Santiago was detained in October 2022 in Iranian Kurdistan. “It was crazy,” he recalls.
They took away all my things, stripped me of my clothes, put me in prison clothes and left me in a cell with the light on all the time. I don’t know how to explain it, but it passed and now everything is fine.
Santiago Sánchez Cogedor
The first cells, according to Santiago, were small, where he spent his days alone. Afterwards, he shared cells with other prisoners. In total, Santiago says he passed through seven cells. With the prisoners he communicated in English and, in addition, learned to speak Persian.
In prison I would wake up, have breakfast, put on my work clothes and go to the wood shop, and then play sports and teach Spanish. It was a somewhat simple routine.
Santiago Sánchez Cogedor
For a time, Santiago was held in the dreaded Evin prison. Located in Tehran, the country’s capital, the prison was built in 1972 and has gained international attention for holding political prisoners in poor conditions over the years.
Many things were going through my head. In the end I thought I would leave soon, but this uncertainty was killing me. I drew strength from many places, including the people who were waiting for me, the family members I have in heaven.
Santiago Sánchez Cogedor
