Monday, Khordad 5th 1399 (Persian Calendar), in the calendar was equal to Monday, May 25, 2020. This equality of dates can only be summed up in the calendar. In two corners of this world, two events took place in two different histories and two different worlds. It is as if the events of that day belong to two eras that are centuries apart.
In Mashhad, a man named Alireza Gholampour opens the door of his house on Monday, Khordad 5th 1399, and hangs a poster of Reza Shah and the true Iranian flag with Lion and Sun insignia on it. Someone records this with his phone. This short video is circulated on social media and is praised and supported by the majority of Iranian users. The next day, intelligence agents arrested Alireza Gholampour at his home and took him to an unknown location, where nobody knows till today. It’s been eight days now. Alireza is a 55-year-old man. The man’s wife and children don’t know anything about his condition and are worried sick.
Mashhad’s IRGC Intelligence has told Alireza Gholampour’s family that he intended to commit suicide.
In IRGC’s dictionary, when the word “suicide” is used for a detainee, it means that the person did not survive the torture and died. According to the testimony of his family and acquaintances, Mr. Gholampour was in perfect physical and mental health before his arrest.
There is another Monday in Minneapolis, unequal to Khordad 5th 1399, and equal to May 25, 2020.
A white police officer arrests a black man on the street on this date. Police put pressure on George Floyd’s neck with his knee while in custody. “I can’t breathe,” says George several times. Police pressed George’s neck to the pavement with his knees for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. In the final 2 minutes and 53 seconds, there is no sound from George Floyd. The arrest is being recorded by a passerby. The film will be posted on social media. Widespread and violent protests take place in more than 140 US cities. Even Khamenei, who admits that the deaths of thousands of people by the Coronavirus was insignificant to him, unprecedently, has used the full capacity of the regime’s costly propaganda machine to express his happiness over the incident.
Alireza Gholampour may not be able to breathe anymore.
Translation of this article by Sahar.
Cover: St. Peter’s Church, Bournemouth, Belinda Fewings
