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Memorial held for 'inspirational' Iranian woman
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| Larger than life: Dr. Mandana Alijani |
Hundreds of people gathered at a memorial service in Golders Green on Sunday held for a prominent woman from Barnet's Iranian community, a year after her death.
Dr Mandana Alijani, a top surgeon who graduated from King's College London, died in April last year, aged 33, following a three-year battle with lung cancer.
More than 350 people, including friends, family, and colleagues, turned up to the service where they celebrated her life with live music, speeches, films, and pictures of her activities.
Director of the Association for Anglo-Iranian Women, Laila Jazayeri, said: "Her death has inspired so many.
"Her grave is not just a grave-it has become a centrepoint for the Iranian community to meet every Sunday to commemorate her achievements and goals and drink tea. She is really very much alive, as her personality was larger than life."
As an active supporter of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, she is remembered for her tireless efforts in fighting for a democratic government in her native country. Her work is seen to have been instrumental in appealing to the Government to remove the People's Mojahedin Organisation of Iran from a blacklist of terrorist groups.
Dr. Alijani left Iran with her mother at the age of 11, and lived in Hendon until she died.
Her mother, Susan Baghdadchi, praised her daughter's accomplishments at the service. She said: "My daughter was an example of determination, courage, and sense of responsibility for the Iranian community."
Dr Alijani was also a fighter for women's rights in Iran and just four weeks before her death helped organise an international women's day in Paris.
Margaret Owen, barrister and chair of Widows for Peace through Democracy, said: "Mandana's work and efforts has not only affected the Iranian movement but has inspired the equality movement worldwide."
2:19pm Tuesday 8th April 2008
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CommentPosted by: Ismaeil, Hendon on 4:16pm Tue 8 Apr 08
This is a very good article. Dr. Alijani inspired many young Iranians in our community to take a stance against the regime. The People's Mojahedin of Iran are the true voice of the oppressed Iranian nation.
This is a very good article. Dr. Alijani inspired many young Iranians in our community to take a stance against the regime. The People's Mojahedin of Iran are the true voice of the oppressed Iranian nation.
Posted by: Noemi Varga, London on 4:34pm Wed 9 Apr 08
Dr Alijani was truly inspirational. Her spirit, strength and determination to achieve justice for her people, especially Iranian women, is something that lives on. I had the honour of meeting her on a number of occasions and she certainly inspired me, a non-Iranian.
What I learned from Dr Alijani is that nothing is beyond the will of people and that speaking out for oppressed people is a duty.
The NCRI, and the Iranian community are lucky to have had such a friend and advocate.
Dr Alijani was truly inspirational. Her spirit, strength and determination to achieve justice for her people, especially Iranian women, is something that lives on. I had the honour of meeting her on a number of occasions and she certainly inspired me, a non-Iranian.
What I learned from Dr Alijani is that nothing is beyond the will of people and that speaking out for oppressed people is a duty.
The NCRI, and the Iranian community are lucky to have had such a friend and advocate.
Posted by: Amanda M, Golders Green on 4:49pm Wed 9 Apr 08
Having attended the memorial service on Sunday afternoon, I was blown away by what an extraordinary individual Dr Mandona was. I am by no means a religious person, but I fully believe that her energy lives on. Mandona worked tirelessly in pursuit of freedom and democracy for the Iranian people. The day will surely come when her dream is realised, through the Iranian opposition group, the NCRI.
Having attended the memorial service on Sunday afternoon, I was blown away by what an extraordinary individual Dr Mandona was. I am by no means a religious person, but I fully believe that her energy lives on. Mandona worked tirelessly in pursuit of freedom and democracy for the Iranian people. The day will surely come when her dream is realised, through the Iranian opposition group, the NCRI.
Posted by: Hoda, London, UK on 5:42pm Wed 9 Apr 08
I am priviledged to have known Mandanda personally. She was a fighter in every way, and she fought tirelessly for the people of Iran, for their freedoms, for their future. She is an inspiration, and her support for the PMOI will be upheld by all those who care for humanity, for peace and for democracy. Thank you for publishing the article, demonstrating how her spirit lives on and how the fight for freedom and democracy in Iran continues.
I am priviledged to have known Mandanda personally. She was a fighter in every way, and she fought tirelessly for the people of Iran, for their freedoms, for their future. She is an inspiration, and her support for the PMOI will be upheld by all those who care for humanity, for peace and for democracy. Thank you for publishing the article, demonstrating how her spirit lives on and how the fight for freedom and democracy in Iran continues.
Posted by: Mahmoud, London on 6:55pm Wed 9 Apr 08
I want to thank Times series newspaper (Hendon Times)for publishing such wonderful and deserving article about the memorial service of dear Mandana. As the title of your article rightly says, Mandana was truly an inspiration for me and many others. She was a true life example of what the PMOI stands for. Caring,courageous understanding and total dedication to freeing the people of Iran from the claws of fundamentalist regime in Iran. I was privileged to be present at the memorial and had the honor of knowing Mandana personally. Mandana's dedication to the struggle of Iranian resistance,through National Council of Resistance of Iran and PMOI, and continuing her activities even while she was suffering from the most painful effects of chemotherapy was truly remarkable and inspirational. She deeply believed, like many of us,that the only true way to salvation and freedom for the Iranian people is through their just resistance of PMOI and NCRI. That is the legacy which Mandana has left for us. She thought us the meaning of being humble, being honourable and being a truly free spirited human being.
I want to thank Times series newspaper (Hendon Times)for publishing such wonderful and deserving article about the memorial service of dear Mandana. As the title of your article rightly says, Mandana was truly an inspiration for me and many others. She was a true life example of what the PMOI stands for. Caring,courageous understanding and total dedication to freeing the people of Iran from the claws of fundamentalist regime in Iran. I was privileged to be present at the memorial and had the honor of knowing Mandana personally. Mandana's dedication to the struggle of Iranian resistance,through National Council of Resistance of Iran and PMOI, and continuing her activities even while she was suffering from the most painful effects of chemotherapy was truly remarkable and inspirational. She deeply believed, like many of us,that the only true way to salvation and freedom for the Iranian people is through their just resistance of PMOI and NCRI. That is the legacy which Mandana has left for us. She thought us the meaning of being humble, being honourable and being a truly free spirited human being.
Posted by: Andrea, Borehamwood on 9:27pm Wed 9 Apr 08
Mandana's loss has been felt by many, as she touched so many people's lives.
During her life, she struggled for the basic rights of the oppressed people of Iran. In death, she is a beacon of their struggle and a guide to others. The torch that Mandana carried throughout her life has not been put out, but has instead grown and is being carried by many.
The Iranian people will soon be free. When they are, it would have been in no small part down to the efforts of those such as Mandana.
Mandana's loss has been felt by many, as she touched so many people's lives.
During her life, she struggled for the basic rights of the oppressed people of Iran. In death, she is a beacon of their struggle and a guide to others. The torch that Mandana carried throughout her life has not been put out, but has instead grown and is being carried by many.
The Iranian people will soon be free. When they are, it would have been in no small part down to the efforts of those such as Mandana.
Posted by: Fereydoun on 11:39am Thu 10 Apr 08
True article about the wonderful woman Dr. Mandana Alijani. She expressed her support for the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI) in a beautiful way and showed once again how brave and responsibile women are.
I am sure that everybody sees her life as a spirit for the Iranian people with their resistance and supporters.
True article about the wonderful woman Dr. Mandana Alijani. She expressed her support for the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI) in a beautiful way and showed once again how brave and responsibile women are.
I am sure that everybody sees her life as a spirit for the Iranian people with their resistance and supporters.
Posted by: ladan, brighton on 10:19pm Thu 10 Apr 08
I would like to thank " Hendon Times" for sharing and publishing such a beautiful memory of Dr. Mandana Alijani with us.
I am so proud to have the previlge of knowing Mandana for many years. She was not only a very successful surgeon but also a very brave, committed and unique indivudual who never forgot about those less fortunate people who are under the torture of that fundamentalist regime of Iran and can not raise their voice to anywhere. She proudly and acively stood up for them by PMOI till last breath of her life. Although she is not with us physically anymore but I can feel her presence every day, as she is not dead by memory. she is alive in any supporter of PMOI who has got inspiration from her and they are not few in number.
I would like to thank " Hendon Times" for sharing and publishing such a beautiful memory of Dr. Mandana Alijani with us.
I am so proud to have the previlge of knowing Mandana for many years. She was not only a very successful surgeon but also a very brave, committed and unique indivudual who never forgot about those less fortunate people who are under the torture of that fundamentalist regime of Iran and can not raise their voice to anywhere. She proudly and acively stood up for them by PMOI till last breath of her life. Although she is not with us physically anymore but I can feel her presence every day, as she is not dead by memory. she is alive in any supporter of PMOI who has got inspiration from her and they are not few in number.
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