Exiled Iranian writer Mahsa Mohebali and theatre director Hossein Zoghi will premiere their play "Well/Body" at Barcelona's Sala Beckett in May, bringing their powerful story of artistic persecution to the city's cultural stage. The couple fled Iran recently after facing severe threats and interrogations from the regime for their creative work and non-religious views.

Ms Mohebali, a celebrated writer and screenwriter, endured dozens of "absurd, constant, and threatening interrogations" at Iranian intelligence service quarters. All her books remain banned in Iran. Her partner, Mr Zoghi, a theatre director, received threats via national television. For years, he staged his productions secretly in private flats. The couple found themselves outside Iran during the current conflict and cannot return. They now reside in Ribes de Freser, a small town in the Ripollès region, with a population of under 1,500. They express gratitude to the organisations Artist at Risk and No Callarem, which provided crucial documentation and financial assistance.

Artistic Freedom Under Threat

The couple shared insights into the daily repression faced by Iranians. Ms Mohebali noted the gradual defiance of women regarding the headscarf. "With the headscarf, women have done the same," she explained. "The first day they wear it properly, then a centimetre back, then five, then it falls." Public displays of affection were also dangerous for them. They initially only held fingers, then hands, gradually becoming bolder over years. Both are non-religious, a dangerous stance in Iran. "But in Iran, if you say you are an atheist, they can hang you," Ms Mohebali stated. "You have to say you are a believer. And we are not."

Personal Stories of Repression

Ms Mohebali grew up in a liberal household. Her father, a university professor, initially supported the revolution but quickly realised its deception. He later taught regime leaders, believing in reform from within. Mr Zoghi, however, came from a deeply conservative background. His mother divorced his father, a common man of the Islamic Republic. Ms Mohebali highlighted the legal disparities women face. "In a trial, his testimony is worth double hers," she explained. "In inheritances, a brother receives double a sister. Adultery for her can end in stoning. Women cannot cycle, nor go to stadiums, nor sing."

Misunderstandings and Surreal Interrogations

Mr Zoghi believes Europeans often misunderstand the distinction between the Iranian government and its people. "Governments and major media do not separate the people from the government," he observed. "The government of Iran is against Israel, the United States, European governments. And the people of Iran are fed up with all this." Ms Mohebali recounted surreal interrogations lasting twenty days. Intelligence services believed a fictional character, Elham, from her book "Tehran Girl," was real. They sought to find this character, who was depicted as left-wing with an exiled father in Sweden. This was linked to Sweden's arrest of Hamid Nuri, a former prison guard. "They thought they could free this man thanks to the characters," Mr Zoghi said. Ms Mohebali added, "The judge told me, if you tell us who they are, we won't harm them." She had previously faced threats in 2006 regarding a literary conference in Paris.

Hope and Resilience in Catalonia

Initially, the couple feared Iranian spies might follow them in Catalonia. This fear has significantly diminished. They now follow Iranian news via a Telegram channel. They are rehearsing "Well/Body" at La Cremallera space in Ribes de Freser. Ms Mohebali wrote the play, and Mr Zoghi directs it. The production will open at Sala Beckett, a renowned theatre in the Gràcia district of Barcelona, in May. Ms Mohebali experienced anxiety attacks in January after reports of 30,000 deaths in Iran. She found strength and hope in a photograph of Portugal's Carnation Revolution by Spanish photographer Jean Marie del Moral. This image, she says, hangs on her wall, inspiring her and other exiles.

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Originally published by VilaWeb Feed. Read original article.