From Iran to Turkey. Kaveh's journey

What is democracy? Democracy is a form of government where the power is exercised by the people, through freely elected representatives. It is always important to associate the word freedom with democracy, because freedom and democracy are the pillars of a country and its people. Telling Iran through the words and memories of Kaveh Taheri reminds us how often these two pillars are often denied. Kaveh is a journalist, human rights activist and former political prisoner in Shiraz, a city in south-central Iran. He was jailed for publishing his writings on websites and on his blog. Because in Iran, those who choose to oppose the strict rules of Iranian laws risk imprisonment. Many activists, journalists, lawyers and bloggers currently in prison are direct witnesses.

Dear Kaveh, would you like to tell me about the journey that took you from Iran to Turkey?

Since 2008, I started blogging in Iran, publishing my pieces on Iran issues, mostly timely news and events of financial and political difficulties. The vast majority of Iranians were following the news, especially because of all Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's sheer unadulterated nonsense. The so-called president's speech had gone viral on social networks and mainstream media after he obviously called 'wiping Israel off the map'. Anonymous blogging has been protecting my life and safety from prosecution by the Islamic security agents in occupied Iran. It had truly divided between my personal and professional life. In 2012, the Islamic intelligence forces arrested me about six months after I came back to Iran from Malaysia. "I lived outside Iran for almost half of my life, most of which was in the United Arab Emirates. I've been living in exile in Turkey for almost eight years. Yes, I've been forced to leave Iran in 2012 to save my life.". After the arrest, the Islamic agents took me into solitary confinement, where the goal of inquisition. The agents used mainly psychological torture against me at the jail. In other words, I was not exposed to a lot of physical torture. For example, when I was in solitary confinement I was kept in a cell without an appropriate bathroom or a bed. They would blindfold me and make me sit on the floor facing the wall for long hours in absolute silence, and then suddenly they would start screaming vulgar sexual terms against my mother and me. They would tell me that I would be executed or be given a very long prison sentence. I was even told that my sister, who was a student in Malaysia (at the time), had been brought to Iran and arrested. I was not permitted to contact my family at all. I was beaten many times during which they used the vilest language to insult members of my family. But, of course, the miseries I've endured in exile has been much worse than what the Islamic regime did. Nor so-called UNHCR neither the corrupt human rights organizations fulfilled their obligations, which they've been founded and funded for. But, I am not disappointed at all. I mean, I'm not disappointed anymore as I've found The Holy Grail. I just established ICBPS.Org and ICBHR.Com to fulfil my commitment to the people. Who knows! My destiny may is to stay in the Middle East and fight for my desires. I'm sure of it the so-called western democracies deserve such people whose asylum cases are baseless but rather than dedicated freedom fighters. 'Charlie Hebdo Shooting' and 'September 11 Attacks' were operated by the people I've mentioned. I know dozens of ANTIFAs, Anarchists, or Marxists [in person] who were easily welcomed to the societies. Yes, You Deserve Them!

What important changes do you dream of for Iran today?

I've always dreamed of my country being liberated. We must reclaim our country and rebuild it.

What does democracy and freedom mean to you?

I found that democracy and freedom do not exist anywhere in the globe at all -- at least not like what I've read in the books. An example of injustice is when dedicated activists have stuck in a state of limbo in Turkey, and unrighteous persons are easily welcomed to EU and North America. I will stay in the Middle East to continue to drain the swamp. For sure, you should also take urgent action to clear the swamp in your countries before collapse. President Donald Trump has wisely done as he issued an executive order of Travel Ban.

Kaveh's words remain well etched in the mind. These are words that take us beyond the gates of Iranian prisons. The same gates hide the cruelty of a government that it tries to repress its people with physical and psychological violence. Thanks to Kaveh for allowing me to make this article. Sharing his words is important. Knowing that you are being heard is even more so.

Mariacarmela Ribecco (Human Rights Activist)