When I was outside of prison, I didn’t even smoke. I was completely clean. I had no addictions of any kind. Participating in political meetings and associations, watching some satellite programs, following political and social news on Telegram, and attending to household and family matters kept me from getting addicted.
The last time I was imprisoned, I was initially held in solitary confinement by the intelligence agency for 93 days. The restrictions there were extreme. We were deprived of pens, paper, newspapers, magazines, books, and even sunlight, appropriate food, and nourishment. The judge had ordered that I be denied requests and visits. Without a doubt, we didn’t have a TV either. It was impossible for anyone to bring substances into the intelligence cells. I was completely clean there too.
My problem began the day I was moved from solitary confinement to the general ward. In the general ward, access to books, newspapers, pens, paper, and telephone calls was relatively easy. Each room or booth had its own TV. Almost everyone around me smoked. Many of them consumed methadone. Some were additionally addicted to traditional or industrial drugs.
One was addicted to heroin, another to crystal meth, another to opium and opium extract, and in short, each had some kind of addiction. Among all these addicts, I had to find some form of entertainment for myself. That’s where my addiction began.
My ward has been changed twice so far, but my addiction remains strong. Believe me, it’s not my fault. Perhaps if you were in my position, you’d become addicted too, because here we have neither satellite channels to entertain us nor any news from Telegram and Telegram channels. Instead of all these, we have TV. In the evening, this addiction grips me. It happens almost every night at 8:30.
Let’s be honest, while God isn’t unaware, neither should you be—I have become addicted to the lies of the 20:30 news here in prison. Listening to these lies every night in prison gives me peace.
Dear reader, exactly how many months or years have you been clean? Please pray for me too.
Your friend,
Mohammad Mahdavifar
Isfahan Central Prison
[October 10, 2018]