Summary of "Prisoner of Tehran"

In “Prisoner of Tehran”, Marina Namet mentioned that she had a life sentence because of her actions in high school against the Islamic Revolution. On the night of her execution, Ali, the revolutionary guard came to save her. He told her that her sentence had been reduced to life in prison. She didn’t know why Ali saved her. Marina was sent to section 246 the prison for females and that’s where she met Sarah her best friend from high school. She had heard that many of her friends had been executed. During her time in 246 she began to recover physically and mentally. Ali had disappeared for a few months to fight in the Iraq war. When he came back he went to Evin prison and asked Marina to marry him. At first, Marina rejected him but Ali threated her if she decided not to marry him he would hurt ones she love. Marina had no choice but to marry Ali. She had also converted her religion from Christian to Islam to be accepted by Ali’s family. Marina decided not to tell about her marriage to her family or Andre, an organist guy that she liked. She also didn’t want her family to be worry. Ali and his family treated Marina with respect, they bought a big house for her and she was allowed to live in the house instead of Evin prison. Marina started to fall for Ali and she was pregnant. Marina’s life sentence in prison reduced to 3 years because of Ali’s help. A few month later, Ali was killed by assassin and Marina also lost her child in the womb in the same incident. She went back in Evin prison to serve the rest of her sentence but Ali father had then came to help in her case. Finally, after two years, two months, and twelve days in prison, she was released in March 26, 1984.

 

My Response…

I respect and understand her decision about marrying Ali to save herself, her family, and her friends. She seems didn’t have any other choices to choose. Even this was the only choice she had, it was a good one. If I find myself in the same situation with her I will probably choose the same way she did. When I read to the part when Ali was killed and also she lost her baby at the same time, she must felt terrible. I could not imagine how horrible she had been through. It’s a very sad life story.