Guest Author - Lisa Schaffer-Harris

"A Dress for Mona," a play by Mark Perry, is the story of Mona Mahmudnizhad, the youngest of 10 women martyred for their faith in 1983. Mona was only 16 years old when she became a prisoner of the new Iranian Islamic Republic. She had been teaching children's classes for the city of Shiraz Baha'i community and was considered subversive for doing so. Before Mona began her journey to martyrdom, she had a prophetic dream. She dreamt that she was given the choice of three different dresses, a blue dress that represented service, a black dress that represented suffering and a red dress for martyrdom. Mona chose the dress of service, and was subsequently was offered the position as a teacher of Baha’i children.

The play is not a complete historical drama of the events that took place, but a fictionalized account based on historical facts. Mona has an admirer in the story, and the actor that plays this admirer, represents other important figures in Mona’s life that ultimately lead her to martyrdom. This actor also plays the young man in her dream, and the religious magistrate at her trial that sentences her to death.

Mona is portrayed as a normal teenage girl, who kids around with her friends, and likes disco music, but also has this deep abiding love for her faith, that even faced with death is unshakeable. She is not without her doubts about herself, or about her ability to face the executioner if need be. A short monologue from her conversation with her equally imprisoned father illustrates this clearly.

“I have these times of clarity, of peace-But then there are moments where I forget and I have to call out to God to get me back, to remind me. And it comes, it does. But it’s that place in between Dad, it’s that place in between. That’s the most dangerous place. What if they get me when I’m there? Sometimes they keep us standing so long, I start to sleep standing up. I’m afraid. I’m afraid they’ll come for me when I’m not ready. I’m afraid for Mom. I’m afraid for you. Dad, I don’t know…I don’t know…I’m afraid. I feel like I’m being ripped up by the roots. I just don’t want to mess this up. This is everything.”

In the end, Mona does not “mess it up.” She does not renounce her faith. When asked what final request that she may be granted, Mona asks to be the last woman executed so that she can pray for other nine women that go before her.

Mark Perry’s “A Dress for Mona” is a powerful play, and is to be highly recommended.
For more information about “A Dress for Mona” or its author please see the website: http://www.adressformona.org/.