Atessa

For Iran I voted, for Iran I became Green, for Iran I wore Green, for Iran I dropped the flag that I believed in, for Iran I snubbed all other factions of Iranian opposition, for Iran I became all Green, only Green and nothing but Green.

In dancing to the Green’s tune, I believed in freedom. From the very beginning, I witnessed Green’s exclusion of all other factions of Iranian opposition. When Green marshals reported those protestors guilty of carrying the Lion and Sun flag to police and security officers, I said nothing. When Green marshals, shouted divisive slogans, I repeated after them. When Green marshals shouted, abused and manhandled people with other opinions, I didn’t object. I followed, I approved and I repeated their dictums: “Go Green or Go to Hell”!

Only, recently I travelled to Iran for a week to discover that, inside Iran, the Green movement was different. It welcomed thousands of shades: shade of opinion, of outrage, of dedication, of courage, of disgust. But, above all, the green Movement inside Iran has the colour of hope for freedom. Their Green would shame any rainbow. Their Green is the Green of freedom which does not choose, does not judge, does not exclude.

When I came back, I started to ask why? Why outside Iran, the Greens think that we should ignore all other voices and only listen to the self proclaimed leaders of the Green. As a Green supporter, I dared to question the Green organisers outside Iran. The answer I received was full of sense and nonsense, full of “yes”, “sure” and “No”, “but”.  The answers I received to my arguments were ready made, all the same. When I started questioning theses answers, they told me that I shouldn’t ask this kind of question. They tried to convince me that for the sake of unity, I should not question but only follow and support.

Today I realize that the Greens outside Iran have excluded too many people, too often to become an intolerant movement. The Green movement is not an inclusive movement anymore and it is disconnected from the Green movement inside Iran.

Therefore, I decided that from now on I will not give my support to an exclusionist rump that has hijacked the Green protests outside of Iran. I am Green, but not the green of outside Iran, I am Green, this is my movement too and no one can take it from me.