Non-Fiction Book Reviews

Book Review: Let Us Water the Flowers

By Sandy Amazeen May 23, 2011, 2:11 GMT

In the summer of 1988, the Islamic Republic of Iran began a systematic execution of political prisoners. Overriding earlier prison sentences handed down by its own tribunals, the regime summarily hanged thousands of inmates, many of them incarcerated at the notorious Evin Prison in Tehran. In great secrecy the bodies of the victims were transported to mass, unmarked graves.For more than two decades, the Iranian government has tried to hide ...more

This emotionally charged memoir recounts the author’s experiences as a political prisoner of Iran between 1984 and 1989, a time when such prisoners were being secretly executed by the thousands. In the face of inhuman torture and brutal interrogation techniques, the strength of spirit inexplicably shines through as fellow inmates worked to support each other. Yaghoobi also recounts the experiences of prisoners who were not strong enough to withstand the tortures, eventually turning into informants and collaborators with their captors. While the subject is certainly dark and disturbing what the reader takes away from this compelling memoir is a sense of thankfulness for living in a more tolerant society and a deep admiration for those willing to sacrifice everything for their beliefs. May each of us be as strong should the situation arise.