Between Walls and Dreams | Part 1 Arrest and Imprisonment
Enayatullah (Enayat), Ezzat and Roya Eshraghi were arrested from their home on 29 November 1982 for involvement in Baha’i activities. At the time of the arrest their youngest daughter Rozita (only aged 17) was to remain at home and was not included in the list of names. The following excerpts are first hand accounts about these initial moments in time.
“At about 8:30 the doorbell rang. Three armed revolutionary guards came in the house and started searching everywhere. They got some books, pictures of the Holy family, family albums, and placed them in a sack, and made us all sign a paper for the items they were taking with them. Then from a list of names they had, they asked for Enayatullah Eshraghi, Ezzat Janami and Roya Eshraghi. I was very sad that my name was not called. I will never forget the glow in Roya’s eyes, when her name was called. Baba was in a hurry to go, in a way that he told Mamman: “Khanum, hurry up, the gentlemen are waiting.” Mamman was anxious, worried, and rubbing her hands together. She was giving me her last minute advice and instructions on what to do. Roya, happily climbed the stairs to go and collect her clothes. I will never be able to describe nor forget what a night I passed”
It would later be discovered that approximately 45 additional Baha’is were arrested on that same night, and many others were arrested before and after, bringing the total to around 80 arrests. The families of these individuals would gather outside the prison to bring clothes and food for their loved ones. During this time the families were not provided any visitation rights and it is unknown whether the food and clothing supplies they would take ever reached their family members. On Saturday 25th December 1982 (or the 4th day of Day, 1361) the doors of Sepah prison opened to the families of prisoners and Rozita also had a chance to visit her mother and sister. Nobody is able to precisely describe the feelings of the two sides. A historic day when a lonely daughter, met her mother and sister on the other side of freedom. This is what she said:
“After almost one month, finally on 4th day of the month 1982, I succeeded in visiting Mamman and Roya. They both looked very pale and you could see anxiety and fear for my fate in their eyes. They were very worried for me. But nothing could be done, I tried my best to calm them, but considering their frequent interrogations, anxiety, fear and worry was natural. In a way, it was not a good day, because after waiting for such a long time, I did not expect our meeting to go that way.”
On Wednesday 29 December 1982 (8th day of Day) after one month from the initial arrest, Rozita went to visit her father. From Rozita’s point of view, her father was the essence of strength and reverence among the prisoners. Everyone said he was the embodiment of reverence. He never complained of the situation to anyone, he never said anything that had traces of weakness, and all the time he talked about the strength and the will of God.
“On Wednesday 8th of Day, I succeeded in visiting Baba, with his unshaven beard and smiling lips. Of course, when his eyes fell on Zandai joon (our Uncle’s wife), he burst into a brief cry, but he was reverent. I, also, after seeing his face, and the intensity of his reverence, burst into tears as well. All he said was that:
‘We are very comfortable, you only pray for us, don’t worry about us. In future, when our presence here is known, we will see what good will comes out of it…..’”