Wednesday, February 1, 2023
  • English
  • Français
  • فارسی
  • عربى
PODCASTS
NCRI Women Committee
  • Home
  • News
    • Women’s News
    • Articles
    • Statements
  • Publications
    • Monthlies
    • Documents
    • Reference Library
  • About Us
    • Women’s Committee of Iran NCRI
    • Gender Equality
    • Women’s Platform
  • Maryam Rajavi
    • Biography
    • Maryam Rajavi Speeches
    • Ten Point Plan for Iran
    • Ten Point Plan for Women
  • Vanguards
    • Fallen for Freedom
    • Heroines in Chain
    • Women of Iranian Resistance
    • Famous Women
    • Women in History
  • Events
    • IWD Conferences
    • IWD Speeches
    • Activities
    • Solidarity
  • Videos
    • Events
    • International Solidarity
    • International Women’s Day
    • NCRI Women’s Committee Presentations
    • Other Activities in Iran
    • Violence Against Women in Iran
    • Women in Iran Protests, Uprising
  • Podcast
  • Donate
  • Contact us
No Result
View All Result
NCRI Women Committee
  • Home
  • News
    • Women’s News
    • Articles
    • Statements
  • Publications
    • Monthlies
    • Documents
    • Reference Library
  • About Us
    • Women’s Committee of Iran NCRI
    • Gender Equality
    • Women’s Platform
  • Maryam Rajavi
    • Biography
    • Maryam Rajavi Speeches
    • Ten Point Plan for Iran
    • Ten Point Plan for Women
  • Vanguards
    • Fallen for Freedom
    • Heroines in Chain
    • Women of Iranian Resistance
    • Famous Women
    • Women in History
  • Events
    • IWD Conferences
    • IWD Speeches
    • Activities
    • Solidarity
  • Videos
    • Events
    • International Solidarity
    • International Women’s Day
    • NCRI Women’s Committee Presentations
    • Other Activities in Iran
    • Violence Against Women in Iran
    • Women in Iran Protests, Uprising
  • Podcast
  • Donate
  • Contact us
No Result
View All Result
NCRI Women Committee
No Result
View All Result
Home Women's News

First Nowruz for former Gharchak Varamin prisoner

April 12, 2015
in Women's News
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Elham Ferdowsi, a gifted college student studying economics, was a prisoner in the notorious Gharchak Varamin prison for over two years. Following her release she was able to celebrate the Persian New Year with her family.

She has written about this bitter-sweet experience, “I celebrated 23 New Years with my family and 2 in prison. Those two years had a deep negative impact on me. During the two years in Gharchak my only wish was to be able to spend the next year with my family and to help all prisoners reunite with their families. I know that thousands of prisoners are still behind bars and closed doors, with grieving hearts, but they are saying Happy New Year to each other and are actually trying to celebrate with their cellmates… can I truly not have any grief?

During the last days of March 2012, most of the prisoners were preparing to be visited by their families. Those who did not have visitors were jealous… The prisoners were trying to show their families how they had coped with the conditions, and the families were trying to act as if they were doing well. It was interesting that both knew they were lying and both were accepting these lies with full heart and soul.

At 11 am they called my name and I quickly went to the guard’s office and the meeting hall. They had come, every single member of my family, and it was very difficult to see all of them. Hearing the treble in my voice, my mother began crying, my sisters and I followed suit.  I had never seen my father cry. I was embarrassed. My father had 8 children and after 30 years of serving in the education sector, he was crying at the sight of witnessing his youngest child behind the glass window of prison.  I cried the whole 20 minutes we had together and upon my return to the ward.

In the final hours of the year the prisoners who were in the ward longer than others were busy preparing the New Years’ table. Everyone brought something to decorate the spread. It was a very interesting set of Persian New Year decoration on a knitted cloth. Nuts and some pastry were added to the prison store because of the New Year, but only a few of the prisoners were actually able to buy them… The table cloth was spread in the middle of the hall and it was quiet everywhere. Prisoners were deep in their thoughts until the New Year was rang in through the TV. Mehri was the first person to rise and shout, ‘Happy New Year’.

