Transcript:Rouhi Jahanpur/Stories of the Martyrdom
| Transcript of: Stories of the Martyrdom (1984) |
| Rúḥíyyih (Rúḥí) Jahanpur describes the martyrdom of Bahá’í youth in Shiraz in 1983, including Mona Mahmudnizhad, Hidáyat Síyávushí, Zarrín Muqímí, and Shírín Dálvand. Talk given at International Bahá’í Youth Conference, London Ontario, August 1984.Download: mp3, Source: bahaimp3.narod.ru |
[0:00]Good evening, dear friends. Every gathering of people, especially every gathering of Bahá’ís, has a spirit which animates its proceedings. In many ways, the animating spirit of this International Youth Conference is the manner in which the Bahá’í youth in Iran have responded to the challenges put before them. Since the Islamic revolution in Iran, the condition of the Bahá’í community has been that of complete oppression. The Bahá’í community of Iran has been denied all its human rights. It has lost its most precious members, many of whom have been killed; hundreds of whom are in prison; thousands and thousands who have lost all their jobs, livelihoods and belongings; hundreds and hundreds who have become refugees outside of their lands and thousands and thousands who are refugees within their own homeland. This drama is not yet completely finished nor is extent of hardship and adversity is really known, by the Bahá’ís, let alone the non-Bahá’í community in the world.
[2:21]However, this story is not a new story for the Bahá’ís of Iran. This is a story that began in 1844 and it has continued to this day. But this time a new dimension or several new dimensions have been added to the atrocities that are experienced by the Bahá’ís in Iran. Yes, in the course of the Bahá’í history since 1844 some 24,000 individuals have been martyred, but many of them, most of them, were men. But this time, women have been in the forefront in their martyrdom, in their defense of the Faith. When we speak of martyrdom, one should realize that the Bahá’ís are not kind of fanatical group who seek martyrdom. Bahá’ís have been told by Bahá’u’lláh that their main objective in life is to serve humanity, to become the cause of oneness of mankind, the progress of civilization, the establishment of the universal peace. These are the objectives for which Bahá’ís live. But you see, any time that humanity or an individual is faced with a challenge, then there should be willingness to sacrifice in such manner that is equivalent to that challenge, equal that challenge.
[4:22]Today in the world we have a very unusual circumstances. Masses of humanity are in a state of poverty, disease and oppression. The leaders of mankind have begun to view humanity, to view mankind as nothing more than animals. The books that you read, the theories that are espoused, the ideas that are given to us, all of them invite us to accept that we are animals who are governed by the laws of competition, of self-interest, of greed, of materialism, of wanting and wanting and wanting. This is the prevailing concept that is everywhere in the world today. In the midst of this condition comes Bahá’u’lláh, who says, "No, man is not an animal. The human beings are created noble beings, and this nobility has to come to fruition." So when you want to establish nobility, when you want to establish that humanity is basically peaceful and loving and not aggressive and full of hate, when you want to do that, then you have to be willing to stand behind those principles. From a Bahá’í perspective, the Messenger of God for today, the Manifestation of God for today, the message of God for humanity today is that mankind finally has reached to that level that should accept the responsibility to showing forth its own nobility.
[6:25]Therefore, when the Bahá’ís are confronted by injustice, are confronted by tremendous atrocities that are put upon them in the land of the birth of the Faith, they do not respond with aggression. They do not respond with violence. They do not respond with subversion, but rather they respond within an eloquence, of logic, of reasoning, of a conduct, of a behavior, of a mode of interaction that would show to those who are acting as they are, that indeed you can see the signs of nobility of a human being at all levels, under all conditions. And if proving that nobility, requires that you give your life, you will give your life, because once and for all, mankind has to accept its high destiny. So the martyrdom of the Bahá’ís is the martyrdom for the cause of the glorification of human faith. And this is the session that is dedicated to this point. The chairperson of this conference, this session of the conference is Carmel Hatcher. [Applause]
[8:50]Rúḥíyyih Jahanpur was born in Shiraz. She received her degree in chemistry at the University of Shiraz. She was sent to prison on two occasions: [tape rewinds] first in February 1982 for a period of 19 days; secondly, in November 1982 for two months. The second time she was imprisoned with ten Bahá’í women who were consequently put to death. Three months earlier, another Bahá’í woman had been executed. Herself during these two imprisonments had been tortured. Today she lives in Canada with her mother and her sister. Let's welcome Rúḥíyyih Jahanpur. [Applause]
[10:25]Alláh-u-Abhá. I would like to start by offering my sincere thanks to the International Youth Conference for giving me this opportunity to share some of my memories of our beloved young martyrs of Iran, some of those who were imprisoned with me in Shiraz and whose friendship was a great privilege to this unworthy soul. Although I feel inadequate to recount their acts of faithfulness, it is a very special honor for me to speak of them in this momentous gathering. I would like to begin by reading the passage of Bahá’u’lláh from The Hidden Words, since each and every of these martyrs was a shining example of it. "O SON OF JUSTICE! Whither can a lover go, but to the land of his beloved? and what seeker findeth rest away from his heart's desire? To the true lover, reunion is life and separation is death. His breast is void of patience and his heart hath no peace. A myriad lives he would forsake to hasten to the abode of his beloved."
