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Featured in: Our Story Is One: The Persecution of Baha'is in Iran
June 18, 2023 will mark 40 years since 10 Baha’i women were hanged in Shiraz. Their only ‘crime’ was their refusal to renounce their beliefs in a faith that promotes the principles of gender equality, unity, justice, and truthfulness. This collection highlights Baha’i Blog content relating to the ongoing persecution of Baha’is in Iran.
The official music video for the 1985 hit “Mona With the Children” written and performed by Canadian musician and composer Doug Cameron.
The song is a protest song based on the true story of a Persian Baha’i girl named Mona Mahmudnizhad, who, in 1983, at the age of 16, together with nine other Baha’i women, was sentenced to death and hanged in Shiraz, Iran, because she was a Baha’i. Cameron recreated Mona’s story in this music video which made the pop charts in Canada (#14 for the week of October 19, 1985) and was also nominated for a Juno in 1985.
To find out some background about the persecution of the Baha’is in Iran, you can read this Baha’i Blog article: Some Background to the Persecution of the Baha’is in Iran
Unfortunately the persecution still continues, and you can find out the current state of persecution and find out how you can help through the Baha’i International Community’s website.
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Thank you for bringing back Mona With the Children. I saw it with the Friends in the San Francisco Baha’i Center when it first came out. We were so moved. We who had children of various ages decided that we would have classes on sacrifice and the everlasting “life” of the soul. Then the parents who felt their children were mature enough, we showed them the movie. I don’t remember if it was a video tape or what at that time, but we had to meet at someone’s home who could show it.
It is time to show it again on the new medium of communication. I will send it to my grandchildren who are all Youth. It’s poignant story will again touch a new generation of hearts.
Thank you so much for bringing it back.
Shirlie
Shirlie Burriston (December 12, 2014 at 8:09 PM)
Agreed Shirlie. It was such a great song and had such a profound effect on me as a child (and so many others) that I felt like it had to be on the page. Looking forward to seeing a revival of the song! Thanks for leaving a comment and for your encouragement and support!
Naysan (December 12, 2014 at 9:55 PM)
Still has the power to move one. Amazing and emotional. Thanks for sharing.
Margaret and Don Love (February 2, 2015 at 5:16 PM)
Thank you for re-releasing this Mona video. I’m using it with friends I recently went to a JY gathering and we discussed her. The video was powerful when it was originally released and still holds it’s timeliness and message. I am longing for a movie about her precious life, so the world can know the strength of her Faith and beliefs.
Riaz Castillo (February 2, 2015 at 3:51 PM)
I watched the movie a long time ago, and I think very sad, but the song is beautiful.
Raul Augusto Almeida Couto (January 1, 2016 at 1:14 AM)
Beautiful video and song and performances.
I wish I could get the guitar chords to this song.
David Bagstad
David Bagstad (September 9, 2020 at 7:09 PM)