In 2009, Shabnam Madadzadeh, then 21 years old, was arrested in Tehran for opposing the regime and sentenced to five years in prison. Her harrowing experience in the notorious Evin Prison has left an indelible mark on her life.

70 Days in Solitary Confinement

For 70 days, Madadzadeh was held in solitary confinement in a cell measuring roughly three metres by two. The room contained almost nothing apart from three blankets, a thin carpet, and a searing fluorescent light overhead that never switched off.

Her watch and personal belongings were confiscated, leaving her with no way to tell whether it was day or night. The silence was rarely comforting, as she could hear women screaming from beatings and rape from elsewhere inside Section 209 of Evin Prison.

Interrogations and Forced Confessions

Madadzadeh spoke of interrogations where her family members were questioned and forced to make false confessions. Interrogators demanded she confess to links with the MEK, the exiled opposition movement, because some of her relatives were associated with the organisation.

The psychological and physical abuse she endured during her time in prison has left a lasting impact on her life.