[12:08]Since this is a youth conference, I want to tell you about the young lovers of the city of Shiraz. I will try my best to tell you of their self-sacrifices, their self-effacement and even of the last beats of their pure hearts as they walked the path of martyrdom. I will start by telling you about the youngest and loveliest martyr of Iran: Mona Mahmudnizhad, that she was only 16 years old and still a high school student. Because she was a Bahá’í they prevented her from attending school, unaware of the fact that they were really entering her into the school of the love of Bahá. A spark of love, which in her soon turned into the flaming fire that led her singing and smiling to the field of martyrdom.
[13:23]My first memory of Mona, and which indicates her love for serving the Faith, goes back to when she was fourteen. While I was serving on the Bahá’í committee education of Shiraz we received a request from Mona to serve on one of our subcommittees. Since she had not reached the legal age to be enrolled as a Bahá’í, her request was turned down due to a specific instruction of the assembly of Shiraz. When she was informed of the decision she burst into tears and cried bitterly. But later, when she turned 15 and enrolled, she applied again. This time she was immediately accepted and assigned to a committee.
[14:19]It was only a few months later, that Mona and her father were arrested in their house by a group of Revolutionary Guards who searched their house and confiscated all the Bahá’í pictures and books they could find. That night Mona was the first of several Bahá’í women who were brought to jail. Later, when she related the events of that night, she said, "My mother was very anxious and troubled about our arrest and asked one of the guards, 'Why are you taking my sixteen year old daughter?' And he said, 'What a silly question, because she will soon be a great promoter of the Bahá’í Faith.'" Then she told me, "In contrast to my mother, my father was very calm. Just before we left, he held my hand and pointed to the guard, saying to my mother, 'Don't worry. These are my sons and Mona's brothers.' Then we said good bye and were taken to the prison."
[15:39]Mona was very beautiful and had a lovely voice. She used to chant the prayers and writings in a moving way. Even the Islamic judge at her trial had heard about her voice and asked her to chant something for him in the trial. Mona replied, "I can't do it in this way." The judge asked her, "Why? What do you mean?" And Mona pointed out, "You would have to sit respectfully with your hands folded on your chest before I could read anything." At first the judge refused, but after a while, as though spellbound by her spiritual character, he complied with her wish. When Mona had finished reciting a short prayer in a simple voice, the puzzled judge asked her, "Why did you not sing it?" Mona replied, "I only chant from my heart and when I am alone, not in front of you."
[16:56]Mona had a truly pure heart. A few months before her arrest, she had an amazing dream that she shared with me when we were in prison. When she talked about the dream, she became very excited, as though she were experiencing it again. And this is her dream: She saw herself in a room decorated all in blue, and suddenly Bahá’u’lláh Himself entered the room and took some boxes out of a dresser, saying, "Mona, We know which one of these you will choose, but We want to hear from your own mouth. Of course," He went on, "We have also made a selection for you." Then He opened the first box and took a very beautiful decorated red cape out of the box and put it on Mona with His blessed hands, and buttoned it, and asked Mona, "Do you like it?" Mona asked, "It is beautiful, but what is the meaning of this?" Bahá’u’lláh said, "This is a robe of martyrdom." Mona said "It is beautiful, but I don't like martyrdom and I don't wish to be a martyr."
