Jeune Street

The seven Baha'i leaders in Iran who were recently sentenced to 20 years in prison for nothing more than their beliefs has provoked universal outcry at the patent injustice of Iran persecuting these harmless souls. Roxana Saberi, the American journalist freed earlier this year from her own period imprisonment, shared a cell with two of these Baha'i leaders: Mahvash Sabet and Fariba Kamalabadi. Her moving recollections of these two exceptional women have been published in the Washington Post. I found this section especially moving:

Despite the gravity of the accusations against them, Mahvash and Fariba had not once been allowed to see attorneys. Yet my cellmates' spirits would not be broken, and they boosted mine. They taught me to, as they put it, turn challenges into opportunities -- to make the most of difficult situations and to grow from adversity. We kept a daily routine, reading the books we were eventually allowed and discussing them; exercising in our small cell; and praying -- they in their way, I in mine. They asked me to teach them English and were eager to learn vocabulary for shopping, cooking and traveling. They would use the new words one day, they told me, when they journeyed abroad. But the two women also said they never wanted to live overseas. They felt it their duty to serve not only Bahais but all Iranians.

Later, when I went on a hunger strike, Mahvash and Fariba washed my clothes by hand after I lost my energy and told me stories to keep my mind off my stomach. Their kindness and love gave me sustenance.

Our thoughts and prayers remain with those courageous souls who continue to endure injustice with equanimity and constructive resilience.

Those wishing to take action in support of the imprisoned leaders can do so at http://united4iran.com