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Gholam Reza Momeni, father of Esha Momeni—graduate student at State University California at Northridge and volunteer in the One Million Signature Campaign--sat down for an interview with Rooz online and said all their efforts to free Esha have led to nothing. “We have not been able to do anything. They don’t answer our questions. They ask us to leave and not to return until they notify us.” Despite this Mr. Momeni is hopeful that officials will act in accordance with the laws of the country, realize that his daughters arrest has been a mistake, and release her promptly.
Mr. Momeni said this about his daughter’s activities: “If a student or organization decides to become socially active in the community the government should support them not throw them in jail. My daughter was being socially responsible and doing something positive for her community but they have arrested her and thrown her in jail.”
On the reason for her arrest he says: “They don’t need a reason. First they make an arrest but I know they will come to realize that they have made a mistake. My daughter came to Iran to do research for her Master’s thesis. She conducted interviews with prominent members of society. What they have told her on camera are things that they openly speak about in public interviews when it comes to matters of gender equality. My daughter never asked any questions that were out of the ordinary nor have any of the participants said anything they don’t normally say.”
Regarding his daughter and her beliefs he says: “In any event, officials in Iran need to address women’s issues sooner or later. The matter at hand needs both discussion and debate. If a person opens a dialogue concerning their rights and the rights of those concerned should they be thrown in jail? Speaking about gender equality is not politics. It has nothing to do with politics.”
He adds: “I’m saddened to say I live here, under such circumstances, after working for the betterment of my country for decades. My wife, Esha’s mother, has become ill because of the stress she now has to endure. I used to go to work at four (4) am but now it’s ten (10) am and I am still not at work. Because of what has happened to Esha and my wife now being worried sick I’m not able to tend to my everyday daily tasks. I can’t comprehend how this is fair.”
He said this about the effects of Esha’s arrest on both his family and her friends: “The effect that it has had is that we are all now much more curious about issues relating to women and women’s rights. The issues and problems that women face is not one that can be simply shelved away. Imagine a woman who marries a man that she later finds out is mentally ill and wants a divorce. Which law will come to support this woman? There is no way this woman can easily get a divorce. So, if my daughter is concerned about such things, should she be thrown in jail? Even though my daughter lived in the US her heart was always beating for the women in Iran. Then how can one understand what has happened to her? If a person wants to make a film for their school project showing certain realities the way they exist so that officials themselves can see that and be cause for change should they be detained? This is actually something the government should have been doing. But now my daughter is sitting in jail for wanting to create awareness.”
Addressing government officials Mr. Momeni said: “I am addressing those officials who I know care about what has mistakenly happened and I ask that they attend to this case, in a quick and timely manner. I’ve worked as a civil engineer for many many years and I know that for anything to work you need to build a proper infrastructure. I know that for a healthy society we need the same, let’s not be afraid of creating that same foundation here, we need to address the realities we live in. Why should we arrest someone if they hold up a camera to show such social realities? Esha never filmed in public, she interviewed people privately and had permission from all interviewees to do so. In our country why is it that we don’t charge a person with something and then arrest them? My daughter has done nothing to deserve solitary confinement. At first I did not want to speak to the media because I believed in the system and thought they would understand that they have made a mistake releasing her promptly. But suddenly they arrest someone and then search our house…my daughter lives with us, her mother and father. Why did intelligence agents search our house? The damage that has been done, whether it be my wife’s health or my daughter who now doesn’t even want to go to school, and this can never be repaired with an apology. So this is the way they treat citizens who only want to give to their country?”
Mr. Momeni said in regards to the way his daughter was arrested: “Once upon a time a revolution took place and things had to be sorted out. Now, they first surround my daughter’s car under the guise of a traffic infraction then we find out that the highway patrol were actually intelligence officers. If there was ever a problem why not just summon her to court where she can defend herself and what she is doing? That way both sides can state their cases in a healthy environment.”
Concerning the fact that his daughter is in solitary confinement with possible psychological ramifications he says: “Whatever my daughter says while in solitary confinement has no legitimacy. Under fear and duress whatever she says will be of no importance. President Ahmadinejad who himself speaks of democracy went to America and said whatever he wanted. Did he suffer any repercussions or did that cost America anything? Everybody says, ‘look this is American democracy, a president goes to a country and has a open platform to say whatever he wants while the media listens’. My daughter comes to Iran, as a student and a researcher, she speaks to a few activists and they throw her in jail. You can judge for yourself, is this what we call justice? Which part of this is right, which part of it is ok?
In regards to Esha’s concerns regarding women’s rights also being his concerns Momeni says: “We really need to reevaluate women’s issues. We need to have a conversation in order to solve these problems. It’s no longer acceptable for men to have the final say. That’s what my daughter believes in. With the arrest of my daughter I have come to realize that the government needs to reopen matters pertaining to women, and, in fact, if someone tends to such social problems they should not be thrown in jail. This is not good for our government. This is not right. They say Islamic justice; well, this is not Islamic.”
In conclusion he says: “I, myself, am from a religious family. My last name is Momeni*. And this is our situation in Iran. Doesn’t this feel like a joke? Who can believe that this is a good image for the Islamic Republic? Believe me, no one. Officials who are progressive need to attend to such matters and I ask that you please let my daughter go. My daughter loves her country. She loved to show that Iranian women are pioneers and that the image of the Iranian women in the West is a false one. Now don’t you think it’s a farce that she has been arrested?”
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