Mahan, a political prisoner on leave after 7 years in Iran!

Mahan, the most amazing meeting with a political prisoner in Iran

17 June 2011 at 08:17 by Neda

A note by Jila Baniyaqob, Iranian journalist.

He spoke very fast, seemed more bewildered than happy. His words made sense but he would sometimes lose his concentration. He talks and you listen and for the first time you feel you don't have the same feeling you normally have at seeing a political prisoner set free (or on leaver). You don't know why your heart is sinking. You don't know how to express your feelings and with what words? Your heart can normally transfer your feeling but you feel this is the most amazing meeting with a prisoner who has come out of prison after so long. Seven years!

Your hear sinks, a lump in your throat  and you try hard not to cry. You try hard to conceal your feelings from him. Seven years! Why didn't  you understand what it means to be behind bars for 7 years? Despite having the right as a political prisoners to have leave from prison, which is even recognised by the Islamic Republic, why had not been granted such opportunity?

You have to see Mahan to understand. You have to hear him speak and tell you that he doesn't know anymore how to connect with the outside world. You have to hear from him that living in an enclosed space with high walls takes away your ability to connect with the outside world. 

He has been out 3 days ago and within these days he has taken so many showers and gone to the toilet so many times. He tells you how wonderful it is to take a shower or go to the toilet without waiting your turn. Mahan talks very fast as if he want to squeeze 7 years into few hours. You tell him to go on a trip as it is necessary for him after so many years. Mahan looks at you in suprise! And his mother sighs! Travel?

Yesterday, he got in the car and after 15 minutes he felt sick!