Read heartbreaking last letter Iranian woman wrote before she was hanged

By
Jo Daniel
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27 year old Reyhaney Jabbari was executed on Saturday October 25th by hanging in Iran seven years after she killed a man that she claimed had attempted to rape her. (read here). Before she was killed, Reyhaney wrote a very emotional letter to her mother, asking that her organs be donated to those who need them. See the full text of the letter …

The full text of the letter was translated by the National Council of Resistance of Iran:

Dear Sholeh, today I learned that it is now my turn to face Qisas (the Iranian regime’s law of retribution). I am hurt as to why you did not let me know yourself that I have reached the last page of the book of my life. Don’t you think that I should know? You know how ashamed I am that you are sad. Why did you not take the chance for me to kiss your hand and that of dad?

The world allowed me to live for 19 years. That ominous night it was I that should have been killed. My body would have been thrown in some corner of the city, and after a few days, the police would have taken you to the coroner’s office to identify my body and there you would also learn that I had been raped as well. The murderer would have never been found since we don’t have their wealth and their power. Then you would have continued your life suffering and ashamed, and a few years later you would have died of this suffering and that would have been that.

However, with that cursed blow the story changed. My body was not thrown aside, but into the grave of Evin Prison and its solitary wards, and now the grave-like prison of Shahr-e Ray. But give in to the fate and don’t complain. You know better that death is not the end of life.

You taught me that one comes to this world to gain an experience and learn a lesson and with each birth a responsibility is put on one’s shoulder. I learned that sometimes one has to fight. I do remember when you told me that the carriage man protested the man who was flogging me, but the flogger hit the lash on his head and face that ultimately led to his death. You told me that for creating a value one should persevere even if one dies.

You taught us that as we go to school one should be a lady in face of the quarrels and complaints. Do you remember how much you underlined the way we behave? Your experience was incorrect. When this incident happened, my teachings did not help me. Being presented in court made me appear as a cold-blooded murderer and a ruthless criminal. I shed no tears. I did not beg. I did not cry my head off since I trusted the law.

But I was charged with being indifferent in face of a crime. You see, I didn’t even kill the mosquitoes and I threw away the cockroaches by taking them by their antennas. Now I have become a premeditated murderer. My treatment of the animals was interpreted as being inclined to be a boy and the judge didn’t even trouble himself to look at the fact that at the time of the incident I had long and polished nails.

How optimistic was he who expected justice from the judges! He never questioned the fact that my hands are not coarse like those of a sportswoman, especially a boxer. And this country that you planted its love in me never wanted me and no one supported me when under the blows of the interrogator I was crying out and I was hearing the most vulgar terms. When I shed the last sign of beauty from myself by shaving my hair I was rewarded: 11 days in solitary.

Dear Sholeh, don’t cry for what you are hearing. On the first day that in the police office an old unmarried agent hurt me for my nails I understood that beauty is not looked for in this era. The beauty of looks, beauty of thoughts and wishes, a beautiful handwriting, beauty of the eyes and vision, and even beauty of a nice voice.

My dear mother, my ideology has changed and you are not responsible for it. My words are unending and I gave it all to someone so that when I am executed without your presence and knowledge, it would be given to you. I left you much handwritten material as my heritage.

However, before my death I want something from you, that you have to provide for me with all your might and in any way that you can. In fact this is the only thing I want from this world, this country and you. I know you need time for this. Therefore, I am telling you part of my will sooner. Please don’t cry and listen. I want you to go to the court and tell them my request. I cannot write such a letter from inside the prison that would be approved by the head of prison; so once again you have to suffer because of me. It is the only thing that if even you beg for it I would not become upset although I have told you many times not to beg to save me from being executed.

My kind mother, dear Sholeh, the one more dear to me than my life, I don’t want to rot under the soil. I don’t want my eye or my young heart to turn into dust. Beg so that it is arranged that as soon as I am hanged my heart, kidney, eye, bones and anything that can be transplanted be taken away from my body and given to someone who needs them as a gift. I don’t want the recipient know my name, buy me a bouquet, or even pray for me. I am telling you from the bottom of my heart that I don’t want to have a grave for you to come and mourn there and suffer. I don’t want you to wear black clothing for me. Do your best to forget my difficult days. Give me to the wind to take away.

The world did not love us. It did not want my fate. And now I am giving in to it and embrace the death. Because in the court of God I will charge the inspectors, I will charge inspector Shamlou, I will charge judge, and the judges of country’s Supreme Court that beat me up when I was awake and did not refrain from harassing me. In the court of the creator I will charge Dr. Farvandi, I will charge Qassem Shabani and all those that out of ignorance or with their lies wronged me and trampled on my rights and didn’t pay heed to the fact that sometimes what appears as reality is different from it.

Dear soft-hearted Sholeh, in the other world it is you and me who are the accusers and others who are the accused. Let’s see what God wants. I wanted to embrace you until I die. I love you.

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44 COMMENTS

  3. When I read ur story,I prayed dt u wouldn’t be executed. My heart bled when I read on d 26th dt u hv been executed despite world-wide outcry. My happiness is dt ur would-be rapist died. May God receive ur soul. May He judge ur murderers now & after.

  4. I admire ur courage,even in d face of death, u still remembered those in need.ur request dat ur vital parts should b given to those dat would need dem shows dat u ve a heart of gold considering dat u were not given a fair hearing, u were condemed for defending urself against a defiler, in all u still remembered others.for dis, God ll reward u even in death. Rest in peace dear

  5. May dear may ur gentle soul rest in the bossom of our Lord. U re brave in life n I know u will be brave other there. Goodnite n wait for ur accuser but first deal with the bastard that wanted to reap first when u get there.

