Justice for Iran

You need not come any longer, Freedom. We have found our joys in your absence.

—Iranian poetess, Elham Eslami, who died in a car accident yesterday along with her poet husband, Gholamreza Boroosan

Marzieh, the quintessential Persian woman

I can’t even begin to count the times my mother sang this song to us; it is the soundtrack of my childhood. And believe me, I realize how lucky I am.

Marzieh / Raftam Ke Raftam (I have gone, Yes, I’m gone)

I’m too emotional tonight to express the depth of her loss. You may view it as it appears on the surface in the West: the loss of another talented artist. But you would be wrong. Hers is a dying art and I’m afraid that she is literally taking her songs and traditional Persian music to the grave with her. In Iran, women are still banned from singing, filmmakers can’t make films, dancers are forbidden to dance, artists are censored and journalists are imprisoned. I am witnessing the end of my Persian culture, from afar with the rest of the world, and I feel as though no one cares. Not enough, anyway.

Listen.

Marzieh / Divane Ze Destat

This one’s for you, Mom.

Marzieh, our first lady of Persian music, at the Royal Albert Hall in 1993

First spot went to Captain Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger.