A Time To Betray Part 11

At this point, Ali Khamenei was president of Iran. In June of 1981, Khamenei had survived an a.s.sa.s.sination attempt by the Mujahedin when a bomb concealed in a tape recorder exploded, leaving him paralyzed in his right hand. The Iranian people elected him president in October of that year, after the a.s.sa.s.sination of President Mohammad-Ali Rajai by the Mujahedin in August. Someday, of course, Khamenei would succeed Imam Khomeini as the Supreme Leader. I had heard from Kazem and others that Ali Khamenei regularly came to jebheh jebheh to review the troops, and that he was at least as much of a zealot about raising the flag of Islam across the world as Imam Khomeini. It was during this conflict that we learned that he believed we must continue to wage war until we destroyed all nonbelievers. This included, of course, the destruction of Israel. Ali Khamenei also wanted Jerusalem and the return of one of the most sacred mosques and holiest places to Muslims, the Masjid al-Aqsa. to review the troops, and that he was at least as much of a zealot about raising the flag of Islam across the world as Imam Khomeini. It was during this conflict that we learned that he believed we must continue to wage war until we destroyed all nonbelievers. This included, of course, the destruction of Israel. Ali Khamenei also wanted Jerusalem and the return of one of the most sacred mosques and holiest places to Muslims, the Masjid al-Aqsa.

The regime made it their mission to topple Saddam. The Iraqi leader had offered peace after our forces had pushed him out of our country, but Khomeini roundly rejected this. The mullahs now harbored Ayatollah Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim, an outspoken Iraqi opponent of Saddam, and gave sanctuary to his supporters. The mullahs in Iran and Iraq had a long history of cooperation through their seminaries in Qom, the hotbed of religious activity in Iran, and Najaf in Iraq. They instructed the Revolutionary Guards to help Ayatollah Hakim create the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI). This quickly became one of the most powerful political parties in Iraq and it continues to be so today. Part of the Guards' role in developing the SCIRI was to send Hakim's followers back inside Iraq with specific instructions to disrupt Saddam's army, using covert military operations, infiltrating his operations, and gathering much-needed intelligence.

My learning all of this provided a treasure trove of information for Carol.

[Letter #-]

[Date:---]

Dear Carol:1-Khomeini issued an order to the Revolutionary Guards to further help Ayatollah Hakim in strengthening the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq in recruiting and forming military units and performing cross-border operations in conjunction with the Revolutionary Guards.2-The chief commander, Mohsen Rezaei, has appointed Esmaeil Daghayeghi as the Guards officer to coordinate the recruitment of Iraqi s.h.i.+tes and sympathizers from the POWs.3-Esmaeil Daghayeghi is fluent in Arabic and has been working with the POWs. He has successfully recruited other Iraqis trained under the Revolutionary Guards. He has formed the Badr Brigade and is the commanding officer of that brigade. They are being used for intelligence on Iraqi army communications and on cross-border operations. They are routinely sent into Iraq to carry Ayatollah Hakim's messages, recruiting s.h.i.+te volunteers and inciting rebellion by the s.h.i.+tes in the southern cities of Iraq.4-The order now is to expand the brigade into a division. Mohsen Rezaei has promoted Esmaeil Daghayeghi to be the commander of the new division.5-Many of the Iraqis are being trained in the Revolutionary Guards' bases in Tehran.

Wish me luck!

Wally The following Persian New Year, with the war pushed back at the borders and peace in the sky of Tehran after a long conflict, Somaya's doctor gave us the good news we'd been hoping to hear: she was three months pregnant. I desperately wanted to believe that this was a sign that my life was at last aligning with my dreams.

15.

HOPE AND PERIL.

UNFORTUNATELY, MY DREAM of a more peaceful homeland continued to be nothing more than a dream. The repressive atmosphere in Iran was becoming more and more pervasive. Arrests and executions escalated to the point where it seemed everyone knew someone caught in the nightmare. And the spread of Khomeini's version of Islam that was affecting every aspect of people's lives was extending beyond Iran's borders. Things had never been busier for the Guards, and these days my time was decidedly not my own. of a more peaceful homeland continued to be nothing more than a dream. The repressive atmosphere in Iran was becoming more and more pervasive. Arrests and executions escalated to the point where it seemed everyone knew someone caught in the nightmare. And the spread of Khomeini's version of Islam that was affecting every aspect of people's lives was extending beyond Iran's borders. Things had never been busier for the Guards, and these days my time was decidedly not my own.

This activity couldn't have come at a poorer stage in my home life. Somaya was pregnant and I wanted to be with her to share as much of this singular stage in our relations.h.i.+p as possible. Instead, I was spending most of my time at work and attending meetings and gatherings afterward with Kazem, which left me feeling terribly guilty.

For most of her pregnancy, Somaya didn't utter a word of complaint. In fact, she gave me so little trouble about my long hours that I thought she was fine with it. Until I came home late one night during her third trimester and found her sitting in the living room looking miserable.

"What is wrong, dear?" I asked as I sat next to her.

She immediately burst into uncontrollable tears. For a minute, she couldn't say anything and I simply held her. Then she pulled back angrily. "What is wrong? Everything Everything is wrong. I barely get to see you. I am here all alone with my big belly and no one to talk to. I am tired of this." She wiped her nose with the end of her sleeve and I could see that it took a great deal out of her to say what she'd said. is wrong. I barely get to see you. I am here all alone with my big belly and no one to talk to. I am tired of this." She wiped her nose with the end of her sleeve and I could see that it took a great deal out of her to say what she'd said.

My heart went out to her immediately. The last thing I wanted in the world was to see her upset. "I am sorry that you feel this way, honey. I wish I didn't have to spend so much time away from you, but I don't know what I can do. Why don't you get together with some of your friends and do some fun stuff?"

She shook her head and sniffled. "Like what? Everybody is busy with their own lives and I am stuck here all alone."

"Then maybe you should go to England and spend some time with your parents. That would be nice, wouldn't it?"

I actually thought I was making a productive suggestion, but Somaya saw this very differently. She threw her eyes heavenward and then looked at me in a way I had never seen before. "Your stupid solution to this problem is to get rid of me? You want to send me back to my parents so you can do your nasty Guards stuff with Kazem and those other awful friends of yours? Or maybe it's so you don't have to think about me while you do whatever you do during those nights in the den."

She'd chosen these words to sting me and she accomplished that task. I had no idea she felt this way about what I was doing. Why hadn't she said anything before this? It was almost as though some other woman now inhabited Somaya's body.

She stood up to go to bed and delivered another salvo. "Or maybe it isn't your work at all. Maybe you're in love with another woman-a woman without a big, ugly belly."

As much as I sympathized with how upset she was, I found this last comment to be a relief. I almost felt like laughing at the absurdity of the notion that I would seek another woman. I blew out a deep breath, happy to allay her interpretation of what I did at night.

"I would never, ever, ever ever cheat on you," I said, hugging her. She resisted at first, but soon leaned into my embrace. "You never have to doubt how much I love you. You are the best thing in my life. And if your belly gets bigger and stays that way even after you give birth, I will adore you even more." cheat on you," I said, hugging her. She resisted at first, but soon leaned into my embrace. "You never have to doubt how much I love you. You are the best thing in my life. And if your belly gets bigger and stays that way even after you give birth, I will adore you even more."

She let me kiss her and then she went to bed, seemingly worn out by the entire experience. I knew that what I'd just said to her didn't make her feel completely better, but at least I'd calmed some of her concerns. Still, she'd made it clear that she resented my work with the Guards and that she had some suspicions about what I was doing routinely in the middle of the night. She might believe now that I wasn't communicating with another lover, but she was smart enough to consider other possibilities. I would need to navigate this carefully with her.

Feeling shaky from this exchange, I probably should have gone to bed with Somaya. But first I needed to write Carol about all that I'd learned recently.

[Letter #-]

[Date:---]

Dear Carol,1-The Guards are sending hundreds more fighters to Bekaa Valley in Lebanon through Syria.2-The operations are being coordinated by:The Revolutionary Guards Commander Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar, who is in charge of the forces in Lebanon;Ali-Akbar Mohtashemi, the Iranian amba.s.sador in Syria; andAhmad Vahidi, the Chief Intelligence Officer of the Guards in Iran, who is also charged with expanding the Guards' extraterritorial activities in Lebanon.3-Rasool, who works out of the Intelligence Unit at our base, is constantly traveling to Syria. He tells me that the activity is picking up and Guards are transporting arms and ammunition to Syria.4-Planes loaded with these munitions are regularly flying to Syria in the middle of the night.5-Imam Khomeini issued an order to Mohsen Rezaei, the Chief Commander of the Guards, that the Guards are to get more involved in Lebanon to fight the Israeli and American forces.6-Somaya is doing fine. A little emotional, but that's normal. Thanks again for asking. The baby is due in a few months. They told us it is a boy! I am so excited!

Wally Over the next few months, the Guards continued to dominate my time, though I tried where I could to get away early to be with Somaya. Then, while I was having lunch in my office, she called with information that pulled me delightedly from my work.

"I had some contractions after you left this morning. They've been coming and going. They started twenty minutes apart and now they are down to fifteen. I think it's time for us to go to the hospital."

I told Rahim what was going on, jumped into a taxi, and headed home. When I got there, Somaya was already at the door with her little duffel bag and we rushed to the hospital.

I wanted to go into the delivery room with her, but a nurse stopped me. "We will let you know when the baby is here. Then you can come inside."

"But is there any way I can come in, please? I want to be with her for this."

"I'm sorry," the nurse said firmly. "I cannot do anything. It's the hospital's policy." Then her expression softened and she offered me a little smile. "We will take good care of her."

There was another man sitting in the waiting room when I settled into a chair. He looked up at me when I sat. "Is this your first?" he asked.

I nodded.

"Prepare to be here for a long time. The first one takes the longest. My wife is having our third right now and I have been here for almost ten hours."

I did not care how long I needed to wait; I just prayed to G.o.d that Somaya and my son would be healthy. Thinking of the new baby as my son son thrilled me. We'd been talking about names, and after juggling with many, we decided that Omid-which means "hope"-sounded perfect to us. thrilled me. We'd been talking about names, and after juggling with many, we decided that Omid-which means "hope"-sounded perfect to us.

"I just love it because he will bring hope to our life and we will have big hopes for him," Somaya said when we agreed upon it.

I took my first glance at the clock fifteen minutes after I sat down. As much as I would have been willing to wait as long as necessary to ensure that everything went well, I also desperately wanted to see Omid. I wanted to touch his little fingers and feel what it was like to be a father. I found dreaming of him and the future he would have to be a welcome diversion as the time pa.s.sed.

A few hours later, a nurse opened the double doors leading to the delivery room. Behind her was another nurse holding a baby. I looked at the man with me in the waiting room, a.s.suming the child was his. He got up with a big smile and approached the nurse.

"It is not yours," the first nurse said to the man. Then she turned to me. "Mr. Kahlili, come see your son."

For the first time all day, I felt nervous. I was about to meet my little baby boy. The other man congratulated me and I just turned my head and smiled. I could not say a word. I stepped through the doors and saw the face that would change my life forever. Omid was beautiful, and magical, and mine.

The nurses allowed me to move to Somaya's room after they transferred her from the delivery room. They took Omid with them to bathe him and set him up in his little crib.

My wife was all smiles. "Did you see him, Reza? He is so cute. So little."

I kissed her wet forehead. I was still having trouble speaking.

"He was so good, Reza. He came so fast and I didn't even have to push hard. I just love him."

They brought Omid in shortly, and we both stared at him and laughed with every little sound or move he made. Later, after they took him back to the nursing room, I stayed by Somaya the whole night. Neither of us could sleep, so we talked about Omid and about what our lives would be like now that he was around. I felt a huge sense of completion, and I knew I needed to strive ever harder to make my home the center of my life.

But this goal would continue to elude me. On October 23, 1983, I woke up to the delightful sound of Omid giggling in Somaya's arms. I kissed them both and got ready to go to work. Just before leaving, I turned on the radio to catch what I could of the morning news when a breaking report announced that suicide bombers had attacked the U.S. Marine Corps headquarters and the French soldiers' barracks in Beirut, Lebanon. The bombers detonated twelve thousand pounds of TNT, reducing a four-story cinder-block building to rubble and killing 241 U.S. personnel and 58 French paratroopers.

(Four years after this suicide bombing, Iran's thenminister of the Revolutionary Guards, Mohsen Rafiqdoost, boasted that "Both the TNT and the ideology which in one blast sent to h.e.l.l four hundred officers, NCOs, and soldiers at the Marines headquarters were provided by Iran.") I'd written to Carol about the regime's flying munitions and arms to Syria and Lebanon, about the Guards and other fighters being inserted into those countries, and about the infusion of capital into these regions to fund Khomeini's expansion activities. The news of this bombing was shocking not only because of the enormity of the attack, but also because of its possibly devastating consequences. Would the U.S. retaliate? Would it start a war where American forces overwhelmingly outnumbered and outgunned us? If the U.S. didn't retaliate, would Khomeini feel even more emboldened and generate further attacks? As my wife and son played in the adjoining room, the sounds of their innocent entertainment served as heartbreaking counterpoint to the grim reports on the radio.

