Letter for Father’s Day by Shiva Nazar Ahari: “Dad, Stay Strong”
June 26, 2010Human rights activist Shiva Nazar Ahari has not celebrated two consecutive Father’s Days at home. Last year when Shiva was behind bars in ward 209 of Evin prison, she used the pen and paper her interrogator left behind in her cell to write a letter to her father. When she was temporarily released for a few months, she delivered the letter.
The Committee of Human Rights Reporters published the letter on Father’s Day of this year while Shiva remains detained in prison. On June 20, 2010, Shiva Nazar Ahari was transferred from ward 209 to the public ward in Evin prison.
Dad, Stay Strong
By SHIVA NAZAR AHARII was not there on Mother’s Day to kiss my mom’s hands and now I am not there for you on Father’s Day. Dear dad, there is only one day designated to you out of the 365 days. Let your tears roll down through the crevices of my loneliness. Let your tears drown me amidst all the crimes that I have not committed.
Dad, go ahead and cry. It is your right to pour out pain. It has been months since I slept in the room next to yours. You have no news of your daughter. This is your day and, once again, I am not there. Dad, despite all the resistance I am putting forth, my hands are still missing your hands. Dad, my shoulders still crave your shoulders. Even though I have grown up, even though I do my homework in a prison called Evin, and even though I have gained a lot of strength, I still feel like I am missing a part of me when you are not there.
Dear dad, whenever I cross a street, my hands crave for your hands to save me from oncoming traffic. Every morning, I cry with my hands pressed against the walls as I lean on my will power.
You taught me not to break down. Your words and your bedtime stories gave meaning to resistance. You said that injustice will pass and the legend of good people will remain.
I didn’t want to be here. You taught me to be here. I regurgitate your words every day. I don’t want to allow all this loneliness and silence to break me down.
Dad, go ahead and cry, but not for me. Cry for a motherland that sends its best children to prison. But stay strong, dad. My shoulders need the strength of your shoulders. Don’t you let your back bend under pressure or I won’t have anything to lean against. Stay strong, dad.
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