We Care For Mozhgan
Mozhgan is a young mother, professional artist and interior designer seeking sanctuary in Northern Ireland with her daughter.
Mozhgan through Beyond Skin and friends is getting support to utilise her creative skills that helps her deal with the trauma of having to leave so much behind in Iran to ensure she and her daughter are safe and free from the regime.
After weeks of mentally preparing herself, Mozhgan's big interview that would define her entire life trajectory was cancelled 30 minutes before the meeting time due to the incompetence of the UK Home Office with officials blaming her eight year old daughter at the office gates. The conduct and tone of the Home Office staff was totally unacceptable and very upsetting for Mozhgan and her daughter. Mozghan travelled 40 miles from her current contingency accommodation to attend the interview, arriving 30 minutes early. A staff member of Beyond Skin was also present accompanying Mozhgan and challenged the officials decision causing a mother to collapse in tears on the street outside the gates. At a 2nd attempt interview 4 weeks later the assigned interpreter by Home Office only attended the meeting virtually and when there internet connection became unstable at the start of the meeting, the interview was cancelled again.
We in the arts community come from a totally different place. No matter how much our budgets are squeezed and we are undervalued, this doesn't diminish our levels of care and compassion.
To show the arts / community sector's love and solidarity for Mozhgan and our outrage that vulnerable mothers and artists are treated this way by well resourced institutions with hidden agendas, staff representing arts organisations, and sole traders are showing their solidarity with Mozghan by getting a photo with one of Mozghan's painting.
Please contact jasleen.beyondskin@gmail.com to arrange Jasleen visit to your organisation with the painting. The hashtag is #WeCareForMozhgan
Under The Drum Festival have invited Mozhgan to be their artist in residence at the festival
This is not an isolated story and so many more need support. What we are all saying by supporting one mother, one artist, is that everyone matters and the arts community will always serve people's needs.
Meanwhile Beyond Skin and other agencies are pursuing a complaint process to hold the UK Home Office accountable.
Sent to us 31st May via whatsapp below the photos (scroll down) are words sent to us from Mozhgan who gave us permission to share.
"Hello, I am an artist…
A soul torn from her homeland, wandering in a world miles away from what once was called home.
An artist whose trembling hands are held tightly by a little girl—
a little girl whose eyes are too young to carry the weight of tomorrow,
yet already filled with fear…
fear of a future uncertain, fear of growing up too fast, fear of a mother too tired to smile.
I came to this country with hope in my heart—
Hope to find peace,
Hope to belong,
Hope to give back through my art, my spirit, my story.
But now…
my only pillar is my daughter’s tiny, delicate shoulders—
too soft, too innocent,
to bear the burden of a life lived in waiting.
I am an artist without a family’s warm embrace,
without my partner, my husband,
who after six long months,
still cannot stand beside me.
This was not our choice—
Separation was forced upon us by life,
and now the days feel heavier,
because I have no one to lean on but a child still learning to stand.
At night, when she finally drifts into sleep,
I cry.
I let the flood of helplessness pour down in silence—
because I cannot cry when she is watching.
She is too small to carry my sadness.
Too small to be my shelter.
Why does no one hear my voice in this land?
I am not asking for much.
I am just an artist.
I heard the promises—
They said: “There is no discrimination here.”
They said: “Children are loved deeply.”
They said: “Artists are respected.”
So what happened to those promises?
My daughter’s shoulders cannot carry this loneliness.
I cannot keep pretending to be strong.
I thought maybe, just maybe,
we could survive these hard days together—
as a family.
But I can’t anymore.
I’m tired.
Tired of fighting invisible walls.
Tired of being brave for everyone else.
I am not a bad person.
So why does life treat me like this?
I smile in the daylight,
but every night…
the tears return, stronger than before.
Please…
If nothing else,
Have mercy on my daughter.
It’s been six months.
She hasn’t felt her father’s hug,
his love, his presence.
She is missing a piece of her heart.
And I—
I am breaking.
I have no strength left to pretend.
No more strength to be the strong one.
I’m tired.
So very tired." (Mozhgan)
