Oppression: the Ultimate Killer
Janet Kuypers
started 9/28/22, completed 9/29/22
Christiane Amanpour, a CNN journalist
Born in Britain to an Iranian father
Whom historically interviewed Iranian Presidents,
Explained in a New York interview* that
Iranian President Ebrahim stated
Before their scheduled interview
That she should wear a headscarf.
She declined, since they were in New York...
For although that may be the law for Iranian women,
It’s not against the law in the United States —
Plus, no previous Iranian president she interviewed
Requested this of her — but after she said no,
The Iranian state cancelled their interview.**
Now, I know I love my research,
But I knew journalism Janet would have a
Field day with the idea of a man
Not allowing a woman to interview him
Because of the religious intonation
Of a woman not covering her hair...
Remembering the hijabs seen first-hand
On Muslim women around the world, knowing the
Qur’an instructs women to overly-conceal themselves
“to maintain modesty and privacy from unrelated males”,
All rational people instantly know the real
Problem is with men being unable to control
Their sexual deviancy — then, instead of
Blaming men, women have to be subjugated
So heinously to make up for the misdeeds of
Otherwise “blameless” men, in the name of religion.
So, look for the story, get the scoop...
That’s when it becomes abundantly clear
That Iran has other things to worry about
Besides asking a journalist to cover her hair.
For Amanpour recalled in her interview
That her own family even attended the
Protests in Iran in 1979 —
The Iranian Revolution overthrew a dynasty,
But replaced it with an Islamic republic —
Which eventually culminated in Iran’s
“Morality Police,” detaining women
For not properly wearing a hijab.
It’s one thing to follow a religion
That tells you what to wear,
Sensible or not, but it’s another
To write that into a country’s laws.
However, it is another thing entirely
When 22-year-old Mahsa Amini
Was taken from her brother at the
Tehran metro for what authorities
Called an “improper” hijab.
She was taken to the
morality police headquarters.
Two hours later, she was taken
To hospital in a coma.
Two days later, she died.***
After hearing screaming, multiple women there
Left, saying that the police just killed someone.
Wait, this isn’t supposed to be the story...
What followed in the streets of Iran
Are days of protests, with women
Burning their hijabs or cutting their hair
In the streets. Protests continued for weeks —
Along with the rising death count for protesters.
Need more evidence? Search for videos
Of Iranian police assaulting a girl
For taking off her hijab in public.****
The proof is out there.
I keep relaying all of the
Twists and turns to this story;
Keep thinking that this isn’t
What the story was
Supposed to be about.
But then I realize:
No matter what we’re reading,
No matter what we’re saying,
They story remains the same.
The argument is sounding more and more
Like a broken record, when the UN
Called on Iran to repeal their laws
Severely restricting access to abortion.*****
We can talk about police states killing their people;
We can talk about governments imposing religion;
We can talk about the hopelessness and futility —
But talk is cheap when no one connects the pieces.
For even when some people within Iran
(One of the most oppressive states to women)
Begin to question when life begins inside a womb,
The tyranny doesn’t change, with the continuous
Oppressive treatment of women. In this story,
A woman is killed in “morality police” custody,
Protests arise, more women are killed. You say that
Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition,******
But really, look at the evidence that has been
Waiting to be discovered for millennia.
Connect the pieces.
This is the way it always works out.
From the moment of a woman’s birth
(the moment she leaves a womb)
To the moment of a woman’s death
(and a life of male-imposed conflict)
Stopping abortions isn’t the “saving” of clumps of cells
Or that women are the killers when nothing is even alive.
It’s the oppression of women:
That starts with the hurting
Of living, breathing people,
That always ends with the
Deaths of countless more.
If everyone wants to stop the countless deaths
Of so many innocent souls,
You know where to look.
Save women from these most basic oppressions —
Then you truly save real lives.
* https://youtu.be/4lcZCN0SrU8
** https://youtu.be/yZxTzMhsgNg
*** https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/09/16/woman-dies-custody-irans-morality-police
**** https://twitter.com/i/status/1574331891406225409
***** https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/01/iran-repeal-crippling-new-anti-abortion-law-un-experts
****** Monty Python’s Flying Circus, Series 2 Episode 2
| 