  11. Oh dear,your courage and knowledge of where you where heading to is what baffles me.
    Just like Jesus said before he departed”the world didn’t like me,so they wouldn’t like you too”…
    Am glad she knew she didn’t belong here,may her gentle soul rest in perfect peace Amen.
    I pray that this msg will cause a rethink to those that have lost hope and grant us courage to face any situation we find ourselves…….
    IF NOT HEAVEN,WHAT THEN DO YOU LIVE FOR?
    IF THIS’YOUR LAST MOMENT ON EARTH….wit wat u r thinking,nursing or planning,whatever occupy urs heart at the moment,WHERE DO U THINK YOU R TRANSITING TO?

  15. Oh my God!!! What is happening in this world. This world is so wicked, that sometimes I feel like leaving this world. Why this poor girl. Nobody to talk on her behalf, no solicitor, no human right activist to help her, GOD!!!
    But my dear, I think where you are going is the best place you can ever think of. Its better than this wicked WORLD. Nevermind, just hold your peace, the God of veangeance will fight for you. ENJOY in peace overthere!!!

  18. What a wicked muslem world!upon all d heartbreaking writing of dis self defence gal…Iran goverment refuse to listin bkos this gal doesnt hv a person to talk on her behalf…its a course ur Islamic belonging…bkos I strongly kn dat dis can’t happin in d christian world…but ur couragious mind and sacrifies made u a true child of God…may God in his infinite mercies grant u peace and eternal life In mighty name of Jesus…Amen!…may ur mother hv a heart to bear dis great loss bkos it’s not easy…even me I cried!

    • sometime i don’t know how people behave, some are questioning the the islam for this , look the case of this woman has nothing to do with islam , Try to know what she did before commenting . it is not a matter of having who will stand for her ie someone in government or rich person no her case is quite different and obvious that even her knows that she can’t survive the case and she knew it . Look go further and find out what the lady did then come back and tell us where the government goes wrong

  20. I cried out very loud wen I heard ur story nd execution a pathetic one.bt may god almighty in his mercy grant u a great paradise nd judge d culprit accordingly. may ur gentle soul rest in perfect peace

  25. The young lady died in the face of her oppressors.I asked what is the whole world
    doing when this innocent lady was going through this ordeals?You know the evil men
    will succeed if all good men the society decide to keep quiet.
    Well the evil ones will not go unpunished.May soul rest in peace.

  35. @joy if U̶̲̥̅̊ dnt knw wt 2say klose Ūя̲̅ mouth.If U̶̲̥̅̊ v bin followin dis case up U̶̲̥̅̊ wudnt say such 2ur fellow woman.A woman who stood her ryt 2avoid bin defiled Ąπϑ n d process murder d victim.it shud b written as man-defence.If U̶̲̥̅̊ whr in her shoes ℓ̊ knw U̶̲̥̅̊’ll willingly agree 4him 2defile U̶̲̥̅̊.RIP dearie U̶̲̥̅̊ я indeed a virtuous woman 2nd Maria-gorretti of our genenration bt n islamic way

  37. Just like the blood of other martys,your blood is crying for vengeance.God will not be unjust to fight for tenderly cut awy soul. Lesson for all right-minded people:this world is not our hope,let not depend on it for any fair judgement or better Treatment. Well, lady the light of mercy of God will shine upon you.I know you are in paradise noww.

  41. The young lady’s letter and story are touching, no doubt. But if one would judge as a Christian who reads, believes and practices what is written in the Holy Bible, you will realise that giving all of your organs and/or wealth to the needy isn’t what qualifies anyone to rest in the bosom of the Lord. Acts charity can’t deliver any soul from sin, death, hellfire and Satan. No way! You must repent of your sins, confess and forsake them and be born again by faith in Christ Jesus. And just as the Bible says, “for except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”-John 3:3. There should be any sentiments about this whole thing; I mayn’t know the ways to the Muslim paradise/Allah. But Jesus Christ is the (only) Way to the God of heaven and earth and Who is also the God of the Bible-John 14:6. I implore you to repent and turn away from your sins today and believe in and receive Jesus Christ into your heart before your sins will turn you away into hellfire!!! May that not be your portion, in Jesus name.

  42. The young lady’s letter and story are touching, no doubt. But if one would judge as a Christian who reads, believes and practices what is written in the Holy Bible, you will realise that giving all of your organs and/or wealth to the needy isn’t what qualifies anyone to rest in the bosom of the Lord. Acts of charity can’t deliver any soul from sin, death, hellfire and Satan. No way! You must repent of your sins, confess and forsake them and be born again by faith in Christ Jesus. And just as the Bible says, “for except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”-John 3:3. There should be any sentiments about this whole thing; I mayn’t know the ways to the Muslim paradise/Allah. But Jesus Christ is the (only) Way to the God of heaven and earth and Who is also the God of the Bible-John 14:6. I implore you to repent and turn away from your sins today and believe in and receive Jesus Christ into your heart before your sins will turn you away into hellfire!!! May that not be your portion, in Jesus name.

  43. In Islam,d one who dies in self defence or while protectin his property goes straight 2 paradise as stated by d holy Propher(swm).I comend ur courage my dere sister in islam,if truly d man died in an attempt 2 rape u,den posterity shall judge ur killer nd Allah will soon xpose d inspector,d judges. U re a wounded heart yearnin 2 balance scale.One does what is required wen fate calls upon him/her,u hav acepted ur fate.U were such a courageous muslim as xpected of every true muslim.It is beta 2 die as a hero dan 2 liv as a coword,a man must acept his fate or b destroyed by it.weda or not ur mum works 2wrds ur directiv by removin d vital part of ur body 2 dose in need,ur reword is certain as u already had it in ur intentions prior 2 ur execution.May god giv ur mum d fortitud 2 bear ur demise.RIP