Story of “56th alley” and Hani Khorramshahi

Destiny of Iranian’s expelled from Iran

Elham Saleh
Translated by Natalie Haghverdian

2016-5-23

We have heard and read about the incidents of Iraq’s war against Iran; about the wounded, veterans, released captives; however some stories are left untold. Incidents that might not directly, but indirectly are related to war. Arrest, torture and exile of Iranians living in various cities of Iraq by Saddam’s government are some examples of such incidents which are discussed in “56^th Alley”. The best words to describe the book are those stated in the foreword: “Iranians driven from Iraq in 1980 started first by a big trap set by the government when it was announced that the newly established government of Saddam Hossein intends to issue ID cards, which provided the opportunity of identifying Iranians and after a while the harassment started which drove them out of their home. Many of them suffered torture and long detention and were left wandering in the borders of Islamic Republic of Iran and their fixed and movable assets were confiscated by the government and auctioned later.”

“56^th Alley” comprises 19 chapters with different topics such as “the Message”, “56^th Alley”, “Shooting”, “My father’s arrest”, “the Kite”, “Only a miracle”, “Have to go”, “Free”, “Re-birth”.

Alleys of Life

Subjects and topics that have less been addressed, due to their strange nature and ambiguity, usually intrigue audience. Curiosity might be the main factor encouraging the audience to read “56^th Alley”. In fact “56^th Alley” is the alley that the narrator has spent his childhood; the alley with all sweet and sour memories and games of childhood, which are vivid in the mind of the narrator and the situation which forced them to abandon their home.  

The book is easy prose which a characteristic that drags the audience. The author has endeavored to narrate the story from the perspective of various narrators which makes the book interesting. The example of such incident is the birth of the narrator; a tale told by his father, sister and brother: “father favors boys. He said that once he discovered that a baby boy is on the way, he was jumping in happiness and singing his song: “He is his father’s son; his father’s heart; his father’s son” over and over again. Hana says: “When I realized it’s a baby boy, I was disappointed and I decided to sleep through the night. Mostafa stayed up the whole night.”

The book has anecdotal prose which is another positive feature. The narrator has strong talent in narrating incidents and linking them together. In Chapter Eighteen, the narrator talks about people invading their home the third day of arrest when two of them divide their assets. In Chapter Nineteen the incident turns into a story told by a fortune teller: “I see two people; one tall and the other short with light skin. They throw you out.”

The other example is the story of what his family experience passing by street: “We passed “France” street. The name was interesting for my mother. We passed two streets. A taxi was parked in an alley. We looked at the blue alley sign which read “Paris”.

This was also foreseen by the fortune teller: “He asks: where would I go? Which country? Where would I stay?” then she says: You’ll go to France and stay in Paris.

Graphics and photos

Coal design of a bicycle and its handlebars form the cover design of the book. The design is a reminder of the same bicycle that the narrator left in childhood and moved to prison. The book title, by diacritic, appears on top of the bicycle. The back cover is the design of the bicycle and its saddle. Parts of the story are written on top of the rear tire next to the saddle. The interior pages have simple graphic design; however, the chapter “photos” is weak. The weaknesses are covered with gray. Gray passe-partout is a trick used to cover damages but it fails to sufficiently compensate. Dark photos printed on a gray background compromise their quality.

Divination

Divination is another interesting chapter of the book; a divination which comes true. It is narrated by a third person. It reads:

The body of Aliyeh Jonayah shook. Her pupils move and she is struggling. She mumbles words. Then she collects herself and continues: your house will burn in fire. Do something. I see two people; one tall and the other short with light skin. They throw you out. Dark destiny! Your life burns. I’m burning. Bring water. I have to perform ablution.

A girl brings water and she performs ablution and says her prayer. Then she turns and says: why are you still here? You’ve lost everything! I see chains around you. You’ll be taken captive! You fall ill! You have a passenger! He has to go; as soon as possible. You go far away. You go very far. You go to another country. You stay there for thirty years. You lose a loved one. You come back. Your house is destroyed, but it will be revived. I see a tree.”

Family Prison

Iranians residing in Iraq suffered during the war of Iraq against Iran. Many of them went to prison with their families. The same happened to the family of the narrator:

“It was dinner time and the hall doors opened. I said goodbye to my father and his friends. Abu Vassam thanked me. I left there and returned to my mother and Haj Bibi. Haj Bibi was old and ill. She was groaning and complaining: It’s a long way to the restroom. I have to perform ablution with cold water. I sleep on freezing floor. Lunch was terrible; no meat; no taste. They don’t give us fruit. I’m weak….” Then she moves her head in regret and says: I’ll die in this prison.