[17:37]Bahá’u’lláh took it off Mona and put it into its box and opened another one and took out another decorated, beautiful black cape and put it on Mona again with His blessed hands, and this time again asked Mona, "Do you like it?" And Mona said, "It is beautiful, but what is the meaning of this?" Bahá’u’lláh said, "This is a robe of sorrow." Mona said, "Although it is also beautiful, but I don't like sorrow." Once again, Bahá’u’lláh took the cape off, put it back into its box and opened another one. This time He took out a blue cape and put it on Mona, who once again asked Bahá’u’lláh its meaning. He replied that this was the robe of service. Mona cheerfully said, "Yes, I like this one the best. I love to serve, and I choose this one."
[18:59]At that moment, Bahá’u’lláh stood next to Mona and called for someone named Mr Mihdi to join them for a group photograph. At that moment, Mona woke up and couldn't go back to sleep for the rest of the night. In the morning when she told her father about the dream and asked who this Mr Mihdi was, her father brought out the picture of an earlier martyr, Mr Mihdi Anvari, and showed it to her. To her surprise, she found them to be one and the same. When Mona told me of this dream in prison, I teased her, saying, "How did you dare tell Bahá’u’lláh that you like this one or don't like that one?"
[19:41]Although she may not have been ready for martyrdom in the beginning, but Mona's imprisonment had a dramatic effect on her spirit. This effect was so strong that on several occasions she showed her mother how she was going to march to the field of martyrdom and how she would kiss the hanging knot. Mona had another beautiful dream while in prison. She saw herself in the presence of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, pleading and saying "The friends are worried. Please, grant us steadfastness, so we can endure." And ‘Abdu’l-Bahá smiled, saying, "Be confident Mona. We have granted it." ‘Abdu’l-Bahá repeated this same phrase three times.
[20:51]Mona loved her father dearly. She always used to say, "I'm afraid they will kill my father first, and I couldn't bear that." But, as she had feared, her father was martyred three months before her. She herself was hanged along with nine other Bahá’í women on June 18 1983. Mona had told her mother during their last visit, "Tonight we are going to the presence of the Blessed Beauty." The courage and spirit of Mona's mother after the execution of her husband and daughter amazed everyone. After Mona's execution, she visited the morgue, kissed Mona's face twice as well as other martyrs. Later she reported that they all had a serene look and a smile on their faces. She said that the faces of some were badly injured, apparently due to having been dragged on the ground after the execution.
[22:21]After Mona, I would like to tell you of another Bahá’í martyr of Shiraz: Hidáyat Síyávushí. But first, I would like to quote a sentence from a recent message of The Universal House of Justice addressed to the youth throughout the world so you can see for yourself how Hidáyat was an example of it. "RECENT MARTYRDOMS COURAGEOUS STEADFAST YOUTH IN SHIRAZ, SCENE INAUGURATION MISSION MARTYR-PROPHET, REMINISCENT ACTS VALOR YOUTHFUL IMMORTALS HEROIC AGE." When we all hear the Báb's name, we automatically picture those spirited youth at His time, who cherished no desire in their hearts except that of offering they lives in the path of their Beloved. Among them we recall Quddús, who at the scene of his martyrdom wished his mother to be present to witness what he called his marriage ceremony. A century has passed, and now a whole generation of youth who have learned about such tales of devotion only through the pages of history become the very players in this same historic drama.
[24:15]Hidáyat was twenty years old, single, and the only son to his parents. When they expressed the hope that he would get married, he always used to say, "There is a time for everything." He was born to a devoted Bahá’í family in Jordan. Later they moved to Iran and resided as pioneers in Yazd and Kermanshah. Their house was always a center of Bahá’í hospitality, service and firesides. This fact was later listed as one of the criminal charges against him at his trial. Hidáyat finished his education in Shiraz and pioneered to a nearby town. Soon other youth from Shiraz followed his footsteps and a local assembly was formed in that town. However, after the revolution, pressures of religious prejudice and persecution forced him to return to Shiraz.
