On Sunday September 27th 2009, I had the opportunity to meet His
Holiness the Dalai Lama at the Vancouver Peace Summit put on by the
Dalai Lama Center for Peace and Education. I spoke to him about the
plight of the Iranian people suffering grave human rights abuses under
the stranglehold of the current regime and the urgency for the
international community to take action, especially in light of the
violence, deaths, detainments, disappearances and systematic rape since
the fraudulent presidential elections in June.
I asked His
Holiness if he would stand in solidarity with the Iranian people by
holding a sign that says “Freedom for Iran” and “Human Rights for
Iran”. When the Dalai Lama agreed without hesitation, I hugged and
thanked him. I was so elated because I knew what an important symbol it
would be for the people inside Iran. I want the Iranian people to know
that they have not been forgotten and that the international community
stands beside them.
The Dalai Lama had said over a decade ago when he received the Nobel Peace Prize:
“Peace can only last where human rights are respected, where people are fed, and where individuals and nations are free”.
May Iranians live in peace at last!
Photo credit: Samantha J Walker
Nazanin
Nazanin Afshin-Jam
International Human Rights Activist
President and Co Founder of
Stop Child Executions
www.stopchildexecutions.com