I left for work filled with apprehension. I intended to drop off another letter to Carol on the way, feeling a greater sense of urgency to communicate with her and ironically touching on some of the themes the new attack drew to the forefront. This new letter focused on the expansion of the intelligence arm of the Revolutionary Guards under the command of Ahmad Vahidi-a special force that would later be christened the Quds Force, whose mission was to organize, train, equip, and finance underground militant organizations throughout the world and conduct terrorist activities.

[Letter #-]

[Date:---]

Dear Carol,1-The Guards' Special Forces is in contact with several terrorist organizations, among them:The Islamic Front for the Liberation of Bahrain;The militant Egyptian Islamist "Gamaat Islamiya";The j.a.panese Red Army;The ETA Basque nationalist terrorist group; andThe Armenian Secret Army.2-Kazem told me that Rafiqdoost, the Minister of the Revolutionary Guards, was personally involved in setting up a relations.h.i.+p with the Red Army Faction in Germany.3-The Revolutionary Guards are recruiting and training candidates from Islamic countries for terrorist activities with training bases in Lebanon, Sudan, and Iran. I witnessed Palestinians helping with the training of those candidates operating out of the Guards' bases.4-Through Akbar, a Guard in our unit, I learned that the Foreign Ministry has a.s.signed members of the Revolutionary Guards' Special Forces to Iranian Consulates and Emba.s.sies. These are not political a.s.signments; it is a diplomatic cover for their operations. Their task is to take control of all intelligence activities overseas, including a.s.sa.s.sinations, abductions, and the transfer of arms and explosives.5-Akbar is in close contact with several of those agents and is in and out of the Foreign Ministry constantly. Akbar explained that the Special Forces communicate orders to the agents outside the country through the use of radio frequencies. He went as far as talking about the formula. Maybe he will elaborate more so we can break their codes.6-I have learned through several sources that the Guards' agents have been placed in and are now working out of Iranian banks and airlines, and in s.h.i.+pping line offices abroad.7-Rafiqdoost is personally involved in buying arms through the black market. Some of these arms are then s.h.i.+pped to Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad through Syria-with their cooperation.8-Rafiqdoost will be traveling to Syria soon with Ahmad Vahidi. I will update you when I find out more.9-The situation here is tense with the war and the Mujahedin conducting a.s.sa.s.sinations. The Guards are on the lookout for infiltrators because of this.10-Javad, who works out of the intelligence department in our base and who also knows Kazem, is constantly visiting me in my department trying to start up conversations, and asking questions. I sense he feels uneasy about me working there. However, it's not a major concern yet.11-Rasool told me about the Special Forces unit setting up safe houses in many countries, successfully infiltrating the Muslim communities in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay, particularly those of Lebanese descent. He explained that the notorious Triangle there, with no police presence, makes it easy for transferring arms and explosives. Their operation is coordinated through the Iranian Consulates and Emba.s.sies.

Wally (More than a decade later, the Guards' infiltration of the Muslim communities in Argentina paid off for them. In July 1994, with the a.s.sistance of Hezbollah, the Guards conducted a terrorist attack on a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, killing eighty-five and injuring hundreds more. After the attack, Argentinian intelligence services completed a comprehensive report specifying the Iranian government's involvement. The report also concluded that the Foreign Ministry of Iran provided diplomatic cover for the Iranian agents that perpetrated the attack with the help of a Hezbollah terrorist mastermind known as Imad Mughniyeh. In late 2006, an Argentinian federal judge issued arrest warrants for Hashemi Rafsanjani, the president of Iran at the time; Ali Fallahian, the head of the Ministry of Intelligence at the time; Ali Velayati, the former foreign minister; Mohsen Rezaei, the commander of the Guard at the time; Ahmad Vahidi; and three other officials from the Iranian Emba.s.sy in Buenos Aires. Interpol also issued red alerts for the arrest of Mohsen Rezaei, Ahmad Vahidi, and several other Iranian officials for their partic.i.p.ation in that attack.) As I dropped off the letter to Carol along with another to my aunt Giti, I felt somebody watching me. I always dropped Carol's mail with other letters to friends or family members in America or Europe to avoid suspicion. If somebody saw me dropping the mail off and checked the mailbox, they would find the actual letters from me to an actual person, but I was still nervous today. The news of the Beirut suicide bombing had put me on edge.

