{"product_id":"tortured-confessions-prisons-and-public-recantations-in-modern-iran","title":"Tortured Confessions: Prisons and Public Recantations in Modern Iran","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe role of torture in recent Iranian politics is the subject of Ervand Abrahamians important and disturbing book. Although Iran officially banned torture in the early twentieth century  Abrahamian provides documentation of its use under the Shahs and of the widespread utilization of torture and public confession under the Islamic Republican governments. His study is based on an extensive body of material  including Amnesty International reports  prison literature  and victims accounts that together give the book a chilling immediacy.  According to human rights organizations  Iran has been at the forefront of countries using systematic physical torture in recent years  especially for political prisoners. Is the governments goal to ensure social discipline? To obtain information? Neither seem likely  because torture is kept secret and victims are brutalized until something other than information is obtained: a public confession and ideological recantation. For the victim  whose honor  reputation  and self-respect are destroyed  the act is a form of suicide.  In Iran a subjects \"voluntary confession\" reaches a huge audience via television. The accessibility of television and use of videotape have made such confessions a primary propaganda tool  says Abrahamian  and because torture is hidden from the public  the victims confession appears to be self-motivated  increasing its value to the authorities.  Abrahamian compares Irans public recantations to campaigns in Maoist China  Stalinist Russia  and the religious inquisitions of early modern Europe  citing the eerie resemblance in format  language  and imagery. Designed to win the hearts and minds of the masses  such public confessionsnow enhanced by technologycontinue as a means to legitimize those in power and to demonize \"the enemy.\"\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44984585257013,"sku":"ByrdShop_0520218663","price":40.14,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780520218666.jpg?v=1770837993","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/tortured-confessions-prisons-and-public-recantations-in-modern-iran","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}