Mother grieves jailed journalist

Blog Watch | Human Rights Activists News Agency

Fariba Pajooh, a professional journalist and blogger, has been in detention in Evin Prison for the past month.

Last week she was transferred from solitary confinement to another cell, which she shares with another journalist, Hengameh Shahidi.

Charges against Pajooh have not been officially announced.

The following is a letter to Fariba from her mother, a physician in Tehran:

"Mom," you said, "Doctor: I'm jealous of your patients! Doctor, consider me one of your patients -- I'll even pay your fees."

For many years now you have been complaining about the chronic pain in your left shoulder. I would always tell you that it was nothing, my precious, and not to be silly. It was caused by carrying around a heavy bag or slouching when you sat. You don't know the pain other people have to endure, I would tell you. If you came to the hospital one day you would forget about all your own pain and the pain in your shoulder would lose its significance.

In the end, I prescribed exercise and proper posture.

In our first meeting after you spent a month is solitary confinement, in a 1 x 1.5 meter cell, you cried "Mother, my shoulder, my shoulder hurts."

Why? I thought to myself. She hasn't been carrying around a heavy bag and she hasn't had housework or ironing to do either.

Then I looked into your eyes. This time it didn't speak only of pain; deep sorrow and grief had also settled over your pale face. It was probably the heavy burden of your question that remained unspoken, the question you had been asking yourself since your arrest: What crime have I committed to find myself here? That's what was weighing on your shoulders.

For more than 20 years, I have been carrying out my professional and humanitarian duties. I have tried my best to listen to my patients' complaints, be it physical or emotional, and to alleviate them accordingly. My patients' prayers mean the whole world to me.

My humble experience has taught me that while man is physically weak, his spirit is strong enough to make mountains bow down to it. Character is what helps man endure pain and sorrow.

So, my precious, have patience because "After every difficulty there is some relief."

Your mother

Photo: Journalist Fariba Pajooh embraces two young girls during a reporting trip to Zahedan earlier this year. In the words of one of her editors, "Her work has always been professional and remarkably balanced."