Narisa 1
By C. Stanton
Leman
Prologue
On Wednesday,
August 29th, 2000, there were tearful and sad goodbyes as we waited
to board the aircraft that would take us from Tehran back home to the United
States and begin a new life. Narisa’s heartfelt and sad farewell to her family,
a family she’d never see again was especially painful to witness. Life moves on
and even farewells have to end, but with every farewell there’s a new adventure
on the horizon.
We boarded
our flight at 5:55 am and took off at 6:15. As the plane banked and lifted up
into the clear, blue summer skies over Tehran, Narisa looked back sobbing for a
family and a homeland she’d never see again.
After she’d
cried herself out, she slept the last two of the five-hour flight. I woke her
up when the seatbelt sign came on and we were instructed to prepare for
landing. She awoke red-eyed from crying and her face and eyes were a little
puffy. When we landed in London, we found out that the State Department didn’t
waste any time and were waiting for us.
Stanley
Wiseman, the Assistant Secretary of State that arranged for Narisa’s asylum
along with several security personnel, met us as we disembarked from the
aircraft. We were escorted to a private conference room where he began to prepare
us for our arrival at Dulles Airport near Washington D.C. We were surprised to
learn that we wouldn’t be continuing our regular flight, but instead would be
flown to Washington on a private governmental jet.
He explained
that the press was waiting for us in force, expecting us to arrive on a
commercial flight. He told us that he
would be making a government approved statement and that he would answer most
of the press’ questions. Then Dad, and
Mom if she wished to, would speak and give their statements and take questions
if they so desired. Mr. Wiseman advised
that it would be best if Narisa and I didn’t appear before or speak to
journalists because we were minors. U.S. law prevents the press from publishing
any details regarding us such as names, personal details or information other
than our ages and some of the details of the incident in Tehran. The details of
our arrest, trials and release were murky areas in that Mom and Dad had to be
careful of what they said because by asking carefully crafted probing
questions, the press hoped that some of this information would be accidentally
revealed. Any statement or information given by the guardians of minor children
could be printed. The press was hungry for the juicy details: two young
teens pulled from the brink of death only by marrying one another; it was a
story that had them all salivating. Add to that, in Iran, Narisa was a
convicted prostitute: what would the world press do with that
information? All of us were starting to get apprehensive as we thought about
what to expect when we landed.
Having been
prepared, we were escorted through a private area and hustled into a shuttle
bus and driven to a hanger where we boarded a small jet. Fifteen minutes later
we were airborne on our last leg home, compliments of Uncle Sam. The plane was
a lot more comfortable than a commercial flight and they served us a hot meal
once we were underway.
None of us
could really rest because we were so anxious about what was to happen when we
landed. The tension only served to make the flight seem longer than it really
was. I thought to myself, I was nervous about going over there and now, I’m
more nervous about coming back!
I cuddled my
tiny wife to help ease her obvious fear of the unknown. She was also still
morose over the loss of her family. While she slept on the plane, she’d utter
“Momma” several times in her sleep.
After what
seemed like forever, we were circling Washington D. C. waiting for clearance to
land. Once on the ground and the plane had taxied to a hanger, we were again
loaded onto a shuttle that drove us to the terminal. We were told our luggage
would be taken care of and loaded in the van that would drive us home. After
some last minute preparations, our family was seated in an anteroom next to the
pressroom and was told we could watch the press conference on closed circuit
TV. Then, if either of my parents wished to make a statement, they would be
called in. Dad said he’d like to make a statement and Mr. Wiseman told him he
would bring him in at the appropriate time.
We watched
the screen and the lone podium with the State Department seal as a backdrop and
the murmurings of reporters waiting for someone to appear. After several
minutes, Mr. Wiseman walked into the room and up to the rostrum and the room
suddenly became quite.
“Good
evening, ladies and gentleman, it’s such a surprise to see all of you here
tonight instead of being at home with your families (chuckles from the press).
