Ahmad Zeidabadi Writes Letter to Wife on Her Birthday

The Advar News site has published a letter written by Ahmad Zeidabadi on July 20th from Rajai Shahr ‘Gohardasht’ prison to his wife Mahdieh Mohammadi for her birthday.

Ahmad Zeidabadi is an imprisoned journalist and the Secretary General of Tahkim Vahdat, a prominent student alumni organization in Iran. He has been imprisoned for 767 days and has not been granted furlough. He was sentenced to six years in prison and five years exile to Gonabad (a county in the Razavi Khorasan province in Iran).

In May 2011, an independent international jury of 12 media professionals selected imprisoned journalist Ahmad Zeidabadi as the laureate of this year’s UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize.

The complete content of the birthday message is as follows:

My dearest Mahdieh,

I held a small ceremony in my cell for your birthday. It was the only thing I could do. When I think about our destiny I realize that, twenty years ago, we not only selected each other but also discovered each other. At that time very few people thought that Mr. Mohammad Bozorgvar’s mischievous and stubborn little girl with dark features would transform into a model mother and wife; a woman of strong character, wisdom, consideration, patience, and devotion, who contests to life’s hardships and sufferings with such grace. I experienced true happiness with you and our children by my side and I have learned so much from your conduct.

God willing, we will some day have a fresh new start and once again experience those pleasant memories. It is not too late and, until then, our only recourse is to remain patient and tolerant.

Happy Birthday!

Ahmad [Zeidabadi]
July 20th, 2011
Rajai Shahr Prison,
Ward 4, Hall 12, Cell 24

Translation by Banooye Sabz
Edited by Persian2English