Woman Spent Three Weeks In Jaill
In January, Gahandideh, an American citizen, had traveled to the city of Orumiyeh to visit family, including her ailing 92-year-old father.
"And then, my ex-husband learned I was in town," Gahandideh said.Gahandideh's ex-husband, a high-ranking Iranian military official, came to her parents' home, learned that she had remarried and then filed false bigamy charges against her, which is punishable by death in Iran. Gahandideh said a day later, there was a knock at the door. Five men entered, blindfolded her, and then took her to the jail, where she thought she would die.
"Finally, my family posted a $25,000 bond, and they used a lot of connection over that," Gahandideh said.With her life on the line and help from her husband in the United States, Gahandideh began her journey by foot and horse over the Zagros Mountain range, a journey that ended in the city of Arbil in Iraq, and then onto Jordan. Then, she came home.
Gahandideh said she would never take her American freedom for granted again."Because I don't have any access to an attorney, and I feel like if they killed me and buried me somewhere, who is going to find me?" Gahandideh said.