[25:32]It didn't take him long to resume his activities again. Once again, his home became the centre of various Bahá’í community services as well as housing the local community files and documents. After his martyrdom, the papers said that his house was a Bahá’í Centre and a storehouse of Bahá’í material. At first, he was a member of several service committees but later became an assembly member. He was extremely kind and would always do his utmost to help those in distress. In fact, the night he was arrested, he had gone out to help the family of one of the earlier martyrs. It was on his way back that Hidáyat and two other Bahá’í youth accompanying him were stopped by the Revolutionary Guards. They were arrested automatically when it became known that they were Bahá’ís.
[26:53]That night, they were first taken to prison and severely beaten to make them recant their faith. Eventually, around four AM, when none of them recanted, the Guards, frustrated by their lack of success, took Hidáyat to his house for further investigation. His mother, anxious and fearful, opened the door. When Hidáyat saw the puzzled look on his mother's face, he assured her, very calmly, saying, "Don't worry Mother. They have only come to search the house." The search resulted in an accumulation of piles of Bahá’í books as the so-called evidence of their allegations.
[27:53]His trial didn't last more than a few minutes. The religious judge asked Hidáyat, "Are you Bahá’í?" Hidáyat said, "Yes." The judge asked, "Will you convert to Islam?" Hidáyat said, "No." The judge asked again. Hidáyat said, "No." Then, he pronounced his death sentence and said, "Not only will we kill you, but we will kill all the Bahá’ís. Only we will do it one at a time, so all other countries will not raise their voices in protest." Hidáyat asked in return, "Assuming you do eliminate all the Bahá’ís in Iran. What can you do about the rest of the Bahá’ís in the world?" The judge answered, "We Have plans for them too."
[29:03]Hidáyat's mother, who was a perfect example of steadfastness and devotion, always used to say that, during their visiting hours, (it's better to say during visiting minutes), their conversation was about only about steadfastness and firmness in the Cause. Hidáyat would tell her, "I am firm, so, you should be too. Don't concern yourself, Mother. Whatever happens is the Will of God, and best for everyone."
[29:48]His spiritual character and kindness had even affected the prison guards. This reminds me of another incident which occurred while he was in prison. One day, the prison guards decided to auction the fruit which prisoners had grown in the yard, for the benefit of the prison house. To the surprise of them all, Hedáyat and Dr. Ahrári, who later became a martyr in Shiraz, purchased most of them. The guards were very pleased by this action and rewarded them with a private visit with their two families.
[30:38]For a long time, Hedáyat felt in his heart that martyrdom was destined for him. This was mostly because of a dream he had had after he played an important role in the burial ceremony of three earlier martyrs in Shiraz. He had dreamed that Mr Vahdat, one of the three martyrs, came back to visit him, kissing him and taking his hand. The next morning, he told his parents about the dream and said it is a sign that he was destined to be a martyr. I recall another incident in the prison which showed his intense desire and longing for the fulfillment of his destiny. When they called Dr. Ahrári, one of his cellmates, for execution, Hedáyat embraced Dr. Ahrári very tightly, saying, "It is finally our turn." But when the guards appeared, they separated them, taking only Dr. Ahrári, and Hedáyat smiled sadly and said, "It appears as though one must have connection even with God to take us youths seriously." But in his heart he was confident that his name would also be called very soon.
[30:49]His mother had mentioned that Hedáyat had sent all his clothes and personal belongings home, saying, "There is no need for these here any longer." One night, one of his Bahá’í cellmates dreamed that Bahá’u’lláh entered their cell carrying a red flower in His hand and saying, "I have brought this flower for one of you." In the morning, when he related his dream to the other prisoners, they all looked at each other, wondering whose turn it would be that day. Except for Hedáyat, who laughed, and said, "Now, it is my turn." And indeed, that afternoon, Hedáyat was busy cleaning and sweeping the cells and hallways as a part of his prison duties, and when he heard his name on the prison loudspeaker, a silence overtook the prison. Hedáyat returned to his cell and said goodbye to his friends. Another youth who had been arrested at the same time threw himself at Hedáyat's feet and cried bitterly, "We were brought together, and we should leave together." Eventually they were separated with difficulty by one of the guards.
