Pacifist under protest: Hirad Babakhani on Iran

‘I am thinking of the souls of these young protestors.’

Just like any other Iranian I have been glued to my phone since Mahsa Amini died on 16 September. She was arrested for allegedly not wearing the hijab in accordance with government standards; eyewitnesses say she died as the result of police brutality. I thought I could share this with Friends, but I could not find any nice ways to write about how the Basij (the paramilitary volunteer militia established by order of Ruhollah Khomeini) had been shooting people. Nevertheless, living under dictatorship is harsh and unjust, and the stories must be told.

I am struggling to process how the Iranian regime can kill all these young people. I am finding the fact that there are humans who can still kill in cold blood very disturbing. Some of the protestors were just out of school!

I have always been impressed by the Quakers and what they did during two world wars. So, as a Quaker, the main question that comes to my mind is the definition of pacifism, and how it applies to the current situation in Iran – or any part of the world that is experiencing conflict. How can we stay pacifist, and demonstrate peacefully, when the protesting itself is illegal – where if you chant anything you may get shot? Actresses, artists, journalists and many more are in prison just because they posted something in support of the protests on social media, or criticised the regime.

Shervin Hajipour got arrested for just singing a song for the protestors. He was not being dishonourable to any Iranian official. Nika Shakarami’s aunt got put in prison just for telling the truth about her niece’s murder by government officials. Whatever we do we get arrested, or shot, or raped and beaten to death with batons by police or government officials. As Ahmad Shamlou, the most influential poet of modern Iran, wrote: ‘It is hard to convince some people whilst they are being paid to be not convinced.’ The strange thing is that many of these revolutionary guards send their children to the west to study or to open businesses.

So what other option is available for people? Just live under a corrupt and totalitarian regime and be slaves? How can I continue to believe that pacifism will work in this situation? There is no way out. Who am I to tell people in Iran not to throw stones at revolutionary guards? I live a comfortable life in the UK; I do not see it in myself to suggest anything from a distance.

I am sure that the answer for creating a better world is not in violence, otherwise we are just going to become like the violent. But I am thinking of the souls of these young protestors. They would be happy if we could create a peaceful Iran again. This way we will certainly win against the larger battle, the violent ideology of the revolutionary guards.

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