Serena Dandini (photo by Gianmarco Chieregato).
Sor that it is difficult not to succumb to fake news, to distinguish, to be informed and to maintain humanity. Too many massacres, senseless wars, violence and abuses ask for our attention every day and the risk is addiction, with consequent lock-down in our little daily selfishness.
Good stories, however, can help us resist so as not to lose hope and the desire to fight for change.
And Nasim Eshqi’s is a really good story, fortunately Francesca Borghettian Italian documentary filmmaker full of passion, brought to light in a film from four years ago, Climbing Iranwhich tells the human and sporting adventure of Nasim, an intrepid climbing pioneer. Despite being only 42 years old and an extraordinary athlete, life for Nasim has not been easy.
Today, with the collaboration of Francesca Borghetti, it is in bookshops with I was a rock now I’m a mountain. My fight for women’s freedom (Garzanti), an autobiography as engaging as a novel that narrates a journey, more tiring than climbing, to chase his dreams.
“I was a rock, now I am a mountain. My fight for women’s freedom” by Nasim Eshqi and Francesca Borghetti (Garzanti)
Since she was a little girl she has loved sport, she was a kickboxing champion but, after refusing to wear the veil during competitions, under the attention of Iran’s moral police, she decided to abandon everything and dedicate herself to free climbing.
In the midst of nature she found her ideal habitat and, like a true pioneer, she opened more than a hundred new routes at high altitude in the mountains of Iran, Armenia, India and Europe. She courageously showed the way to many Iranian women who even in this sport are forced to climb only on artificial walls and only among women.
But the image of this free girl with her hair blowing in the wind who, with the sole strength of her trained body, reaches the most incredible goals was not liked by the regime. Especially because, after the barbaric killing of Mahsa Amini, Nasim decided not to remain silent and to become a spokesperson for dissent.
After yet another persecution, she painfully decided to leave Iran and now lives in Italy, proud of a path she doesn’t want to give up. In his country he would have risked his life or who knows how many years in prison, today thanks to his celebrity he can carry on the battle for freedom and continue to inspire Iranian women and beyond. Above all, reminding us too that freedom and rights are precious goods that we must never give up.
All articles by Serena Dandini.
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