[32:38]Hedáyat was so popular among all the prisoners that when he was taken out of his cell and into the hallway, all the other prisoners on various levels of the building gathered outside, saying his name, waving at him, and for several times repeating his name. The prison officials had to warn everyone over the loud speaker for the prisoners to be quiet and return to their cells, but they ignored the order. First he was led to the prison office for a few minutes and then returned back to his cell. His sense of humor and firmness didn't waver to the last minute. He laughed and said, "Let's have one more cup of tea before I leave." Then, turning to his Bahá’í friends, he said, "By the way, does anyone have any message for Bahá’u’lláh?"
[34:10]Zarrín Muqímí was another martyr. I knew Zarrín from the first day of her arrival in Shiraz, when her family moved to a house near Báb's house. Her Bahá’í service in Shiraz also started from that day. She was a member of different committees, such as youth committee, teaching committee and the university committee. She also taught Bahá’í children's classes, and her classes was the best one in Shiraz. In fact, if you wanted to find an example of cheerfulness, will and devotion, she would be the one. She loved teaching the Faith, and her home was always given over to the service of the Faith. She was always looking for opportunities to teach the Faith, and because of her fine education and charming speech she was very successful at it. Even when she was in prison, she often had religious discussion with her interrogator.
[35:34]Now I would like to tell you a little bit about these interrogations. The prisoner was usually led into a court room and kept there blindfolded for many hours, sometimes more than twelve hours. I remember on one occasion when I was brought back to my cell from one of these lengthy sessions, I couldn't figure out for a long time whether it was morning or night. Anyway, Zarrín herself told me that because she was blindfolded during her interrogation, she couldn't see who was present in the room. But at the end of each session, she could tell by the sound of chairs that there had been many people in the room. On one occasion she recalled how the interrogator and several others had a lengthy discussion about religion with her, and when they found themselves incapable of arguing with her decisive answers [gap in tape] into tears, saying, "Whether you accept it or not, I am a Bahá’í, and you can never take it away from me. I am a Bahá’í with all my heart and being." It was due to such charisma that her interrogator once told her, "They should have given you a degree in public speaking instead of literature."
[37:29]In prison, she was always a solace to all the other prisoners. She used to say, "Martyrdom is not a gift that is given to just anyone. One must yearn for it in one's heart." And indeed she was telling the truth, for she herself yearned for such strength from the bottom of her heart. Zarrín was arrested with her father and mother at midnight on October 23 1982. Her mother was released very soon, but her father is still in prison today. She was martyred on June 18 1983 along with nine other Bahá’í women.
[38:26]Zarrín had written many beautiful articles, and I would like to read you a part of something she wrote herself so you can better understand her feeling. But before I read it, I should tell you about the circumstances in which it was written. When Zarrín was a member of the youth committee, during one of the meetings the telephone rang and one of the committee members was summoned immediately to the prison to visit his father for one last time. He rushed to the prison with his family and found his father waiting to say goodbye. His father said, "This is our last visit, and I will now leave you all for the abode of my Beloved." So, they embraced each other one last time, and after the visit was over, with utmost firmness and calm, the son took the rest of the family home and returned to the committee meeting, which was still going on.
[39:47]After hearing what had happened, the meeting adjourned with prayers and meditation. Zarrín, who was recording the minutes, wrote the following: "The eighty eighth meeting of the youth committee started with a prayer at 5:15 PM. The eighty eighth meeting, on March 17 1981 had the undeserved privilege of entering into the heart of history and beholding its crimson beat. If we bowed our heads in thanksgiving at the exalted threshold of His glory for the rest of our lives, and if every atom of our being resounded with praise and gratitude, we can never be deserving of such an honor. What made these mere specks of dust, these insignificant beings, these broken winged birds in the swamp of idle fancies and vain imaginings so deserving as to be allowed by the Blessed Beauty to witness a glimpse of the glory of the greatest event in history. It was as though the dwellers of the unseen kingdom were taking hold of our hands and separating us from our administrative involvement, which in our thoughtless minds had appeared as a form of service. It was as if they were whispering in our ears, 'Now, behold the glory of the Ancient Beauty, the essence of service, the meaning of steadfastness, courage, heroism and trust. Behold martyrdom.' Oh my God! How could this be true? I had only heard of such acts of self-sacrifice through the historic tales of Nabil. I had always thought that to understand the meaning of martyrdom meant traveling one hundred thirty seven years backward in time. And then suddenly He ordained otherwise, and I witnessed the mystery of sacrifice.
