A reflection of a bitter and thought-provoking call: the narrative of a night with Mahdi, congratulating his mother because it was Mother’s Day in Iran.
Last night was a special night for us; A night called Mother’s Day in Iran. My husband, Mehdi, and I were sitting at home and getting ready to call Mehdi’s mother and congratulate her on this day. But this simple contact was not that simple for Mehdi
Mehdi, who has been deprived of visiting his mother for years, was impatient. Tears welled up in his eyes when the call was made. He looked at me and said, “Talk to my mother, so I can wipe away my tears.” He didn’t want his mother to see his tears, because he didn’t want to convey to her the pain that was imposed on him during these years.
Mehdi has spent nearly fifteen years of his life in the captivity of the People’s Mojahedin Organization (MEK); An organization that had not even allowed him to make a short phone call with his family in these years. This is completely unbelievable and digestible for me, in a world where technology and communication have reached the peak of development.
After a few moments of the call, Mehdi’s mood calmed down a bit. He said to his mother with passion: “I miss you, mother!” I wish even if I have a day left in my life, I can hold you in my arms, like the days when I was by your side and you were waiting for me to come home from work and eat lunch together.
This bittersweet call is not only a reminder of Mehdi’s personal sufferings, but also expresses the pain and suffering of thousands of families whose loved ones are trapped in this inhuman sect. A sect that not only violates humanity, but also violates people’s basic rights, such as the right to communicate with their families.
This is the first organization in the history of the world to commit such a blatant violation of human rights. But what I cannot bear is the silence of politicians and the international community, especially my country, in front of these crimes.
To all the mothers whose children, spouses or parents are caught in this cult, I say: you are not alone. Your suffering is the suffering of all of us. Let’s be the voice of those whose voices are not heard. Maybe the day will come when no mother would have to miss a child that was taken from her.
Edona Hunda, a member of Nejat Society Albania