Evin, Row No.1

In the middle of February, the agents came and made me blindfolded and took me along without saying anything. I guessed I would be shot by death squad. I was saying my Shahadatain (religious phrases that a Muslim should say before death).

On the way they removed what was on my eyes. I saw the prisoners moving around. They were talking together and looking at me as new comer. I asked where was there. They said it was Row No.1 of Evin. I was surprised why they had moved me out of solitary confinement to a public row. When the guards left, I saw somebody was coming to me. Rahim Banaee hugged me. He was from a Marxist group that I knew him right there in Evin in 1973. Banaee asked me surprisingly: “Oh Lord! Ahmad, is it you?! Where have you been man?! It was heard that you’ve been killed or what…?!” Anyway, he was shocked to see me. He took my hand and led me to a big room on the left.  I saw Marxists sitting all around. Rahim announced loudly: “He is Ahmad Ahmad. He is a pioneer prisoner and one of old fighters. It was rumored that he had been killed. But he is here now…” I sat right there. I was happy of being free of solitary confinement.  However, I did not know what do with those Marxists? They warmly welcomed me. They brought whatever they had for me; tea, fruits, dry grape and…. They were really kind to me. I did not know what to do. I had some dry fruits but not the fruit and tea. Rahim Banaee was still talking about me. However, he said: “Ahmad is a strict Muslim!” to make his friends understand that I would not have their tea. He knew that I consider them as Najes (religiously unclean). He would never shake hands with me with wet hands. Meantime, somebody passed in front of the room. He looked familiar to me. I crippled out and called: “Haji?!” He turned back and saw me. After short stand came to me and we hugged each other. He said: “Ahmad! What the hell are you doing here?” I said: “They took me here right now. I did not know where to go. When I entered Rahim Banaee took my hand and brought here. It was impolite to reject his invite.” He said: “Here we have two parts; one for Marxists and one for Muslims. Now stand up and take you things and come with me.” I returned to Banaee and his friends and said goodbye to them. They insisted to stay there with them more. I said that I would go there later again.

Haj Mehdi Araghi took me to a room. I saw many of clergy were there; the late Ayatollah Taleghani, Hashemi Rafsanjani, Montazeri, Karroubi, Mahdavi Kani, Mousavi Kho’eyniha, the late Lahooti, Salari, Anvari, the late Haghani and some of non-clergy like Modaressifar and Haj Mehdi Araghi. It was so interesting to see them all there. They asked what had happened to me. I was afraid if there were hidden listening instruments installed in those rooms, so without mentioning Meysam and my contacts with the late Andarzgou I said: “Nothing to mention; I was walking in the street that I heard somebody ordered me not to move. But I did not care and went on. They followed me and shot.” However, in a good time for speaking I narrated all the happenings for the late Araghi and talked about my separation from Fatima and events that had happened in MKO. I also noted that the late Eslami could manage to afford good conditions for me.

I went to the room where Abbass Modarressifar[1], Ayatollah Motazeri and the late Haj Mehdi Araghi had settled. Then it was the prison routine that began again. After noon’s prayers and lunch, I would rest until 3 o’clock in the afternoon. The clergy would not go out so much for doing exercise and play. But the rest who knew that I was an athlete would help me to go out by a cane. They would exercise and I watch.

Ali Heydari and Mohsen Rafighdoost were imprisoned there while I was there. They were downstairs and had not contacts with us. I think Mr. Heydari had seen me in the yard. He had become happy and sent message to me via the late Haghani telling Meysam, my friend was alive. Previously, I had found out from the conversations of SAVAKIs in the hospital that he was alive. After the message of Haj Ali Heydari, I became quite sure and relaxed.[2]

After receiving this message my friends in the room complained why I had not told them the matter before. I explained for him that I was not sure if there were no hidden camera or microphones to hear us. It was not necessary to tell it publicly. That night I told the late Haghani: “Haj Agha, look how far is my ears from my mouth?! Why you revealed the matter in public?” He said: “They are trusted friends of us.” I said: “It is ok. I know. But there may be hidden cameras or microphones to hear us.” Hard days were passing one after another with lot of sad memories and hidden pains and swallowed shouts. It was hard for me to live and rest. I was not aware of what was going to happen for me. It was a long time that I had been arrested; no trial, no interrogation!

It was on 8^th of March 1976, after ten months that they finally announced in papers that I had been arrested in a street fight.[3] Hearing it, I was assured that I would not be executed; because part of society would become sensitive about my situation. After being free of this thought, my only worry was the fate of Fatima. I did not know where and how she was. I hoped to come out of prison safely only to do something to save her; but alas!