“At this
time, I’d like to take a moment and say that for our citizens traveling abroad,
we would hope that they visit the State Department’s website and review any
precautions that should be taken when traveling abroad and to remember that
U.S. citizens are bound by the laws of the countries they visit. These
countries may have far more serious penalties for certain offenses than are
present in U.S. courts. We are here tonight to report the resolution of a
situation involving the arrest, detention and trial of a U.S. citizen by
authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Through delicate negotiations and
diplomacy, a successful conclusion was achieved.”
I thought, Delicate negotiations and diplomacy my ass!
What were they doing while I sat in that prison? Where were they when they
convicted and sentenced us to death? It’s just like the government to take
credit for something they didn’t do. I
continued to listen as Mr. Wiseman went on.
“Now to the
topic at hand: On July twelfth the teenage son of American citizens, a minor I
might add, intervened in an incident involving Iranian police authorities and a
young teenage girl being charged for offenses under Islamic law. The boy felt a
moral responsibility to act because he truly believed her life was in danger.
As a result, he was arrested, charged and tried for interfering with the
internal affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran and accosting a female citizen
of their country.
“At this time,
we would like to commend the Iranian government in demonstrating moderation and
restraint while exercising compassion in bringing this matter to a successful
resolution. Are there any questions?”
“Is it true
he was charged with rape? How old is he”
“No, that’s
incorrect, he is fourteen. Next?”
“Besides
being charged with interfering in the internal affairs in a police matter,
exactly what else was he charged with?”
“Defiling a
Muslim girl, next?”
“Follow-up,
please; what exactly did he do?”
“He touched
the girl. Next?”
“How old is
the girl?”
“She’s
thirteen. You — over there in the blue.”
“What was the
girl being charged with and why did he intervene?”
“She was
unaccompanied on the street without a male relative and was charged with a
crime against public chastity. She was reportedly being stoned at the time of the
intervention.”
“There were
reports that she was a prostitute. Is that true?”
“That is
blatantly false. She’s an innocent young girl much like any other girl her age
around the world.”
“Is it true
they had to get married?”
“The marital
status of minors, single or married and any other personal information is not
open for discussion.”
“What of the
girl? Is she here in the United States?”
“Yes, she has
been granted asylum by the United States government.”
“Why was she
granted asylum? Is it because she’s become a family member of the Williams’
family through marriage?”
“The young
lady was given asylum to protect her from any further danger of imprisonment or
possible harm.”
Mr. Wiseman
introduced my father saying that Mr. Williams wanted to say a few words. Mr.
Wiseman stood off to the left and behind my father. The room became quiet again
as Dad stepped up to the rostrum and began his statement.
“I would like
to thank the State Department for all its help in bringing our family home. I’d
just like to say that my wife, Marie and I have spent our entire adult lives in
the pursuit of our love for Persian history, its people, customs and culture
and this incident hasn’t diminished that love ¾ not one wit ¾ and we will continue that pursuit. We
would also like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the Iranian government
for its clemency and compassion in this case.
“I would like
to remind all of you that the details you seek the most involve the personal
lives and futures of two young teenagers. They have been through some very
trying and traumatic events and need time to recover and get on with their
lives. I am now asking that you, the press, to give them their privacy and
respect their rights to live their lives as normally as possible.
“Make no
mistake: if my wife and I feel that the press is in any way investigating,
intervening or intruding on their privacy, we will fight with every resource we
have and fiber in our beings to protect them. For those of you that are
concerned with accuracy, the constitution does not provide or guarantee the
press with any ’right to know’. Your ‘right to publish’ under the first
amendment, for the sake of a provocative story, is superceded by the rights of
two minor children to live their lives in peace. Thank you very much.”
As Dad turned
and left the podium, multiple questions were being shouted from the gallery of
reporters all at once. He remained silent and left, followed by Mr. Wiseman’s
announcement: “I’m afraid that’s all for now. Thank you all for coming.”
Again, now
away from any crowds, the reporters and curiosity seekers, we thanked Mr.
Wiseman for all his help and support. We were led through the private hallways
of the terminal to an awaiting van to take us home.
As
we sped through the darkness of night along I-495 to our home in Virginia, I
reflected on the past ten weeks, as I would many times throughout my life on
what brought us to this point…