For a whole hour everyone was standing greeting one another and there was a lot of noise until Shima began beating a drum sound on her mattress and Mehri started singing a song… All the prisoners were dancing that day. For a few hours they had set aside all their griefs.

The next morning the halls were opened and everyone began visiting one another for New Years. The little kids began gathering their presents.  Seeing them truly broke my heart. Why should they not have any image and taste of what our New Year is like? Little Sarina let go of her mother’s hand when she saw me and ran towards me. I gave her the pastry I had in my hand and kissed her cheeks. She didn’t allow me to say it first and told me, ‘I hope you are released this year…’ It truly broke my heart!

Two years have passed since that day and I am now with my family. But I can’t comprehend the meaning of freedom because my entire being is full of pain.”

ShareTweetPinShare

Related Posts

Student activist Niloufar Mirzaii stands trial without a lawyer

January 31, 2023
student activist Niloufar Mirzaii

Student activist Niloufar Mirzaii was abducted from the front of the university Branch 29 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran convened on January 30, 2023, examining the charges...

Read more

Charges of Armita Abbasi examined in first court session

January 30, 2023
Charges of Armita Abbasi examined

The first court hearing on the charges of Armita Abbasi The court hearing examining the charges of Armita Abbasi was held on Sunday, January 29, 2023, at Branch...

Read more

Iranian skier Atefeh Ahmadi seeks asylum in Germany

January 29, 2023
Iranian skier Atefeh Ahmadi seeks asylum in Germany

Atefeh Ahmadi was one of Iran's best Atefeh Ahmadi, a member of Iran’s national ski team, has defected and sought asylum in Germany. Atefeh Ahmadi, the flag bearer...

Read more

Instead of hospital, Zohreh Sarv is taken to Qarchak prison

January 28, 2023
Instead of hospital, Zohreh Sarv is taken to Qarchak prison

Zohreh Sarv is taken to Qarchak prison instead of the hospital Political prisoner Zohreh Sarv was taken from Evin prison on January 24, 2023, to Qarchak Prison instead...

Read more

Maryam Derisi sentenced to 22 months in jail and 74 lashes

January 27, 2023
Maryam Derisi sentenced to 22 months in jail and 74 lashes

The Revision Court of Fars Province sentenced Maryam Derisi to 22 months and 17 days in jail and 74 lashes. Maryam Derisi, from Kazerun, is a master’s student...

Read more
Next Post

Iran: Women will uphold less than 1% of government jobs

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Documents

The list of women and girls killed by Iranian security forces during the 2022 uprising

The list of women and girls killed by Iranian security forces during the Iran uprising

November 25, 2022

The list of women and girls killed by Iranian security forces during the Iran uprising Women are leading a revolution...

Statement to support the Iranian women’s struggle for freedom and equality

Sign to support the Iranian women’s struggle for freedom and equality

October 10, 2022

The NCRI Women's Committee urges all human rights defenders, women's rights organizations and advocates to sign this statement to support...

executions of women - women executed in Iran

Iran regime, the world record holder in executions of women

October 10, 2022

List of executions of women in Iran since 2007 List of women executedDownload Iran regime is the world’s record holder...

Monthlies

Spreading false narratives to cover up crime
Monthlies

Monthly Report December 2022 – Spreading false narratives to cover up crime

January 4, 2023
violence
Monthlies

Monthly November 2022 – Systematic violence against women in Iran

December 5, 2022
Monthly October 2022 – Stop arrest and torture of Iranian women
Monthlies

Monthly October 2022 – Stop arrest and torture of Iranian women

November 6, 2022
Iran protests - Leading role of women's Resistance Units
Monthlies

Monthly September 2022 – Iran protests and the leading role of women’s Resistance Units

October 9, 2022

Articles

Charges of Armita Abbasi examined

Charges of Armita Abbasi examined in first court session

January 30, 2023

The first court hearing on the charges of Armita Abbasi The court hearing examining the charges of Armita Abbasi was...

