Maziar Bahari--Then They Came for Me: A Family's Story of Love, Captivity, and Survival June 10, 2011

Newsweek journalist Maziar Bahari comes to the Skirball to discuss his new book with leading writer/scholar Reza Aslan. Then They Came for Me chronicles the 118 days Bahari spent in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison for a crime he didn’t commit.

Bahari, an award-winning journalist, documentary filmmaker, and human rights activist was taken by surprise when he was wrongfully accused of espionage while in Iran to cover the 2009 presidential election. This in-depth account of the fiercely contested election and his incarceration are covered with a keen eye for vivid details and a journalist's perspective on the fascinating modern history of Iran.

Bahari's book is also a moving tale about family: a father and sister who were also imprisoned under various Iranian regimes and endured despite the injustice; his mother and beloved wife, Paola, whose tireless activism ensured the global community would not forget Bahari; and his as-yet unborn child, who gave him the strength to hope for freedom.

A Q&A and book signing follow the program.

Advance tickets recommended: Available on site at the Skirball, online at www.skirball.org, or by phone at (877) SCC-4TIX or (877) 722-4849

Official Website: http://www.skirball.org/programs/readings-and-lectures/title962