Prisoner of Tehran

Nemat recounts a harrowing encounter with Ali, a guard at Evin Prison, who has developed a complex and disturbing attachment to her. Several months after her arrest, Nemat is summoned to meet Ali, who reveals that he has returned from the war due to an injury. The setting is tense and charged with emotion, as Nemat navigates this unexpected and uncomfortable reunion in a windowless room adorned with political icons.

Ali, displaying a blend of concern and control, shares how he went to great lengths to save Nemat from execution, leveraging his father’s connections with Ayatollah Khomeini. This act, he claims, was driven by his feelings for her, despite his attempts to quell them during his time at war. Nemat, while grappling with gratitude for her life being spared, is also faced with the moral and ethical dilemma of Ali’s proposition: He wants her to marry her.

Ali’s proposal is not just a question of marriage but a manifestation of power dynamics, where personal desires intersect with political and ideological control. He frames the proposal as a logical continuation of his efforts to save her life, suggesting that marriage would secure her safety. However, the underlying threat is palpable; Ali hints at the potential repercussions for Nemat’s loved ones, including