Zeynab Molaei Rad, the mother of Kian Pirfalak, suspended from her job

Zeynab Molaei Rad, the mother of Kian Pirfalak, suspended from her job

January 25, 2023

Zeynab Molaei Rad suspended from her job Zeynab Molaei Rad has been banned from teaching until further notice. Zeynab Molaei...

Brave Iranian women lose their eyes, but their hearts still beat for Iran

Brave Iranian women lose their eyes, but their hearts still beat for Iran

January 17, 2023

Ghazal Ranjkesh: I still haven’t seen the day I “must” see; I know it’s close, very close Many inspiring moments...

The Fallen for Freedom

Fatemeh Amini_EN
The Fallen for Freedom

Fatemeh Amini, symbol of perseverance and steadfastness

August 15, 2022
Fariba Dashti
The Fallen for Freedom

Fariba Dashti

August 13, 2022
Dr. Massoumeh Karimian massacred in 1988
The Fallen for Freedom

Dr. Massoumeh Karimian (Shurangiz)

August 10, 2022
Nastaran Hedayat Firouzabadi
The Fallen for Freedom

Nastaran Hedayat Firouzabadi

July 26, 2022

ABOUT US

NCRI Women Committee

We work extensively with Iranian women outside the country and maintain a permanent contact with women inside Iran. The Women’s Committee is actively involved with many women’s rights organizations and NGO’s and the Iranian diaspora.
The committee is a major source of much of the information received from inside Iran with regards to women. Attending UN Human Rights Council meetings and other international or regional conferences on women’s issues and engaging in a relentless battle against the Iranian regime’s misogyny are part of the activities of members and associates of the committee.

CATEGORIES

  • Activities
  • Articles
  • Documents
  • Events
  • Famous Women
  • Heroines in Chain
  • International Solidarity
  • International Women's Day
  • IWD Conferences
  • IWD Speeches
  • Maryam Rajavi
  • Maryam Rajavi Speeches
  • Monthlies
  • NCRI Women's Committee Presentations
  • Other Activities in Iran
  • Podcast
  • Reference Library
  • Solidarity
  • Statements
  • The Fallen for Freedom
  • Uncategorized
  • Videos
  • Violence Against Women in Iran
  • Women in History
  • Women in Iran Protests, Uprising
  • Women of Iranian Resistance
  • Women's News

BROWSE BY TAG

Child marriage coronavirus education execution forced hijab Gender Gap Generation Equality Honor killings Iran Teachers Maryam Akbari Monfared Nurses Poverty Prisoners Protests rural women Saba Kord Afshari The girl child Violence against women Women's Leadership Women Heads of Household Zeinab Jalalian

The copyright of all the material published on this website has been registered under © 2016 the Women’s Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran. To obtain permission to copy, redistribute or publish the material published on this website, you should write to the NCRI Women’s Committee. Please include the link of the original article on our website, women.ncr-iran.org.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Women’s News
    • Articles
    • Statements
  • Publications
    • Monthlies
    • Documents
    • Reference Library
  • About Us
    • The NCRI Women’s Committee
    • Gender Equality
    • Women’s Platform
  • Maryam Rajavi
    • Maryam Rajavi Speeches
    • Ten Point Plan for Iran
    • Ten Point Plan for Women
  • Vanguards
    • The Fallen for Freedom
    • Heroines in Chain
    • Women of Iranian Resistance
    • Famous Women
    • Women in History
  • Events
    • IWD Conferences
    • Activities
    • IWD Speeches
    • Solidarity
  • Videos
  • Podcast
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • فارسی
  • عربی
  • Français

The copyright of all the material published on this website has been registered under © 2016 the Women’s Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran. To obtain permission to copy, redistribute or publish the material published on this website, you should write to the NCRI Women’s Committee. Please include the link of the original article on our website, women.ncr-iran.org.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist