May 14 marks 7 years in prison for the 7 Baha’i leaders in Iran. In honor of these prisoners of conscience, a campaign #7Bahais7years is telling their stories. You can read profiles of the seven leaders here. And you can read the full Twitter story of Behrouz Tavakkoli below…

What is written on the walls of the heart of a prisoner of conscience? Let’s imagine…

My name is Behrouz Tavakkoli and I’ve been in jail 7 years for being a Baha’i.

I believe you respect someone by looking straight into their eyes, no matter how uncomfortable the truth you may see…

That is why I became a social worker: to see the truth in people’s eyes when they tell me their stories and struggles.

I was fired when my faith was discovered.

It didn’t matter that I’d served in the army, a lieutenant. Even my patriotism was suspect.

Arrests became a part of life. I spent months in solitary confinement, pacing my cell #7Bahais7years

Alone, in prison, I stared into the dark blue oceans within. I could have drowned. But didn’t.

They charged us with espionage and “corruption on earth”…

I looked at the kind faces of my fellow prisoners. I looked at my own life…

I thought about my friends, my clients who thanked me with their eyes, a white rose, a bowl of fruit

Innocence is more than a lack of guilt. Innocence is a state of mind, especially when you’ve been falsely accused.

So every day I wait, read, pray. I listen to the inner ocean. I can weather the storms, but this sadness never leaves.

Jailed friends, comrades in conscience, I salute you…

Your truth burns so bright, no walls, not even silence itself can deny you.

 

This story is inspired by the life and family memories of Behrouz Tavakkoli.