Image by youngrobv (Rob & Ale) via Flickr
Traditionally, artists have expressed their feelings and opinions about society's successes or failures in their work. They find their own visions to convey what fellow citizens, friends, or strangers are bearing, gladly or heavily.
Our hearts have gone out to the Iranian people over the last weeks, and my fellow HuffingtonPost.com contributor and friend Marcia G. Yerman wrote this piece for HuffPo about an artistic endeavor in their support. She sent me the note below. I find her image striking and the reason for it horrifying.
"I recently contributed to Pantea's Roses, an online action by artists and writers in unity with the people of Iran. My focus was on the rape of Iranian women."
From Marcia G. Yerman at Pantea's Roses:
Women who have taken part in demonstrations are now being executed. However, according to the prevailing conservative version of Islamic law being enacted in Iran, a virgin can not be killed. Currently, the women who took part in the opposition protest who have been arrested are being "married" to prison guards...who then consummate the marriage through rape.
The women are then killed.
From Pantea's Roses:
July 25th, 2009 was a 'Global
Day of Action in Unity with the People of Iran.' In that spirit,
Pantea's Roses was built to show solidarity of artists and writers with
the people of Iran.
...Pantea's Roses intends to be a simple show of solidarity, of
shared humanity, with the mothers, fathers and children, the artists,
academics and working people of Iran. Considering the importance the
internet has been to the Iranian people's communication with the
outside world, a net action take place is particularly appropriate.
---Beth Arnold
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_b.png?x-id=fa4e8678-ca06-450a-af81-bdd1193f4f3d)
