Conversations with Iran - 1

 

I met O in 2017 when I first visited Iran. He was a serious, introverted young man, studying art at university. We met in a biscuit shop. We liked each other and kept in touch. When I returned to Iran in 2019, we met up, ate out, visited museums, climbed a small mountain and walked and talked.

He is a quiet, decent young man, not given to hell raising, or street storming. He is hurting, inside and outside. Here is a transcript of our most recent conversation.

O: I completely fucked up.

My friend and I were walking in street there was a lot of police and motherfucker Basiji

We just walked whiteout any protest. There wasn't any population of people.

Suddenly they attacked to us, they started to hit us. I ran away and got a lot of hits but

I came back to home and waited for S but he didn't come back.

He was arrested!

I picked up his mother and brother and we came back to that place we lost him. His mother asking where is S? They didn't tell us

After a lot of begging and crying they tell his mother where he was. Arrested by Basiji. Not Police.

They take people arrested to a gym, that nobody can guess where they are!

We went there and his mother ask them but their behaviour is violent and brutal to us.

Me: Fuck.

O: This isn't the end of story. Me and my friend's mom and his brother, there waiting and S finally call us and tell I'm free and I'm in home! So we were happy.

But it wasn't long!

We were coming back by my motorcycle suddenly a van, car and a motorcycle of Basiji attacked to us. That was the worst happening of that day.

There were violent.

Bastard motherfucker basiji.

They attacked. They show gun. They yelling. For nothing.

Nothing.

That was worst experience!

They asked us, Why you are following us?!

How many people know you are here?

We said nobody. We just come back home.

Finally after a lot of panic, we came back.

This happened 4 days ago. And we don't access to Internet. They block the access

Now I'm using VPN for access whatsapp.

I don't know when can I send message you again.

Jon, that was an awful, extreme panic accident that happened

And I have hurt, psychological.

Me: fuck fuck fuck. Right now, O, I am crying for you S, his Mother, brother, and everybody's mother and brother and sister, and crying with anger and wish I was there to fight too. Even I am an old man I believe I have enough fight to fight cowards like those Basij.