One of my favorite human beings has left us...
Jean Ziegler deeply shaped me as a person and influenced my life profoundly. As teenagers, we already read his books and discussed late into the night about his worldview, his ideals, and his tireless fight against injustice.
Around the same time, I learned that Jean Ziegler was a loyal companion of Dr. Kazem Rajavi, who was murdered in Geneva in 1990 by an Iranian death squad. Jean Ziegler was not only a close friend of Dr. Rajavi, but also a passionate supporter of the Iranian Resistance. Fortunately, I was able to hear this from him personally several times and witness with how much love, humility, and sincerity he spoke about the Iranian Resistance.
The first time I met Jean Ziegler was at a conference where he spoke about the deadly attack on Ashraf City, at that time the refuge of the Iranian Resistance. Many people were killed there by bombs and gunfire from Iraqi militias acting under direct orders from Tehran. Among the victims were many young women resistance fighters who still had their whole lives ahead of them.
I was nervous because it would be the first time I met Jean Ziegler in person. The occasion itself was, of course, marked by deep sorrow. At the end of the conference, I quietly walked up to him and thanked him for his open-minded and critical spirit, for his courage, and for his tireless commitment to the Iranian Resistance and the people of Iran.
He turned around, pointed at the young faces of the murdered Ashraf residents whose photographs were hanging on the wall, and said to me with deep reverence and seriousness:
“You should not thank me, my dear. Thank these people.”
Afterwards, he continued to look silently and thoughtfully at their faces.
I gave him that moment and understood that it was not the right time to express my admiration for him.
In the years that followed, however, I had many more opportunities to discuss world politics with him and to stand side by side with him in support of the people of Iran.
Rest in power, extraordinary human being. You'll be missed but your legacy will live on.
🌹🕯️✊
#JeanZiegler