Story:

My friend, who used to live here, gifted me this book about six or seven years ago. I have always liked Masnavi, even during my university years. One of our literature courses was about Rumi and the Masnavi, and I was always drawn to Sama dance.

I started learning Sama dance for a while. I can understand this book much better through Sama, because the more you whirl and turn, the more connected you become to God and to spiritual matters. It feels like a form of therapy for me. Through Sama, I can express my emotions more freely.

My friend’s mother, who used to live here, told me to keep this book with me so that whenever I see it, it reminds me of her.

I left Iran about nine years ago. I did not decide to migrate, I came as a tourist. I had to stay, though.

In Iran, women’s rights are fragile, and the law is not on the side of women. Here, even though we have difficulties as foreigners, as women we are respected. Turkish people respect women, and as far as I know, the laws for women and men are equal. It is much better than in Iran. I do not know all the details of the laws, but from my experience, there is much more equality.

– Pegah Hajati