Tehran Broadcast

Where the undertaker’s wage is above the price of man’s freedom.

— Ahmad Shamlou. [prominent contemporary Iranian poet]

After my interview with the BBC, on June 25, 2009, concerning my personal observations of the savage killing of Neda Agha-Soltan, the news headlines have indicated that an arrest warrant has been issued for me by the Iranian government.

As I stated in my interview, such a desperate act to cover up this heinous crime was not unexpected from an administration that is founded on the basis of lies and injustice. In the interview, I did in fact anticipate that they will deny my statements; that they will pile up many accusations on me. Instead of finding the real murderers of that innocent girl and dozens of other victims, and accepting responsibility for its incompetence, this administration is trying to point fingers at this or that blameless person, country or organization.

They have been pressuring my family and friends in Iran — who have nothing to do with this event. My father, a 70 years old emeritus university professor has been summoned, although he had role in any of these matters. I only did what any honorable person would have done in similar circumstances: I tried to save a victim’s life, and when the government media started to distort the truth about her death, I testified at what I had seen.

I have always lived such that I will never suffer any regrets. I was among the first doctors who rushed to Bam in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in 2003, just to be close to the victims who were about to lose all hope.

This time I happened to be next to another innocent victim, entirely by accident, without having a clue what an adventure I am entering. But this time, it was not nature that claimed the victim’s life; it was greed for power that shed her blood.

I am also a writer, and if you read my stories, articles and prose, you would know that I have always defended human rights and have paid the price.

I have always tried to live an honest and honorable life, and I have never betrayed my values.

I am confident that what I did to save Neda, and afterwards, to recollect the events, was the right thing to do. I believe that God is the lord of the brave. I have faith, that truth will emancipate us. I have acted according to my conscience, and if I have to pay a price for that, so be it. But I have a right to defend my dignity and honesty.

I swear to God, who is my witness, and I swear to my honor, that I have said the truth and nothing but the truth, about what I have seen.

The Islamic revolution and the Islamic Republic were founded on a principle to which people remain committed today. This faith was the people’s refuge when they were fighting the dictatorship of the Shah, and also when they were defending their homeland and sacrificing much blood in fighting the foreign threat of that other dictator who was ruling over Iraq with an iron fist.

But these lies discredit all the claims of this particular administration: an administration that has distorted the history of the Second World War; one that claims that the freedom of speech is guaranteed in Iran; one that claims there are no political prisoners incarcerated in Iran; one that claims there is no censorship of books, information, media, and the press; one that pretends to respect the civic rights of citizens such as the right to peaceful assembly, right to protest, right to equality irrespective of gender, religion and race.

In the past 20 days, the world has witnessed the falsehood of all these claims in the teary eyes of the courageous Iranians. I am sure that the world will not believe this newest lie either, and will understand that a physician, a writer and a publisher has done nothing but acting conscientiously in rushing to help someone in need, and in retelling the truth.

Neda was not the only fallen in the recent events. Are all the innocent ones killed in these events, also victims of a "global conspiracy"? Why aren’t the murderers of the other victims prosecuted? Or could it be the insolence and incompetence of an armed militia who could not tolerate the lawful protests of their fellow Iranians against injustice and handle it rationally that is responsible?

I am but a witness. Why should a witness be prosecuted instead of a murderer? Has not enough blood been shed? Should I have remained silent in the face of this horrendous crime? Is this the message we are leaving for our future generations?

I am confident that no world citizen will abandon supporting me and thousands of other fellow Iranians who were beaten, imprisoned, chased and dragged to the ground in their blood, just because they wanted to be a free nation and join the world in the path of justice and prosperity, and on that path to share with them their rich culture and history brimful with courage.

I am proud to be part of this movement. What I have done, any man of honor would have done. That is why I am being threatened. Just as all those martyrs did what any free man would have done. And so they were killed — by the dark hand of hatred for everything these martyrs stood for:

Liberty, Honesty, and Justice.

Arash Hejazi

July 2, 2009