Amidst global outrage following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody in Tehran last month, menswear designer Paria Farzaneh reflects on the response to this tragic “wake-up call”, her own dual identity, and the dream of a free Iran.
The protests that we are seeing now in Iran and elsewhere across the world – essentially what this comes down to is someone, whatever their race or ethnicity, not having the right to be them. Beingis not allowed. As Iranians we are really feeling this, and it hurts. In the West, it can feel like these things are happening so far away from us. It’s hard to relate to the Middle East, because it feels like another world.
The women suffering in Iran are all someone’s daughter, someone’s sister, someone’s mother. Their basic rights are being taken away from them. Feel bad for them! We can’t overlook someone being stripped of their basic rights simply because they are not right in front of us. How is it that we can visit New York, Paris or Tokyo, but we can’t visit Tehran? My work is essentially a commentary on the beauty of Iranian culture.
Now, the world is awake – and it’s so important that we stay awake. It is insane that it has taken 43 years for the rest of the world to wake up to what is happening in Iran. I feel so devastated about what is happening right now… but it also kind of feels good. When people reach out to me about what’s going on I feel so thankful. We can’t stop talking about this, the time for change is now.
The protests are proof that we are still so strong. There’s nothing stronger than our human connection, the power of coming together for something you believe is right. We don’t know how long this is going to take, but it’s happening, history is unfolding. As Iranians we are feeling something. We have hope.
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