Polona Florijančič is a female Slovenian student studying Human Rights Law at Brunel university in London. Polona is petite and so delicate that I always have to remind myself not to embrace her too hard. Don't let her size fool you though, for she has a heart of a lion when it comes to standing up to tyrants. Polona has been an active and passionate supporter of the Green Movement in Iran right from the beginning. She is a familiar face to Iranians in London and can be seen at most major events in support of the Green Movement.
Polona was on a study trip to China with her university last week and last Saturday coincided with the anniversary of the election frauds in Iran, she decided to hold a protest outside the Iranian embassy in Beijing with her Swedish friend and fellow student, Kahina Bakhti. Ahmadinejad was also in China at the time, so holding the protest was even more significant.
Together they simply held a placard that said in English 'Free Iran, Say NO to Theocracy'. To the intolerant embassy goons even this was too much. They could not believe at first that even in Beijing people were protesting against them. After their initial shock was over, several Iranian looking agents appeared from nowhere as well as from inside the embassy to stop Polona and Kahina. The embassy goons demanded the Chinese police to arrest the protesters. One of them kept telling the Chinese police 'They are not even Iranians, They are not even Iranians' as if non-Iranians don't have the right to protest against human rights abuses in Iran. He kept staring at Polona with a cold blooded killer look to intimidate her.
Polona and Kahina resisted as long as they could until two Chinese police cars took them away. As little Polona sat in the police car she shouted at the embassy goon with the killer look stare, 'You can torture your own people but you can't touch me'.
It must have been at this point when I got this text message:
'I've been taken to the police station. I can't tell my mom. I've informed my teacher but he hasn't replied. If you don't hear from me in a couple of hours please inform my embassy in UK that we are in a police station near the Iranian embassy'
As it was Saturday, the Slovenian embassy was closed. I didn't know what to do other than let everyone know including her friends on Facebook. I replied to her with this text:
'To those who are holding Polona. Diplomatic representatives as well as the press have been informed. If she is in any way harmed you will be responsible and face severe consequences'
I thought her captors would read that but only Polona read it after she was released when her phone was returned to her :)
Polona and Kahina were each interrogated by two Chinese interrogators who spoke English but knew nothing about Iran.
- Why are you doing this?
- What is Theocracy?
- What is an Ayatollah?
At times the interrogators would warm up to them when they listened to what had happened in Iran in the last year. 'You are right, Theocracy is no good'.
The interrogations and the excessive amount of paper work for their release took all night. 'You have made my life like hell tonight with all this paperwork' one of them told Polona, but by the morning, not having had any food all night, the Chinese police were nice enough to buy them KFC. Kahina cheekily whispered to Polona, 'Do you think we could have an ice cream too?':)
Polona and Kahina returned to London, Heathrow on Thursday to a hero's welcome by the supporters of the Green Movement. 'They are not Iranians' but we are now one big global family who will push for democracy and human rights in Iran wherever we are, and we will look after everyone of this extended family, whether they are Iranians or not!
great story. all the best
great story. all the best Lawrence