Zaidabadi’s Farewell to Politics
Ahmad Zaidabadi, a journalist, wrote in a Telegram post titled ‘The Moment of Farewell’.
The reaction to the piece I wrote addressing Hamed Esmaeilion clarified the future of this country for me in every way, although it was somewhat clear to me before.
From vulgar insults to threats of murder and sexual assault were part of the reactions from people who supported Mr. Esmaeilion, both online and offline.
I considered this land to be the land of Attar, Sanaei, Rumi, Khayyam, Hafez, and Saadi. I never thought that part of the people of this land would reach this point. Now that they have, there is no place for me here. After all, I am made of flesh, blood, and nerves. The pressures are from all sides, and I feel so alone and estranged that I prefer death over sharing a homeland with such individuals.
This moment is my farewell to a politics that wants to proceed in this manner. I am leaving this scene because no part of me resonates with it, and I am completely alien to it.
From now on, I will focus on writing my books, and in this channel, I will only write about history and abstract matters. I will not write a word about what is happening or will happen in this country. This decision is irreversible.
If I were not banned from leaving the country and had a passport, I would go to Samarkand or Bukhara for a while to reminisce about the flourishing period of Iranian culture, or I would head to Iraq and settle near the Kufa Mosque, reminiscing about Ali’s moments of solitude and oppression.
Despite all this, I love my homeland. I pray for its well-being, and this is the only thing I can do for now.