[42:36]"The eighty eighth meeting of the youth committee had the honor of having the son of a martyr in its midst. These events ought to be recorded with a crimson pen and inscribed in the golden pages of history. The eighty eighth meeting of the youth committee never really ended. In fact, it was only the beginning for this new generation of Bahá’ís, who had heard of the grandeur of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh but had not seen it, a generation who had read the legends of sacrifice but had not touched them. It was a beginning for the future generation of Bahá’ís, who would read about these illustrious martyrs of Shiraz and learn that no water can put out the flame of his love, that no tempest can extinguish the fire of his affection."
[43:56]Another martyr of Shiraz was my very dear friend, Shahín Dálvand, with whom I had spent most of my time during the few years before our imprisonment. Everyone used to call her Shírín, which means 'sweet'. She had a very innocent, shy and kind face. She was also talented and intelligent, a graduate in sociology from the University of Shiraz. One of her professors said that Shírín's thesis for graduation had been so outstanding that other professors frequently quoted from it. Although they knew that she was a Bahá’í, they often singled her out as one of their exceptional students. Shírín and I began our administrative service at the same time. First, we were both members of the teaching committees and then youth events committee. Then we served on the children's and Bahá’í education committee for several years. Later, Shírín became a member of the youth committee and was devoted to it. She loved her activities in the Faith so much that, no matter how much her family and friends insisted that she leave Shiraz, she wouldn't do so.
[45:45]Her family was living in England at that time and she lived alone with her grandparents in Shiraz. She continued to serve on various committees until her last days. I remember the one time she expressed the wish to be in England, when her father told her about the visit of Hand of the Cause Rúḥíyyih Khánum. With tears in her eyes she said, "How lucky for my family. I wish I were in England now, Rúḥí, so I could visit with Rúḥíyyih Khánum too." She was in love with nature, especially flowers, and she always used to keep flowers in her room and used to say flowers are a sign of purity. She also loved the sea very much and we used to go to the beach together every Friday. Her love for handicrafts and paintings, especially traditional Persian miniatures, was an obvious sign of her interest in all Persia.
[47:10]For a long time we both had intuitions about being arrested and even talked about it. I remember once joking to her, "We should always put on our warm-ups when we are at home, so we'll be ready when they come to take us." On the day of our arrest, November 29 1982, she came to my home around lunchtime and we spent a few hours together. Later, we decided to visit the family of one of the Bahá’í prisoners. All afternoon we talked only about the prison, and Shírín seemed unusually calm and quiet. Towards evening, as we were returning home, we were followed by a revolutionary guard. We didn't think much of it since it was such a common occurrence. That evening as we sat together, we start a meeting and I suddenly said to Shírín, "I hope we won't have to finish our meeting in the prison." She was noticeably impatient that night and put us in meeting. At one point, she said, "I am tired. We had better go to sleep."
[48:44]It was after eleven o'clock at night when our doorbell rang. Shírín, my sister and I all got up together and said, "They have come for us." Without any hesitation, I took hold of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's picture, kissed it and said, "Please help us, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá." Then I gave it to Shírín and she did the same. I felt quite relaxed after that. It was my father who opened the door. Seven or eight guards entered the house and searched all the rooms. They put us each in separate rooms and started questioning us individually. The first question was: "Are you Bahá’í?" When we said yes, they asked, "Will you convert to Islam?" We said no, we will not lie about our Faith. After a while, the guard who was questioning Shírín, came out of the room she was in. Through the doorway I could see by her tearful eyes, that she was trying to let me know that they were taking her away. I smiled at her and said, "Me too." A smile appeared on her innocent face when she understood that she was not alone.
[50:23]It took the guards about two hours to search the house and gather up all our Bahá’í books and pictures. Then they told Shírín and me to go with them to prison. We took a few of our personal belongings and said goodbye to my family. Shírín asked my sister to kiss her grandmother for her, and tell her family not to worry about her. She also took up her jewelry and left it with my sister. It was as if she knew that she would not be coming back. My mother was especially distressed by Shírín's arrest, and kept pleading with the guards not to take her away, since she was a guest in our house. But the guards didn't pay any attention and only replied, "Her name is on the list. Therefore she must come with us." Then my mother asked if she could chant a prayer before they took us. They agreed, and all we all stood by while she recited it. There was a silence and special atmosphere in the room. After that, I embraced my mother and told her, "Don't worry." I said, "We should be confident that not even a leaf falls from a tree unless it be by the Will of God." My father was very calm. He even made some tea and offered it to the guards. However, since they considered Bahá’ís to be unclean, in Persian 'najis,' they refused the offer.
