards and street scenes of our respective countries. It is has been interesting to see the similarities between our two worlds. He has sent photos of him with his friends on vacation on the shores of the Khazar Sea, which we know as the the Caspian Sea. But as Mohammad says, the Persians named it Khazar a few thousand years ago. I can’t argue that point.
Over the last few years I have learned a great deal about the living conditions in Iran from Mohammad. Military service is compulsory; none of his friends want to go because it entails boring barracks duty or standing watch in obscure places for very little money and for very bad food. We have a lot in common on that score. For students, travel to other countries is restricted to Syria and Brussels.
Young men of military age have a great deal of trouble getting exemptions for foreign travel because of cost and the hassle of exemptions. One trip can take months to plan and arrange. Travel is further limited because many countries, including Middle East countries, do not issue visas for Iranian citizens.
One consistent theme that runs through all of Mohammad’s emails is how much the Iranian people love Americans and America. At one time Americans living in Iran became adopted as a group and thrilled the Iranians with their kindness. These pleasant memories of his parents have been passed down to the next generation of young adults. Mohammad has been trying for years to get a accepted to an American university to finish his education, a common dream for students.
Recently the tone of his emails has grown tense. He mentioned slower internet connection speeds a week ago and felt it was because of the coming election. A second email a few days later mentioned he could not send his usual photos of the week. He said people were growing excited about a new president coming into office and that things should improve for the Iranian people. The streets were filled with people of all ages night and day. He also told me a friend of his was taken away by what he called government police. I guess that means secret police.
His last email is the most telling:
Joe, now there is a riot in Tehran. I should go. I don’t know what will happen to me. But you should say to everyone Iranian are fighting for freedom. You should say who are we.
God be with you.
Goodby my friend.
It’s been a few days, and all I have is sketchy news of what he and his friends are going through. All I can do is hope for the best for not just him, but his country. They need our support in their fight.
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Gordon Smith said:
Thanks Joe.
June 16th, 2009 at 10:33 am
Fr. Anthony said:
I believe that a person who decides to take charge of another country must adhere to the fundamental rule that it is for the betterment of the people, and not for the sake of power.
Whilst people change, the world changes and we must accept this, it is important that all people stand up to a dictator who refuses to hear what the people actually want.
Many of us live in a free society and are proud of our rights and freedoms, yet we all give our support to all those who seek peaceful improvements to their lot, respect all who refuse to do wrong and pray for all those who are persecuted under an oppresive regime.
June 16th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
Jason Platzer said:
Thanks Joe. Great blog. It’s a sad state of affairs in Iran. I think we all hope that there can be peace in these regions: Iran, Israel/Palestine, North Korea, etc. We don’t realize how good we have it here in America. Sure we all have our frustrations with government spending and partisan politics, but at the end of the day at least we have the freedom to express that opinion. I pray that your friend Mohammad is well.
June 17th, 2009 at 4:38 am
Glyn Johns said:
Hello Joe. Yes, unfortunately, third world countries such as Iran, are only interested in power – look at Zimbabwe (which I still call Southern Rhodesia), North Korea, UK – to name but a few. I include the UK because of the recent expenses scandal in the UK Parliament (may be a bit tongue-in-cheek, and for that I apologise – it’s my former Royal Navy warped sense of humour). But seriously, I hope and pray your friend Mohammad and his friends are safe and well. Take care, God Bless, Glyn
June 17th, 2009 at 4:52 am
Mike Halvorsen said:
Anybody who expresses his/her desire for, if not Freedom, then at least a new government that loosens the bonds of totalitarianism, has my backing. For that matter, any REAL American would be proud to support their struggle. I’ve been following this on the news for the past week, and to see the bravery of the people in Iran in standing up to a powerful and ruthless regime…tears come to my eyes. Mohammed, my prayers are with you and your fellow protestors. We may be of different faiths, but I think God hears all prayers, no matter who they come from. Keep up the Good Fight, Mohammed, wherever you are, and know we’re with you in spirit.
June 17th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Joseph Hinds said:
Thank you Mike for your response. At some point I will pass this along to Mohammad and his friends. Right now,as you know, communication is mostly disrupted in Iran. I hesitate to try to make contact with him because their secret police is heavily monitoring in coming emails and phone traffic. They are going after people with friends in America first.
When he next contacts me, I will pass along your heart felt message.
Thanks again Mike—Joe
June 18th, 2009 at 9:40 am
Joseph Hinds said:
Anthony, Gordon, Jason, and Glyn,
As With Mike I appreciate all of you taking the time to be a piece of this world shaping event. Mohammad and his friends will not stop until the current President is out of power. These kids are fighting to the death along with millions of other Iranians.
They identify heavily with America because it was their country that created the first ever “Bill of Rights”, 2,500 years ago.Iranians did not hate America at the time they took the Shaw down. They hated his secret police and subversion of human rights and the lack of a vote. They have never hated us.
Thanks again to all of you.—Joe
June 18th, 2009 at 9:55 am
Mike Halvorsen said:
Joe, the day that I don’t raise my voice in favor of Freedom and against tyranny, start shoveling dirt in my face. Any population who has had enough of the unmitigated B***S*** that the Iranians have been putting up with from their \religious leadership\ deserves the backing of free people everywhere. I’m astounded that more people haven’t bothered to send their support to this site. Maybe it’s because I’ve seen totalitarism up close and I have that greater-than-average appreciation for that which all too many of us take for granted: the right to tell our government that they’re full of crap and we ain’t going along with it. The story I heard many years ago from a former citizen of the USSR was that they, too, had \freedom of speech\…but we had \freedom AFTER speech\! We forget too soon…
June 19th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
marco lombardozzi said:
Hey Joe, Marco here frm New Jersey. Thanks to both you and Mohammad for the courge to do what your doing in the name of freedom. I’ve often said “here it is 2009 and alot of the world is still living like its Orwells 1984 ” Give your friend my concern and support. Let him know that alot of us are continuing to follow the developments in Iran. As a US military veteran we often say that “freedom isn’t free, it’s paid for w/the blood and lives of the people”. Good luck and Mohammad be safe.
June 24th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Frank Chadwick said:
Joe,
Very moving piece. I hope Mohammad comes out of this okay.
June 30th, 2009 at 8:07 am
Ernie Gallegos said:
Israel praised to Iran protests to make destoyed Iran Government.
July 3rd, 2009 at 6:41 pm
Brian King said:
We’ve not had an update in a long time. Anything new to report Joe? Last I heard our friend stopped reporting and went dark so-to-speak. Is he OK?
July 10th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Trace Dawson said:
Iran is a good example of what future government revolts will look like. The internet and mobile communication have shrunk the world dramatically and allowed the transfer of information that was not possible even 10 years ago. For totalitarian regimes, like Iran, this transfer of ideas and information is a threat. Students and the technologically savvy could experience the outside world and take action to change their own country. Ideas, political campaigns, and demonstration plans were spread over the internet, by texts and twitter. I think the Iranian government is learning just how difficult it is to shut down a technologically advanced society, and the impacts it will have.
July 13th, 2009 at 12:02 pm