I was putting up with the prison pain, but suddenly
tonnes of grief came down upon me
I don’t know when it was, maybe eight to nine days ago, when
I heard that my only child, my 13-year old Nima, already overcome by the pain of
separation from his father and all kinds of deprivation, has been admitted to
Mahak Hospital, a hospital for children with cancer; a bitter experience and a shocking
moment, which have pierced deep into my soul.
I don’t know about the condition of my darling child. My wife doesn’t
clearly tell me, but she hopes that I would soon be given leave to come and see
them. I have therefore asked for leave, which if granted would certainly have a
great impact on me and my sick child. This is the only moment in the life of a
father, which he doesn’t want to lose under any circumstances. So, thanks to my
friends, I have come up with a property surety, and like in the past when I
have asked for things, I have been given a favourable answer. But maybe this
time too it will turn out to be just words.
Under these circumstances, with thousands of thoughts in my mind about my
son Nima, remembering the empty promises of those in charge has turned my suffering
into an excruciating pain. I have to be at the side of my sick child. This is
my right. I am a political prisoner, whose anguish over his son’s illness has made
everything look dark. There are several courses of action open to me, one of
which is to go on a dry hunger strike. Maybe I’ll get an answer that way.
I want to choose patience and endurance, while resisting and putting
pressure; however, anything can happen. First, deprivation from food, leave,
proper visits, telephone, medical care, etc., and now deprivation from the
right to be at the side of my sick child is what is going to break me down.
I insist on my demand for leave to visit my child; at the same time, I appeal
to everyone to support the rights of my child and to help his recovery. Who
would have thought that someone who for years has fought for children’s and
workers’ rights, would one day be in prison for his beliefs and defence of
children, and then hear that groups of compassionate people, friends and comrades
are visiting his sick child, but he himself isn’t able to stroke the feverish
head of his child?
I will defy and resist, as I have done up to now, but who is answerable for
all this injustice and suffering? Who is responsible for the condition that my
child Nima is in?
I have hope in the strong and kind hands of the doctors and nurses, hope in
the support of friends, comrades, colleagues and the good and caring people of
the country. I am most grateful to all those who over these past days have been
asking about my child and who have visited my family and son.
I thank all the doctors and nurses of Mahak Hospital and all those who have
been helping to aid the recovery of my son. In the hope of a speedy recovery
for my son Nima Ebrahimzadeh and all sick children.
Behnam (As’ad) Ebrahimzadeh
Political Prisoner
Ward 35, Evin Prison
January 2013
Translation from Farsi by Free Them
Now! Campaign to Free Jailed Workers in Iran