[52:23]After we reached the prison, we were searched and files were made on us. It was around three o'clock in the morning when we were taken to the cell. The first person to greet us there was Mrs. Ishráqí, who embraced and welcomed us. Shírín and I couldn't sleep anymore and talked the rest of the night. She was terribly worried about her grandparents. She said, "In a way, I am glad they arrested me in your home because I would never have been able to say goodbye to my poor grandmother, but I wish I could have said goodbye to her the way I wanted to." Shírín's birthday coincided with the visitor's day on Saturday. That day, she was extremely sad, and seemed immersed in thoughts of her family. She was a very sensitive girl, so much so that she had kept all the birthday cards her family had ever sent her. Every year on her birthday, she would look at the cards and recall her past memories. That day, she did the same thing, walking up and down the hallway of our cell, which was only about three meters long and one and a half meters wide. That evening, when they delivered our packages, Shírín was surprised to receive a new towel and a dress from her grandmother. She cried bitterly on that night and was missing her family, especially her mother, terribly. That night she was under terrible pressure. She held my hands as we lay in bed, and said, "Mother, mother! I heard her voice Rúḥí. I'm not mistaken, I'm sure it was her voice!" I gripped her hand tightly and held her head against me. We cried together for a long time.
[56:19]Shírín was taken for interrogation on several separate days along with other dear Bahá’í friends. Each time they would keep her for many hours. She said that, between the questioning, whenever there was an opportunity, she would recite this prayer by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and ask for help: "He is the All-Glorious! O my beloved Bahá, grant us Thine assistance and Thy confirmation. We are grieved, Thou art the sea of fire. We are withered. Thou art the life-giving breeze. Bestow upon us Thy bounty and mercy." During one of these interrogations, she was asked how far she would go to resist recanting her Bahá’í faith. She replied, "Even to my execution. I hope that God will be merciful to me and cause me to remain steadfast to the last breath of my life." That day she held my hands gleefully when she returned to our cell and said to me, "I have done well? Let them understand that not everybody is worthy of martyrdom. It is only through the blessing of Bahá’u’lláh that one becomes a martyr."
[58:14]Shírín along with nine other Bahá’í women was martyred after six months and ninety days of imprisonment. After their execution, Shírín's grandmother returned to the prison to claim her personal belongings. She was given only her watch, which was still working. Overcome with emotion, she burst into tears. An old man noticed her and tried to console her. He was the driver of the bus that had taken them all to the place of execution. He told her, "They were all in such high spirits and sang so many songs together on the way that I thought they probably didn't know that they were being taken to be executed. I have never seen people in such high spirits."
[59:23]This has been a brief recollection of some of my memories about these dear ones. May their pure spirits assist us in our services to His blessed threshold. In closing I would like to chant a prayer for you that Shírín loved it very much. And, may I thank you for listening so patiently and urge you all to read the beautiful message that the Universal House of Justice has sent to you, the Bahá’í youth of the world, about the meaning and wonder off these acts of courage and valor. Thank you.
[1:00:23][Persian prayer]
[Applause]
[1:03:48][Song]
She was tired in her heart, the whole world was falling apart,
She said, "This is where I've got to be."
Waiting in the night, a dream full of light,
She said, "This is where I've got to be."
When they asked her what price would she pay?
She said, "Take my life, take it all away."
When they asked her what more could she say,
She said, "Break my heart, you know that I'll come back some day."
Mona with the children, send your love to me,
And all along the line we'll go dancing.
Mona with the children, send your love to me,
And every precious moment we'll be dancing.
Every precious moment we'll be free.
And she was smiling in her heart, the whole world is falling apart,
She said, "This is where I've got to be."
Dancing in the night, dream full of light,
She said, "This is where I've got to be."
When they asked her what price would she pay?
She said, "Take my life, take it all away."
