Exhibition 'What Remains'; A Testament to the 'Silent Voices' of Contemporary Iranian History

"Objects are the silent voices of history; they act as witnesses to lost moments." This quote from Walter Benjamin, the philosopher, reflects on the 'semantic weight of objects' and their connection to the past. With this reasoning, the objects and belongings left behind by the victims of over four decades of the Islamic Republic's existence can serve as 'silent voices of history' that may contain narratives previously unheard. Numerous exhibitions and museums around the world have showcased the belongings of victims of dictatorships; examples include the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C., the Auschwitz Memorial in Poland, the memorial for victims of Pinochet's right-wing dictatorship in Chile, and exhibitions for victims of Argentina's military dictatorship. In these exhibitions, efforts have been made to keep alive a significant portion of the memories, narratives, and historical evidence of the killings of people by authoritarian governments, while also providing a platform for seeking justice. Five years after the November 2019 protests, the 'What Remains' exhibition was held from November 22 to 24 in Cologne, Germany, thanks to the efforts of the 'Iranian Justice Seekers Association' and several other human rights groups. This exhibition includes items, clothing, and belongings from various individuals who were killed during different periods of repression by various institutions and agents of the Islamic Republic. The exhibition starts with stairs marked by drops and footprints of blood, guiding visitors to the main hall. Upon entering, the audience is confronted with the clothing of the victims of the 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests hanging on the wall and the belongings of these victims displayed on tables in the hall. From the shirt of Nika Shakeri, the wrestling singlet of Saman Ghaderi Big, the undershirt of Mohsen Shakari, to the glasses of Donya Farhadi and the scissors of Sepehr Azimi. The expressions of the audience upon entering the exhibition reveal deep emotion, with many eyes wet and faces sorrowful. Mahsa Pirayi, the daughter of Minu Majidi, one of the victims of the 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests and a member of the 'Iranian Justice Seekers Association', told Radio Farda: "This idea came to us in the Iranian Justice Seekers Association that by displaying the belongings of the deceased, it would be more tangible for people to understand what lives have been lost." Ms. Pirayi continued, "When people say this many humans were killed in 'Women, Life, Freedom' or in November, they are talking about numbers. We are trying to show these clothes to say that these lives are not just numbers; we must fight against reducing these human beings to mere numbers." Foad Choobin, the uncle of Artin Rahmani, one of the victims of the 2022 protests, also told Radio Farda: "The only thing left of Artin for us are his photos and belongings. When I was about to leave Iran, I took his clothes with me because I wanted to live with him." Following that, there is a section dedicated to the belongings of the victims of the November 2019 protests. Many items from the victims of these protests, including Mehdi Daemi, Mehrdad Moeinfar, Pejman Gholeipour, and Omid Rezai, are displayed in this section. Below these clothes, next to buttons featuring a photo of Borhan Mansournia, who lost his life in these protests, it is written: "November continues." Sooran Mansournia, the brother of Borhan, one of the victims of the November 2019 protests, told Radio Farda: "Clothes and belongings are extensions of the individuals. The purpose of displaying these items is to show their traces and lives that have continued to this point." Mr. Mansournia continued: "These are personal belongings that create the greatest empathy. A person seeing a piece of clothing, glasses, or a watch from the victims that resembles their own taste thinks that maybe a bullet could have struck their heart. This act institutionalizes seeking justice in everyday life." Next to the belongings of the November victims, there is a photo of children who were killed in past protests; children and teenagers such as Kian Pirfalak, Sarina Ismailzadeh, and Mohsen Mohammadi. Above the photo of these children, a rainbow is drawn that has become a symbol for children killed by the Islamic Republic after Kian Pirfalak's death, echoing the phrase: "In the name of the God of the rainbow." Following this, images and belongings of the victims of Flight PS752 are displayed. From the wedding shoes of Parisa Eghbalian and the drawing of her daughter, Rira Esmailioon, to the mobile phone and watch of Alvand and Sahand Sadeghi, and the burnt red children's shoes of Kordia Molani. The drawing of Rira Esmailioon and the wedding shoes of Parisa Eghbalian, victims of Flight PS752. As the exhibition continues, it takes a historical leap back several decades, showcasing the belongings of political and social figures critical of the Islamic Republic who were murdered in the 1990s, known as the 'chain murders'. A pen belonging to Ahmad Miralayi is one of the items that attracts the audience's attention; this pen is a reminder of his membership in the Iranian Writers Association and the 'Isfahan Anthology', two independent entities that had a profound impact on Iranian literature and writing. The pen of Ahmad Miralayi, a writer and translator who was killed in November 1995 during the events known as the 'chain murders'. Thousands of political prisoners from leftist groups and members or supporters of the People's Mojahedin Organization were executed in the summer of 1988 in prisons across Iran, including Evin and Gohardasht, under the direct orders of Ruhollah Khomeini, the then-leader of the Islamic Republic, and by a committee known as the 'Death Commission'. Images and belongings of several political activists such as Heybatollah Moieni, Alireza Eskandari, and Bijan Bazargan, who were executed during that period, are also present in this exhibition. Among these is the prison bag of Hamzeh Shalalvand, which was handed over to his family after his execution. Laleh Bazargan, the sister of Bijan Bazargan, one of the victims of the 1988 executions, told Radio Farda: "This exhibition is a struggle against forgetfulness." Ms. Bazargan points to a necklace she holds, stating that her brother made this necklace for her in the spring of 1988, just months before his execution, and smuggled it out of prison to reach her. This seeking justice sister says that each knot of this necklace reminds her of her brother. The justice-seeking movement in Iran, which has expanded in recent years, began in the 1980s, especially after the 1988 massacre, driven by the efforts of mothers and fathers seeking justice for their murdered children. This movement has now gained more attention with the joining of families seeking justice for the victims of the 2009 protests, the November 2019 protests, the victims of Flight PS752, and the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement, keeping hopes for justice alive. These efforts come amidst ongoing concealment of information and evidence regarding the killings of protesters and political activists during certain historical periods in Iran, where in some cases, such as the execution of political opponents in the 1980s and the killing of protesters in November 2019, the exact number of those killed remains unknown.