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Narisa
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 U.S. 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. Her mother tried to emphasize the positive about her
daughter’s future life
in America and made Narisa promise to finish school and get her degree, love her
husband with all her heart and to someday give her a blue-eyed grandchild. Well,
even farewells
¾
no
matter how much we’d
like to linger, 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.
It took me a good hour during the flight to get Narisa calmed
down. As
soon as she seemed okay, she'd start the waterworks all over again. She
told me through Mom that the thought of never seeing her family again,
especially her mother, seemed unbearable now that it was a reality
and she'd actually left Tehran.
I just pulled up the armrest between us and held her. There wasn't
much
else I could do. I mean, if I was leaving my
parents
forever, I had no idea
how I'd handle it: probably no better than Narisa was.
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 was a
little puffy. When we landed in London, we found out that the State
Department didn't waste any time: they 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. We were
surprised to learn that we wouldn't be continuing our regular flight, but
instead would be flown to Washington on a government 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, 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. All of us were starting to get apprehensive as we thought
about what to expect when we landed in Washington D.C.
Having been duly 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 Add to
that, in
Iran, she was a convicted prostitute: what would the world press do with
that information?
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, its 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
planning on 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, trial and conviction of a U.S.
citizen by authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Through
delicate negotiations and
diplomacy, a successful conclusion for his release 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 teenaged son
of American
citizens, a minor I might add, intervened in an incident involving Iranian
police authorities and a young teenaged Iranian 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 acknowledge the Iranian
government for
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?"
"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 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 U.S.
government."
"Why was she granted asylum: is it because she's become a
family
member of the Williams?'"
"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 podium 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 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 adults. They have
been through some very trying and traumatic events and need time to
heal and get on with their lives. I am now asking that you, the press, give them their
privacy and respect their rights to live their lives as
normal 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. Your "right to publish" under
the first amendment, for the sake of a provocative story, is superceded by the rights of two
minors 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…
Edited by Morgan
Continued in Chapter 1…
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