Big Books of Spring

Ask the Author: Marina Nemat

“I would be happy to answer any questions you might have about my books or my work as a human rights activist. You can also find me on Facebook or email me through my website.” Marina Nemat

Answered Questions (10)

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Mrs Marina Nemat, I could be writing thousands of words praising ''Prisoner of Tehran'' and your courage throughout those nightmarish times, which no human who hasn't experience can possibly imagine. I simply want to thank you for being so courageous to eventually survive those struggles and be able to share your story with us. The world becomes a little better for every person who reads your work. ?
Marina Nemat Thank you for your kind comments, John.
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i cried a lot when i finished the book , i shocked when i saw this much evil in this world . did you forgive Ali !! and how you feel when you remembered him ??
Marina Nemat Thank you, Dena. I have forgiven Ali. But to forgive him doesn't mean that the bad things that he did to me were good. He forced me to marry him when I didn't want to. He raped me. He saved my life but he also caused me a great deal of pain, which I still carry. I pray for him to understand the pain that he caused me and to realize that forcing me into marriage was wrong.
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If you could travel to any fictional book world, where would you go and what would you do there?
Marina Nemat Narnia. I would explore every corner and hang out with the characters.
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You are a strong woman ! with some good luck for sure . Thanks for inspiring me ?
Marina Nemat Thank you, Ahmed.
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While I was reading "prisioner of Tehran" I had to stop sometimes to remind myself that all these terrible acts really happened! unbelievabule... how can a dictator justify his awful acts with the name of God !! my question is : have ever wondered what your life would be if Ali didn't die that night?
Marina Nemat Thanks, Kloe, for your question. I have, but I don't linger on it; I'm not a what-if kind of person. Reality is complicated enough, so why add to the burden with scenarios that never happened? It's a waste of energy, right?
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MArina, thanks for your book it's a wonderful book I've ever read ... u really pushed me to start writing my similar memories as yours .. thanks for giving the reader a specific view of what is happening in Iran.. <3 <3 ?
Marina Nemat Thank you for your kind words, Emy.
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as a muslim i apologize for all your sufferings that you were forced to go through and i do appreciate ur patience and wisdom i really suffered with you in every single moment in your life i know apologize wouldn't mean anything compared to ur sufferings if i could chose a story to be the wisdom of my life am sure that its going to be yours am glad to say that ur the most powerful and smartest woman ive known?
Marina Nemat Dear Mohammad: There's absolutely no need to apologize as a Muslim. I have many many wonderful Muslim friends. They are good people. To me, Muslims are like any other peoples; in any faith, there are good and bad individuals, and it's wrong to blame all for the crimes of a few. I'm neither powerful nor smart. In Evin prison, I experienced some of the most terrible things that human beings can do to other human being, but my friends and cellmates showed me the beauty of the human spirit that can shine in the darkest of places. Be well. May peace be with you.
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Bonsoir Madame ! Just finished reading your book and what an inspiration ! I'm Algerian and we had our " bad period " also so you've became as a model for fighting for freedom and I will always remember you when it comes to following your own rules and doing things the way you feel it right no matter what the others think. You re an example of faith & freedom ! Thank you so much for being the voice for us ♡ ?
Marina Nemat Thank you so much for your kind words, Yarus.
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Hi, Marina, I just read your story, and I'm feeling like I know you well, I'm an Egyptian journalist who love reading novels, I just want to tell you how strong you're, and you will remain to me as a strong beautiful girl who will can survive over and over, and make me think about you when I feel week, Thanks I hope we can meet someday, and ask you how you strengthen your soul, and became with that tolerance ?
Marina Nemat Thank you for your kind note, Rana. I really don't know the exact answer. Human beings are too complicated. But I think when I was very young, my grandmother, in her actions, showed me the beauty and joy of love. Then when my mother kept locking me on the balcony, I also learned the destruction and pain that abandonment and cruelty can cause. In prison, in the depths of darkness and evil, I found goodness and light in my cellmates and their acts of kindness, girls who didn't have anything to give, but still gave from themselves. My friends in prison showed me how little acts of kindness can make the world a better place. I think that's still where I draw my strength. Life has shown me that when things go terribly wrong, as long as you're alive, you can see the sun rise the next day. And, if you keep hope alive and try your best, maybe, just maybe, tomorrow will be better than today. I also pray. Prayer gives me peace and calms my mind when I feel the whole world is collapsing on me.
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Your book really inspired me to learn more about Iran and politics in general. You've had a sort of bad experience with Islam, and you've talked about that in your book. Ayaan Ali Hirsi has also had a bad experience with Islam, but she's seen very negatively by the international Muslim community, unlike you. I have my own reasons for why that's the case, but have you ever thought about why?
Marina Nemat Hi Muhammad,

Thanks for your question. Because Stalin killed millions of people, we can't decide that Russians are bad people, and because Hitler was a monster, we cannot conclude that most Germans are the same. In the Middle Ages, in the name of Christ, who told us to love our neighbour like ourselves, atrocities were committed, but this doesn't mean that all Christians are bad. Religions and ideologies can be used and misused by a few to gain power over many. I have many Muslim friends and they are wonderful, peace loving people. The men who tortured me were Muslim, but I'm mature enough not to hold this against Islam. Hatred, anger, and fear blind logic, and I choose not to let them hold me captive. I hope this answers your question!
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