I decided to go to see Kazem as soon as I got to the office. I needed to maintain a close connection to him. I needed him to continue to be my friend.

"Salam, Baradar Kazem," I said as I entered his office. "I heard the news on the radio this morning. G.o.d is with us." Baradar Kazem," I said as I entered his office. "I heard the news on the radio this morning. G.o.d is with us."

"Salam, Reza," he said as he picked up his phone handset and dialed a number. "Come in. It is great news." Reza," he said as he picked up his phone handset and dialed a number. "Come in. It is great news."

He gestured with his head for me to take a seat and then spoke into the handset. "Salam, Baradar. It's Kazem. ..."

I couldn't hear the conversation on the other end.

"This is shahadat, shahadat," he said, obviously speaking about the martyrdom of those who'd committed the suicide bombing. He then nodded his agreement as the other party spoke. "Of course ... both were successful ... they were demolished."

His expression changed and became serious. "On that ... I will explain the details to you tomorrow at our meeting. Congratulations one more time, Baradar. G.o.d save our rahbar. rahbar."

I needed to keep a bright expression on my face through this. Only G.o.d could know how sick I felt at this and every other moment when I had to pretend that I was enjoying the killings, betrayals, suicides bombings, and martyrdoms.

For several minutes after he hung up the phone, Kazem bragged about the Guards' power and about how soon we would defeat the enemies of Islam.

"Reza, you would be amazed at how much effort intelligence agencies like the CIA, MI6, and the wretched Mossad put into learning about our activities. They are obsessed with us. These evildoers don't even realize what we get away with right under their noses."

The mention of the CIA sent a chill up my spine. Then I remembered that he mentioned a meeting tomorrow to the person on the phone.

"Reza, I have to ask you something. It's very important. I am meeting with Haj Agha Golsari tomorrow. He has some questions about you and I want to be prepared when I meet with him."

That comment terrified me. What if they knew? I thought again about the feeling that someone had been watching me that morning.

Oh G.o.d, if they find out, what are they going to do to Somaya. What about Omid? I want to see him one more time. I want to hold Somaya and tell her I am sorry for everything.

Kazem's phone rang and he took the call, s.h.i.+fting away from me at the same time. "Alo, salam aleikom.... Good.... Thanks.... It was great news.... I am with Baradar Reza now."

He spun his chair around to look at me. That's when I noticed the wide smile on his face. "No, actually I was about to tell him.... We probably leave in about three weeks.... I told Haj Agha Golsari that I will go with Reza.... I know, I have the same respect for him, too. Reza is a gift to our base, Baradar Rahim."

Only then did I start to breathe normally again. For a few moments, Kazem's talking on the phone faded into the background as I tried to gather my thoughts. It finally dawned on me that they'd picked me for a special mission. As much as I'd experienced mortal dread just a minute ago, my first thought was More news for Carol and the CIA. More news for Carol and the CIA.

Kazem finished his phone conversation with Rahim and returned his attention to me. His tone turned confidential as he related the news about our traveling to Dubai to purchase equipment for the Intelligence Unit. He emphasized that I could not discuss the details with anyone and smiled while telling me about the special request he had placed with Haj Agha Golsari, the head of the Intelligence Unit at our base, to bring me along because of my knowledge about computers, the fact that I spoke English fluently, and, above all, because he trusted me.

Kazem was in an expansive mood. He proudly revealed several specific incidents in European and Middle Eastern countries involving the illegal transportation of arms and explosives through their seaports and airports. I made mental notes, trying to remember as many details as possible for the letter I planned to write to the CIA that night.

When I finally stood to leave, Kazem gazed up at me with fire and pride in his eyes. "Going on this mission is a great honor, Reza. I hope you are excited about it."

I smiled and tipped my chin forward. "You know, Kazem, that I would do anything for Islam and Imam Khomeini," I said with as much enthusiasm as I could muster.

16.

HEJAB.

THE NIGHT AFTER I learned about the Beirut bombing, I wrote Carol another letter. I learned about the Beirut bombing, I wrote Carol another letter.

