Oral statement during the panel discussion on human rights of children of parents sentenced to the death penalty or executed by an Iranian victim : www.iranhrc.org
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Panel discussion on human rights of children of parents sentenced to the death penalty or executed My name is Tania. I was born in a prison in the Islamic Republic of Iran and was delivered to my father at the same day. Both my parents were political activists. At March 1984 when I was only one year old, the dead body of my 28 year old mother was delivered to our family and my father was sent into exile three days later. I have never experienced family life and as a young woman do not know what having a mother means. Nevertheless, my situation is not the worst of all as I know where my mother is buried. Many in my position have no knowledge of their parents’ graves. I don’t ask for the address of Mother’s grave my question is “what is the meaning of mother”. I have been told that my aunt took my responsibility for a few months but I also lost her in an accident. I am here on behalf of those who, like me from childhood have grown up in fear of arrests and execution of family members. We could not talk about our trauma and kept this hidden at school and the society at large. Since childhood, we have our demons within us coming to life repeatedly. I still wakeup with the same nightmare that a burning woman is running and there is no one to help. Sudwind urges, and I personally urge all countries that have not yet ratified The Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to do so and I wish a day where no parents are executed and no child is left without the support of parents.
