CENTERVILLE—In 2016, Keyvan Ghaderi was living in Yemen with his family. Then one night his world was shattered when government officials took him from his home and threw him in jail for espionage and corruption. Ghaderi, a member of the Bahái Faith, said it was politically motivated. He will share his story at the Centerville Library April 15.

“They didn’t like us teaching the concept of peace during a civil war,” said Ghaderi. “We were trying to help young people be empowered to reach their potential and help families and the community. Of course the country’s authorities didn’t like us discouraging them from going to war.”

Ghaderi was taken along with other members of the faith to a national security prison. “They grabbed all of us, men, women, and children,” he said. “There were 65 people. It was a notorious prison. Some left, others left in a week, one month, etc. I was kept behind bars for four years.” 

The prison was on top of a mountain, he said. “I had been in the prison for one month when the Air Force attacked the area with missiles so they moved us to a political prison. It was filled with politicians, anti-government people and terrorists.”

Ghaderi said he was held with notorious people, some from Al-Qaeda and ISIS. “Imagine living four years with psycho people. They considered us unclean and they wouldn’t speak to us or eat with us and we couldn’t make eye contact with them. It was emotional torture for me. Over time I got on solid ground and became friends with some of them. The rest left us alone.” 

The conditions were bad, said Ghaderi. “We only had access to the sun for one hour every three weeks and got very little water. I wasn’t allowed to see my family for four months.”

There were 40 inmates and no beds, he said. ‘You got one blanket beneath and one above to warm yourself up. I spent four years like this. Others were released but one Bahái was rearrested.”

When COVID hit the world it hit there too, said Ghaderi. “Over there they didn’t have medicine or equipment.”

One of Ghaderi’s fellow prisoners was given the death penalty, he said. “Then suddenly the so-called president of the area announced a pardon on live TV. We stayed in prison for four more months with no information about why they didn’t release us.”

Without notice, Ghaderi and the other prisoners were deported. “I didn’t even have a chance to see my family,” he said. “I had to leave them behind me. I finally got to have a phone call so I called my parents and my wife.”

Eventually, his family was given a humanitarian visa like Ghaderi. “I came to Utah on Aug. 29, 2020. Four months after my release my family joined me.”

Ghaderi was drawn to Utah because his brother and sister had been living here since 2014. “I have an aunt living here too,” he said. “Utah is a lovely state with lovely people.”

Americans don’t see how things are in other countries, said Ghaderi. “People don‘t appreciate what they have until they lose it. In Yemen I enjoyed the sun, the sound of birds in the trees, I didn’t appreciate that until I was locked behind bars.”

Always be grateful, said Ghaderi. “Look for prosperity for all people regardless of nationality or color. That is a major problem in this country. If we don’t get rid of racial prejudice it will destroy peace in this country from the inside.”

Ghaderi said prayer got him through his ordeal. “I believe in prayer. I prayed for my family and others. I felt the power of prayer while I was in prison. I thought ‘are they going to kill me or will I be behind bars forever?’ It left me in somewhat of a peaceful time.”

Ghaderi’s presentation will be held at the Centerville Library, April 15 from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. The library is located at 45 S. 400 West. λ