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THE TRUE STORY |
A Dress for Mona | |||
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The True Story
Click to read
Click to read
Click to order Olya's Story. Also: Listen to Olya speak about her experience (Link to 48 minute Video)
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History On the 18th of June,
1983 in Shíráz, Iran, ten women were executed by hanging for their
unwillingness to renounce their Bahá'í belief in the face of the Islamic
fundamentalism that had recently overtaken their country. This act was
particularly disturbing since usually only Bahá'í men were targeted for
execution. The incident brought outcries from the world community
appealing to the Iranian government to implement basic human rights for
the Bahá'ís. This international pressure had its effect in that recent
years have witnessed fewer executions, but Bahá'ís are still denied basic
rights of education, employment, assembly and legal protection. The Bahá'í
Faith is a religion native to Iran and is considered apostasy by the
religious leaders of Shí'ih Islam. Since the religion began in 1844, over
20,000 of its adherents have been martyred. Of the ten women executed in
1983, the youngest was only a teenager. Her name was Mona Mahmúdnizhád. No comprehensive biography has yet been written about Mona, but there are some accounts available. We are happy to include two on this website, along with bibliographic information on others. The Story of Mona: 1965-1983 This is a fairly detailed account of the life of Mona Mahmudnizhad. It also includes short biographies of the other women executed with Mona. It was published in Canada to accompany the release of a song about Mona by Canadian musician, Doug Cameron. The song, "Mona with the Children," and the accompanying video did much to publicize the event through the popular media. Click here to begin reading or ò choose a heading below ò |
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"The Story of Mona" is posted on this site with permission. The copyright is held by Baha'i Canada Publications, under the auspices of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Canada. The division into Parts 1 - 5 is not part of the original publication. |
"The Story of Mona: 1965-1983" - Part 1 |
"The Story of Mona: 1965-1983" - Part 2 |
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"The Story of Mona: 1965-1983" - Part 3 The second stage of interrogation |
"The Story of Mona: 1965-1983" - Part 4 |
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The Story of Mona: 1965-1983. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Canada. 1985. 45pp. US $5.95 [8 1/2 X 11 photocopied booklet] To order this publication, call Unity Arts at 1-800-465-3287 This a recent effort at compiling Mona's story undertaken by a Baha'i in Iran. This unpublished account is the only one we know of that has been fully authenticated by Mona's family. It is therefore the most accurate information we can provide. Since it was written with a Baha'i audience in mind, there are certain expressions or references that may be unfamiliar to a general audience. Also, the English translation is provisional. Click here to read "Mona's Life." Perhaps the book that has done the most to publicize the tragic events that occurred in Shiraz during the Islamic Revolution is "Olya's Story" by Olya Roohizadegan. Olya was a fellow prisoner who suffered alongside Mona and the other women, but was released several months before the executions. Olya's Story: A
survivor's dramatic account of the persecution of Bahá'ís in Revolutionary
Iran. Olya Roohizadegan. Oxford: One World
Publications, 1993. 236pp. ISBN 1-85168-073-X. $12.95 This volume contains a wealth of information on the lives of Mona and the other women, as well as the persecutions of the Iranian Baha'is in general. Since The Baha'i World is the official historical record of the international Baha'i community, the information provided and the context in which it is presented are matchless. The Bahá'í World, Vol. XIX: 1983-1986 Prepared under the supervision of The Universal House of Justice. Haifa: Baha'i World Centre, 1994. ISBN: 0-85398-998-2 You may order "The Baha'i World" by contacting the U.S. Baha'i Distribution Service, phone (800) 999-9019, email bds@usbnc.org
This book was written and published in 1982, the year before Mona's execution, by William Sears, a prominent and well-loved member of the Baha'i community. It may be helpful for general research on the subject as it contains some very personal accounts of the sufferings of the Baha'is in Iran as well as statistics regarding their persecution up to the date of publication. It is out of print, but you may be able to find a copy on the Internet or by contacting your local library.
From back cover: "Why are its Holy Places and humanitarian institutions destroyed or seized? "Why are the homes, farms and possessions of its members looted, burned stolen? "Why are its children refused education and hounded by school authorities? "Why are the Baha'is in Iran imprisoned, tortured, executed, murdered in terrible ways without fair trial? "Why do Baha'is choose to die rather than deny their Faith? "Are these innocent victims important to a world struggling to survive? "A Cry from the Heart gives powerful evidence and frank replies.
"William Sears, author, humorist, and former TV star, is one of the most distinguished Baha'is. He knew most of the martyrs he describes and theplaces where they lived. No one asked him to write this book. It is unofficial. It is his personal cry of indignation at what is happening to the Baha'is of Iran. He thinks you should know about them." A Cry From the Heart: The Bahá'ís in Iran. William Sears. Oxford: George Ronald, 1982. 220pp. ISBN 0-85398-134-5 |
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