UK – Amnesty, November 14, 2024
Our Secretary attended the exhibition ‘Surviving Evin Prison‘ given by Anoosheh Ashoori and Amnesty International in Hoxton Arches. Both Anoosheh and Sena from the Amnesty team were present as hosts. The exhibition covered Anoosheh’s experience in detail from the shock of his arrest in Iran, subsequent mistreatment and cell conditions and his eventual release. Anoosheh was very willing to answer questions about his detention.
Anoosheh came across as extremely modest in spite of the resolve and determination he must have needed. In prison he was part of a poetry society, created marquetry and also a bower ‘Ashoori’s Corner’ where he grew vines from seeds given by a fellow inmate. The final Ashoori’s Corner (the first two were destroyed by guards, who seemed to realise that he would just continue to build replacements) stood for two years. The presence of many highly educated political prisoners has lent Evin Prison the affectionate name Evin University.
