Intelligence ministry claims suspects handed over information to Baha'i center in Haifa; followers of faith face occasional mistreatment by authorities in Islamic Republic
Lyrical flights
Mahvash Sabet, a leading representative of the Baha i religion, spent almost ten years in Iranian prisons because of her faith. She was released in September. Sabet turned her experiences during her confinement into poems, which she managed to smuggle out of prison. Interview by Keyvandokht Ghahari
Ms Sabet, can you describe the day of your release for us?
Mahvash Sabet:
My family and I were expecting my release on 19 September. On 18 September, however, I was informed that I was being released. The prison staff didn t even allow me to use the telephone. They just brought me to the exit and that was that. I told them I would get someone to film me and would tell the whole world they had just let me out on the street after ten years in prison with no money, no belongings, and that I didn t know anything and wasn t able to do anything. They couldn t have cared less. When I got outside, I was angry rather than happy. Outside the prison gate, some people were gather