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Majid Dari

With the invitation to debate, Ismail Bakhsi, the Minister of Information, and his confession of torture, the wound of this illegal act has once again been opened. In the past, some political prisoners such as Abdullah Momeni and Hamza Karami have written about their torture and humiliation, and Majid Tavakoli also recently addressed this issue through a series of tweets. Taki Rahmani, Ahmad Zeydabad, Akbar Ganji, and many others have said this since the 1990s. But when will the table be set and the judicial system and authorities come to the conclusion that they are acting against explicit laws, is still unknown.

Most of those who have been to prison have tasted torture. Its examples are so plentiful that sometimes we forget we are being tortured. Swearing during detention is an example of torture. Using a blindfold is an example of torture. Solitary confinement is an example of torture. But all of these may seem insignificant compared to physical beatings and psychological abuse.

But what is causing regret is the disregard for the commitment of judicial officials, and if this has continued, the result is this negligence. If the interrogator had been subject to a complaint and only focused on denial and clearing the issue, perhaps today many stars of paradise and others would still be alive. Perhaps more expression by more people and legal pursuit – even if fruitless – could have aroused the sensitivity of society and forced officials to take action. However, we should not overlook the fact that since torture is carried out in unknown locations and the individual’s access to a legal doctor and gathering evidence is not possible, any talk or action would result in difficult and sometimes impossible pursuit of evidence and documents.

Once, I asked one of the representatives of the sixth parliament who had been tortured in 88, “If someone came and told you the true story of what happened to you, would you believe it?” He replied, “I couldn’t believe that these things happen in the prisons of the Islamic Republic.” It’s unfortunate that as long as we are in power, we don’t believe and until it happens to us, we won’t accept it. If in the face of the wave of national-religious arrests in the early 80s and the televised interview with the late engineer Sahabi, there was resistance, did many of those who didn’t believe it still experience it?

“I take one step forward. Political prisoners, their voices are heard to some extent, but woe to you if you are accused of ordinary crimes. I have endured imprisonment in ordinary prisons for some time. Sometimes I saw things that were beyond belief. Sometimes a person had been beaten so badly that they couldn’t even go to the bathroom without the help of others for several days. Swollen hands and feet, injured body. Their voices are never heard and worse than that, they have accepted that this is part of their charges. They don’t even have the courage to speak up and file a complaint.”

I spoke with other security prisoners about the alleged connections of dissident groups with the ruling government. They were describing things that would make one’s hair stand on end, and if only half of what they said was true – which it was – those responsible should be tried for their crimes.

There are many “ifs” and “buts”. The reality is that this germ still exists and we must think about its condition.

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Now that Ismail is not afraid to demand his rights, we will not let him face it alone. We will be his voice. In a time when power-seekers, as always, are trying to deny this reality with lies, we must demand a halt to this process by expressing what we have seen, heard, or experienced.

It should be noted that if one does a small internet search, they will see the level of violence against the poor; insults, profanity, beatings. Or the treatment of Mohammad Habibi, a respected teacher who was beaten during his arrest. And many other cases…

Nothing has changed.

Maybe just behaviors, formalities, and dances.

With all of this.

Moving hands in defense of the head.

The same as it has been.

This body is twisting in itself.

I am tired of standing.

He tries to pull himself aside.

The feet are moving.

Knees are jumping out of place.

They turn blue.

They are angry.

The hand is coming out of the mouth.

It is bleeding.

“Shaknja makes everyone the same.”

Shymborska.