White Torture: Interviews with Iranian Women Prisoners

Iranian human rights activist Mohammadi tells the story of 13 Iranian women who were arrested for being activists and kept in horrific conditions for months on end. Mohammadi, currently imprisoned again for alleged propaganda and defamation charges related to this book, particularly addresses solitary confinement, a cruel punishment that can result in devastating social and physical damage. The women have been imprisoned for various reasons—being a Sufi or a member of the Bahá’i religious minority, converting to Christianity, or participating in protest movements. An Iranian journalist was imprisoned for questioning what happened to a group of protesters; another woman, Hengameh Shahidi, was arrested for complaining about judicial corruption. Narrator Siiri Scott provides a sensitive performance, relaying stories of the torture Mohammadi and her interviewees endured, the lies their families were told, and the pain they will likely continue to suffer. Scott’s careful inflections and tone honor the women’s experiences, relaying heartrending stories about their faith, culture, friendships, and will to survive.