While she was imprisoned for 105 days in Tehran, Haleh Esfandiari blocked out thoughts of her home and family because “thinking of them would have led to despair.”
The Iranian-American scholar and Potomac resident recalled her plight upon her return to work Monday at the Woodrow Wilson Center, where she is director of the center’s Middle East program. Esfandiari told journalists she dreamed of her first staff meeting back at the think tank after her release from jail and declined to take time off.
Esfandiari got back in town Thursday and said her weekend was spent being with family, cooking and taking walks around the neighborhood.
“I went from room to room and asked my husband why is this pot here and why is this there,” Esfandiari said, forgetting she’d been away for eight months. “One of my grandchildren said ‘Don’t you ever go away.’ ”
The 67-year-old scholar’s saga began when she traveled to Iran in December to visit her 93-year-old mother for a week. Her passport was stolen and she was detained by Iranian authorities while attempting to replace it. Esfandiari was interrogated for four months prior to her imprisonment and again during her incarceration about her work with the Woodrow Wilson Center, amid allegations she was involved with efforts to topple the Iranian government.
Esfandiari said Monday that she was never physically mistreated in jail, nor did she ever fear she would be.
“Within the confines of prison rules, my jailers made accommodations for my comfort,” Esfandiari said, adding that workers always addressed her as either Dr. Esfandiari or Mrs. Esfandiari.
Although she says she “doesn’t bear any grudges,” she was “really disappointed” about her imprisonment.
“To lose eight months at any age, but more particularly when you are in your 60s is a large loss,” Esfandiari said.
