Story:

Τhis is one of my favorite objects I found in a forest and I’ve carried it for many years now. It’s always next to my mom’s photo in my wallet. I remember once we were walking in a forest with my friends and suddenly we saw a spot that was full of blue feathers. It was a really beautiful scene because it looked like a bird shed them naturally. So I picked one up. I had a very special feeling when I picked this feather at that moment. At the time, when I picked up this feather, I was thinking about freedom a lot and it makes me feel emotional to think of this. It’s special to me because I’ve carried this small feather for many years and it comes from a very nice memory, a very nice time in my life. I always keep it next to my mom’s photo, so it’s kind of a special thing for me.

I’ve always been very impressed by Iran’s nature. It feels nice to have this feather with me because I feel like I’m carrying something from Iran, from nature and from a place where I used to hang out. I would spend so much time there. It is connected to my motherland and its nature, which is special to me. A feather is a symbol of freedom. Being free in many ways is an important thing for me in life.

It’s interesting because I’m carrying a small feather despite the fact that I moved to another country. I’ve lost many objects in my life. Usually I lose things. But I could carry this feather for years. It became a symbol of protection and connection to the motherland, also because I’m keeping it next to my mom’s photo. My motherland is occupied by an Islamic government that takes your life away from you.

I didn’t have to leave Iran, but I left, and after I left, I realised that I couldn’t grow in my own country because I’m a dancer, performance artist and a coach. With this current government, you are not allowed as a woman to dance, to sing or do anything like that in public, or even in private. I left and realised that I cannot live in Iran anymore because I cannot progress in the ways I want. I left Iran in December 2021. I left the country for a short trip but then it became a big journey for me.

There is a lot of oppression and violence toward women in Iran. Even from a very early age.  It doesn’t matter if, like my family, they’re not conservative and they don’t force you to be Muslim. It doesn’t matter because the society, the school, and everywhere in Iran puts so much force and pressure on women. 

You don’t have freedom over your own body, over your mind and your spirit. So it was intense as a woman. I had an intense journey in society. 

I’m not living anywhere at the moment. I’m moving from one country to another, from Iran to Turkey for example. Turkey is not that much better than Iran, but it’s a little bit better still because at least you can dress how you like. It’s a little bit more free for Iranian women. I wouldn’t say it’s much more free, but it’s a little bit more free. At least I can go on stage, do some projects, and wear whatever I want. I can be creative. 

I hope that the regime will change, and I hope that women will have more freedom in Iran, and everywhere else, like Afghanistan. I hope for a better and more free society. 

– Anonymous