[Letter #-]

[Date:---]

Dear Carol,1-The bombing news in Lebanon caused a big commotion in the Guards today. Kazem was constantly on the phone congratulating other commanders. He talked proudly of the bravery of the martyrs involved in the suicide bombing. He was fully aware of the success of the bombing mission.2-Kazem talked about transporting arms and explosives in Europe and the Middle East. On one occasion, they transferred arms and cash in the amount of $1 million through a high-ranking mullah and his entourage while on an official trip to Germany, where it was given to Iranian agents. In another incident, explosives and arms were transported by Iran Air to Spain then transferred from the Iran Air office to Iranian agents to be used against the Mujahedin. He told me an opposition member in Dubai named Ali was abducted and taken to the Iranian Consulate, interrogated and transferred by Consulate car to the airport, then to Iran Air and to Tehran and finally to Evin Prison. I don't know what became of him.3-Kazem has asked me to travel to Dubai with him. He received authorization from Haj Agha Golsari, the head of the Intelligence Unit at our base. We are leaving three weeks from today.4-The mission is to purchase computer equipment and software for networking and data processing for the Intelligence Unit.5-Please advise if you can be available for a meeting in Dubai. I would appreciate a face-to-face meeting.

Wally The following Friday, I received a message back from her.

h.e.l.lo, Wally,We received your letters.Very important information. Excellent effort.I will be in Dubai at Hotel X. Use---to contact me.Abort contact if any suspicion.Please update on Rafiqdoost travel to Syria, date, purpose, people with him.We are proud of you. Stay safe.Keep us informed on Javad.See you in Dubai.Carol Somaya was not happy about my trip to Dubai. The whole situation in Iran had become so terrifying to her that she no longer felt safe going out by herself. This feeling intensified after her personal involvement in a frightening incident.

One night I volunteered to watch Omid so she could visit a friend. I was a little worried that she didn't come home when I expected her, but I brushed it off, figuring she was enjoying herself and had lost track of time. Somaya didn't go out often, so I could easily imagine her reveling in the rare opportunity. Given the state of our country, though, I should have been more apprehensive.

When she came home hours late, she was in shock, s.h.i.+vering, and crying. I had never seen her so scared and I immediately leapt to horrible conclusions.

"I was waiting to catch a cab," she said, hyperventilating. "There were two other girls standing a few feet in front of me also waiting for a ride. All of a sudden, a big SUV slammed on its brakes so hard that the car skidded forward a few yards before fully stopping. You could see the smoke and smell the burning tires. Then they backed up and got out of the car, yelling at us to get into their car." She burst into tears. "I was so frightened. All I could think was what they would do to me."

I quickly thought of Somaya's friend Farah. The Zeinab Sisters-the "Moral Police" in charge of monitoring the women's dress code-had arrested her for wearing makeup. The regime forbade polished nails, a peek of hair under a veil, a hint of lipstick, some rouge, and anything of that sort, and they would subject young women to las.h.i.+ngs for attempting to look more attractive. Farah stood up to them, thinking she was defending her rights. They jailed her for four days, beating her and keeping her in a cell with criminal women. Farah was tough, but upon her release, she was so terrified that she never went out without a chador.

I put my arms around Somaya and pressed her into me, trying to calm her, and trying to find out exactly what had happened.

"Reza, they took me to the Komiteh. It was so scary. There were two other girls already in the car when they arrested us. The Zeinab Sisters were very rude, mean, and filthy. Every time any of us would ask why we were being arrested or where they were taking us, they would tell us to shut up and that they would beat us if we said another word. They took down our names and addresses.

"After they dropped us at the Komiteh, I saw another group of women lined up in the corridor behind a door. I could hear a lot of screaming and crying. While we waited, a guard came and said they were going to whip us fifty times for disrespecting and disobeying the Islamic rules."

My outrage exploded upon hearing this. If these b.a.s.t.a.r.ds did what I was thinking they did at that point, I vowed I would kill every one of them.

But before my imagination incensed me further, Somaya told me they let her and some other women go without any physical harm. Apparently, the head of the Komiteh released them since they had the appropriate hejab hejab and because the Zeinab Sisters had arrested them unfairly. and because the Zeinab Sisters had arrested them unfairly.

Though I desperately didn't want to leave Somaya at this point, I had to take the trip to Dubai. I tried to rea.s.sure my wife that I would be back quickly, but I was obligated to go. On the morning I left, Somaya cried so hard that I felt miserable. At the same time, though, her tears emboldened my mission. I needed to do everything I could to prevent the people who made her so fearful from maintaining control of our country.