I Am Woman - The Shoreless Sea

“You can kill me as soon as you like, but you will never stop the emancipation of women.”
Táhirih, 1852
Shiraz, Iran, 18 June 1983
After months of imprisonment and torture, ten Baháʼí women are executed by hanging for no reason other than their refusal to renounce their religion: a religion that counts amongst its causes the equality of women, justice and truthfulness.
Those murdered that day were:
Mona Mahmoudnejad, 17;
Roya Eshraghi, 23, executed along with her mother;
Simin Saberi, 24;
Shahin Dalvand, 25;
Akhtar Sabet, 25;
Mahshid Niroumand, 28;
Zarrin Moghimi-Abyaneh, 29;
Tahereh Arjomandi Siyavashi, 30. Her husband, Jamshid Siavashi, was executed two days earlier;
Nosrat Ghufrani Yaldaie, 46. Her son, Bahram Yaldaie, was executed two days earlier;
Ezzat-Janami Eshraghi, 57, along with her daughter Roya, 23. Her husband, Enayatullah Eshraghi was executed two days earlier.
Many more were murdered in the weeks before and after. The persecution, imprisonments and discrimination of the peaceful Iranian Baháʼí community has changed in form but continues to this day.
This song is our tribute to the heroic martyrs of Shiraz, and all the women of all faiths and none who continue to suffer in an environment of gender apartheid in Iran. #OurStoryIsOne
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Lyrics:
I am woman
I am free
I am woman
I am free
Free to choose
Free to breathe
Free to love
Free to believe
I am woman
I am free
I am woman
I am free
Free to refuse
Free to receive
Free to give
Free to grieve
I am woman
I am free
I am woman
I am free
Free to accept
Your cruelty with grace
Free to accept this life, in death they'll find
There's light
(and all I hear is:
misinformation, false accusations, hate!)
I have freedom
I love my people
I love my land
I accept your torture (I don't want your power)
I will not repent
I have freedom
Freedom to unite
And sisters we'll rebuild our home, brick by brick
We can't be denied
I have freedom
Free to choose
Free to breathe
Free to love
Free to believe
I am woman
I am free
I am woman
I am free
I am woman
Written, arranged and produced by The Shoreless Sea.
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I Am Woman was performed by:
Lead vocals: Amelia Samuel
Vocals:
Fleur Bartlett
Heather O’Neill
Joyce Efia Harmer
Lisa Nicholls Rider
Mitra Djalili
Maureen Hunter
Michaela Smith
Natalie Brice
Natasha Saminaden-Wilkinson
Daf: Zineb Outabounte and Ray Hearne
Piano, bass: Anthony Harmer
Drums, percussion: Hamish McPharlin
Hear more of our guest artists:
Maureen Hunter / @bahaiglow
Natalie Brice www.sinnober.com
#theshorelesssea #ourstoryisone #bahaimusic #spirituality #daf #womenlifefreedom #iran #iranianprotests #choralsinging #gospel #genderequality #womeniniran

[@okterlox0]

Oh wow! I am sobbing! VERY beautiful and highly moving. My appreciations for this.

[@chriswagg8626]

Truly moving, wonderfully powerful thank you for producing!

[@Bahaiglow]

This is a profoundly moving, powerful and befitting tribute.

[@elviriamusic2434]

Great work guys. A beautiful tribute to gender equality, human rights and social justice. Loved the crescendo!

[@DerekCockshut]

My heart goes out to my sisters.xxxx

[@nataliebrice2355]

A visceral cry for justice! ❤