IranSkiing: Statements to the Press

This email from Alex Turkenich on Feb 25th, 2007, at 10:15am EST describing his ordeal:

To Whom It May Concern,

Today's interrogation was in police headquarters on Valiasr St. on the 5th floor in the office marked "Offend" next to a ping pong table. The interrogation was relatively short. It lasted only 2 hours. There were 2 main interrogators and a translator. The interrogators were the same ones as yesterday but the translator was different. In the same office in the next room there were 3 women doing some paperwork.

The interrogators were asking me the same questions about the people I have met during my travel in Iran. The only difference from yesterday is that they were not afraid to slap me. Both of the interrogators refused to give me their names and to tell me of what I am being accused. However, they both promised to kill me. One said that he is going to slash my throat while the other promised me a slow death. They did not seem to be smiling when they said it, so I do not think it is a joke.

There were more threats of violence when I have refused to sign my "confession" written in Farsi. I told them that I do not speak the language and cannot understand anything that the statement says and could they please call the U.S. Interests Section at the Swiss Embassy in Iran to translate it for me. Instead of doing what I have asked one of the interrogators came over to my chair and raised his fist to hit me on the head. I lowered my head in submission. That seem to have confused him and he hesitated and finally lowered his hand. However, he did punch me in the ribs and pulled me by my ear on the way out. I have not signed any confession.

Roman Braginskiy was interrogated next. I did not speak to him after since they put him in a different hotel. I did get an email from him stating that he is OK.

Sincerely,

Alex Turkenich