Published March 21, 2024

Image: (left to right) Iranian-Canadian Baha’i Jennifer Shiva Kasiri, MC and translator Chloé Côté Perreault, and Na-Cho Nyak Dun elder and storyteller Louise Profeit-LeBlanc at Maison du Citoyen, Gatineau, March 9 (GN). Photo: Greg Newing

By Greg Newing, Gatineau Bulletin LJI Reporter

Over 100 people gathered at the Maison du citoyen on March 9 for a commemorative event organized by the Baha’i community of Gatineau to honour the lives of 10 Baha’i women who were executed in Shiraz, Iran 40 years ago. The 10 women were killed for refusing to renounce their faith which has been outlawed by the Iranian government. One woman was 17 years old and most were in their 20s.

The commemoration, which marked International Women’s Day, also made ties with present- day injustices in Canada, taking the opportunity to raise awareness about missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. Algonquin elder Annie Smith Saint-Georges gave opening remarks and highlighted the common struggle faced by Indigenous women and those experiencing violence in other parts of the world, “We are human and come from all directions of the earth… We have to take care of each other, we need strength together and can march together to honour and uplift the status of women,” said Smith Saint-Georges.

Image: Algonquin artists Aki Stevens (second from left) and Doreen Stevens (third from left) performing the Strong Women’s Song with Indigenous elders Louise Profeit LeBlanc (left) and Annie Smith-Saint Georges (third from right) at Maison du citoyen, March 9 (GN). Photo: Greg Newing.

Saint-Georges’ remarks were followed by a performance of the “Strong Women’s Song” by Algonquin artists Doreen and Aki Stevens. Commenting on the song’s significance, Doreen Stevens described it as an intergenerational source of strength. Aki Stevens added that performing the song has supported those impacted by violence, “We personally know people who have gone missing … but even when things are going wrong in your life, it doesn’t mean that you can’t bring light to a situation. That’s empowerment,” she commented.

The performance was followed by a dramatized dialogue between second-generation Iranian Canadian Baha’i Jennifer Shiva Kasiri and Indigenous elder and storyteller from the Na-Cho Nyak Dun First Nation Louise Profeit-LeBlanc. The dialogue focused on the struggle to promote gender equality globally and highlighted commonalities across contexts, “The oppression of women occurs no matter where you are, no matter what class or ethnicity. It’s something that we unfortunately see all around the world,” said Kasiri. “I think these two stories are connected because they showed strength in difficult moments. When I hear the stories of residential school survivors, I see the same strength and resilience,” she continued. Profeit-LeBlanc responded, emphasising the need for more dialogue and mutual support across contexts, “When we really think about it, the hurt of one is the hurt of all and the honour of one is the honour of all,” said Profeit-LeBlanc.

As Iran’s largest non-Muslim religious minority, Baha’is continue to face state sponsored persecution and human rights abuses such as harassment, arbitrary imprisonment, the closure of businesses and are barred from higher education. One participant, Malihe Sowlati, who arrived in Canada as a refugee in 1983, said she was touched by the event and had been personally affected by the violence following the Iranian revolution, “Since the revolution in Iran, there have been many more remarkable Baha’i women who have been executed. Many Iranian women who are not Baha’i have also suffered. Especially in the last few years, there has been a significant rise in violence toward women,” said Sowlati.

The commemoration was part of the global #OurStoryIsOne campaign to honour the memory of the 10 women and to raise awareness about violence toward women from all backgrounds in Iran and around the world today. For more information on the campaign, visit: https://www.ourstoryisone.bic.org/.

To learn more about murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls in Canada, a report from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls can be found at: mmiwg-ffada.ca.

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