From Heaven to Heaven—From Hell to Hell

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. —Martin Luther King Jr.”

By Farhad Mafie

P.O. Box 51330, Irvine, CA 92619, 949-851-1714
Mafie@att.net
December 24, 2003

Two Sad Losses for All Iranians

In the last few months the Iranian communities around the world have experienced the loss of two major figures: (1) an Iranian icon, a megastar, Vigen, also known as the king of Iranian jazz, and (2) the Ayatollah Khalkhali, also known as Khomeini’s psychotic butcher.

From Heaven to Heaven

Among Hollywood’s superstars, Vigen was probably the most famous of all Iranian singers and entertainers. His career spanned over fifty years of contributions to modern Iranian music. In a society limited by many old traditions, Vigen was the revolutionary artist who took his guitar and walked into Iran’s radio station and paved the way for his generation to create a new style of Iranian music—music that became the base for modern music in many countries in the region.

On stage, Vigen displayed a powerful voice, talent in playing the guitar, natural charisma, and a very entertaining style. For more than half a century he brought heaven, delight, and joy wherever he entertained. Millions of Iranians wept when they heard of his passing. Vigen, like many other Iranian icons, lived a life of exile; he simply wasn’t the type who would collaborate with the barbaric Islamic government of Iran. Like a fish out of water, he lived away from millions of his Iranian fans and suffered the pain of his country’s regress due to an antediluvian system of government.

If there is a heaven, Vigen is there. Here on earth, his music will bring heavenly feeling to his fans forever. Vigen is a megastar who will shine for all time.

From Hell to Hell

Ayatollah Khalkhali, known as Khomeini’s psychotic slaughterer, is responsible for the murders of thousands of Iranians who never had the opportunity to defend themselves in any kind of even semicivilized court of law. A junior Mullah (Islamic clergyman) at the time of the Islamic revolution, Khalkhali became Khomeini’s lead executioner almost from the first days of the revolution due to his sadistic and vicious personality. He killed thousands of innocent people with no feeling of guilt or shame. For almost a quarter of a century, he brought hell wherever he walked. Now he is part of Iran’s trashcan of history.

If there is a hell, Khalkhali is on the bottom of it; he will continue to bring the memory of hell to millions of Iranians for generations to come. And now he will remain part of the dark era of Iran’s history for all time.

Two Sad Losses for All Iranians!

As millions of Iranians wept the passing of Vigen, a major loss for our country, millions of Iranians were disappointed that they never had the opportunity to bring Khalkhali to justice—a justice that he never gave to the thousands of innocent Iranians he murdered. How very sad that Iran’s icons such as Vigen have to suffer a life (and a death) in exile while criminals such as Khomeini, Khalkhali, and other vicious elements of the Islamic government of Iran die natural deaths without facing the people in a court of law.

Someday soon, well-deserved memorial buildings will be built in Iran in honor of all the Iran’s Vigens. And someday soon, the remaining elements of the Islamic government of Iran will be brought to justice—the justice that Khalkhali escaped—and these testimonies will be documented for future generations. That day is not too far off!

Farhad Mafie
Irvine, CA

Copyright © 2003 by Farhad Mafie. All rights reserved. Any reprint of this article must bear this notice. For information, contact Farhad Mafie at Mafie@att.net or at (949) 851-1714.