When they asked her what more could she be,
She said, "Break my heart, you know that I'll come back some day.
Back some day!"
Mona with the children, send your love to me,
And all along the line we'll go dancing.
Mona with the children, send your love to me,
And every precious moment we'll go dancing.
Mona with the children, send your love to me,
And all along the line we'll go dancing.
Mona with the children, send your love to me,
Every precious moment we'll go dancing.
Every precious moment we'll be free.
We'll be free.
[Applause]
[1:08:07]As you know, in the Bahá’í Faith, Bahá’u’lláh says that joy and sorrow always come together, and He said that we should not be grieved by the adversities of this life because these adversities are indeed the manifest signs of hidden joys and bounties. And on many occasions, Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in their writings have referred to this. So, we have been very fortunate to have with us here a Bahá’í from Iran with a magnificent voice: Mrs. Ahdieh. [Applause] Mrs. Ahdieh is going to sing in Persian language one of the most joyful songs by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Ay Cheshmet Roshan, which is a song that really gives, it's very difficult to translate the equivalent of it into English except that it conveys a time when you are the most happy and the most joyous, so, Mrs. Ahdieh.
[1:10:20][Persian song]
[Applause]
[1:13:58]In order for us to fully respond to the message of the Universal House of Justice that was sent to this conference, we have decided that that message would be read every day, and I have asked one of the distinguished youth of Canada to read that message: Mr Lloyd Gardner. [Applause]
[1:14:54]Could anyone loan me a pair of glasses that will see through tears?
[1:15:07]"TO THE BAHA'I YOUTH CONFERENCE IN LONDON, ONTARIO WE HAIL WITH JOY AND HOPE THE ENNOBLING PURPOSES OF YOUR CONFERENCE IN LONDON, ONTARIO. YOU ARE GATHERED AT A MOMENT WHICH RESOUNDS WITH THE SIGNIFICANCES AND CHALLENGES POSED BY THE WORLD-SHAKING EVENTS ENVELOPING THE COMMUNITY OF THE GREATEST NAME IN BAHA'U'LLAH'S NATIVE LAND. THE OUTPOURING GRACE PROVIDENTIALLY VOUCHSAFED THE ONWARD MARCH OF OUR HOLY CAUSE AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THESE EVENTS IS CLEARLY EVIDENT.
[1:16:05]"OUR HEARTS LEAP AT THE INNUMERABLE IMMEDIATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FURTHER UNFOLDMENT OF THE ORDER OF BAHA'U'LLAH TO WHICH, UNDOUBTEDLY, YOU CAN AND WILL APPLY YOUR ABUNDANT TALENTS, YOUR ZEST FOR ACTION AND, ABOVE ALL, THE ENTHUSIASM OF YOUR DEVOTION. SURELY, YOU WILL SEE THAT THE HEROIC DEEDS OF SACRIFICE ON THE PART OF YOUR IRANIAN BRETHREN ARE MATCHED WITH CORRESPONDING EFFORTS ON YOUR PART IN THE VAST FIELDS OF TEACHING AND SERVICE LYING OPEN BEFORE YOU.
[1:17:06]"THE EXHORTATIONS ESPECIALLY ADDRESSED TO YOUTH BY OUR BELOVED MASTER AND THE GALVANIZING INFLUENCE OF THE GUARDIAN'S GUIDANCE WILL ECHO EVEN MORE LOUDLY IN YOUR HEARTS NOW. INDEED, WE WILL PRAY ARDENTLY AT THE HOLY SHRINES THAT YOU MAY REALIZE IN YOUR LIVES THE IDEALS THEY SO PERSISTENTLY UPHELD, THAT YOU MAY THUS 'ACQUIRE BOTH INNER AND OUTER PERFECTIONS' AS YOU INCREASE YOUR STUDY OF THE HEAVENLY WRITINGS, STRIVE TOWARD EXCELLENCE IN THE SCIENCES AND ARTS, AND BECOME KNOWN FOR YOUR INDEPENDENCE OF SPIRIT, YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND YOUR SELF-CONTROL. MAY YOU, AS 'ABDU'L-BAHA WISHED, BE 'FIRST AMONG THE PURE, THE FREE AND THE WISE.'
[1:18:27]"THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE"