Wednesday, October 29, 2008

"White Torture" Being Employed by Iran

From: Nick McGuire

According to a former Iranian citizen, the current Iranian regime is using what has become known as "white torture" against political prisoners. In an interview with CNN, Amir Fakhravar explained how he was held in a "covert" detention center used by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. The center apparently was completely devoid of color and insulated so sound was muffled as much as possible. "We didn't see any color, all of the cell was white, the floor was white, our clothes were white and also the light, 24 hours, was white. Our food, also, was white rice," Fakhravar said. He went on to say that the prisoners were forced to slip a white piece of paper under the door if he wanted to use the toilet and the guards who escorted him wore padded shoes to keep sound to a minimum. He was held in the detention center for eight months and after his release he said he could no longer remember his parents' faces. This form of sensory deprivation was documented by Amnesty International in 2004.

Fakhravar was an advocate for governmental reform in his homeland but was seen as a major supporter of regime change by authorities and was arrested at age 17. He was shuttled between prisons, eventually ending up in the "white torture" center where he was able to escape. He is now 25 and resides in the United States. He believes that the Iranian regime is extremely dangerous and determined to export the Islamic revolution around the world. They brainwash their youth into believing the globe should be converted to Shia Islam. He goes on to say that the only way that significant change will take place in his homeland is if complete isolation and significant economic sanctions are enforced. He even argued that Senator Barack Obama, who has stated that the US should engage Iran in dialogue if he becomes President, should not even bother. "He cannot find anybody to talk to him. It doesn't work..."


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