Page 34 of Grave Danger

The question gave Asmoun pause. “I’m not proud of it.”

“Not proud. But you didn’t flee the country, did you?”

“I don’t understand your question.”

“Let me clarify,” said Jack. “Based on your testimony, Mr. Bazzi’s lawyer is arguing that Ava Bazzi fled the country because she committed the crime of adultery. You’re every bit as much of a criminal, but you didn’t flee, did you, sir?”

Again, Asmoun seemed uncomfortable with the question. “Well, it’s different for a man.”

That drew a rumble of disapproval from the courtroom, and it was loud enough to be heard by videoconference. The witness immediately backpedaled.

“I can explain,” said Asmoun. “Even under the strictest and oldest interpretations of Islamic law, the penalty of death applies only to an adulterer who is married. Ava was married to Farid. I’m not married. The punishment for an unmarried adulterer is far less severe.”

Jack was not letting him off the hook so easily. “But you said earlier that ‘it’s different for a man.’ Tell us how that makes a difference.”

“That’s not what I meant. My English is not perfect.”

Zahra signaled for Jack to come over, and with the judge’s permission, they had a brief exchange of whispers. Jack then returned to his place to question the witness, armed with a few useful pieces of ammunition Zahra had shared.

“Mr. Asmoun, when you said ‘It’s different for a man—’”

“My English not good,” he said, suddenly struggling with the language. “Not what I meant.”

“Please let Mr. Swyteck finish his question,” said the judge.

The witness apologized, and Jack continued.

“When you said that adultery ‘is different for a man,’ you were simply referring to historical reality, were you not, sir?”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Dating back centuries, married and unmarried women were stoned to death or otherwise punished for adultery. Men, on the other hand, oftenwent completely unpunished, whether they were married or unmarried. You’re aware of that fact, are you not?”

“Not really.”

The witness was losing credibility with every answer, which was Jack’s only objective.

“Let’s speak of more recent events. You are aware that Ava Bazzi disappeared at a turbulent time in Iran, correct?”

“Turbulent for some.”

“For some, and especially for women. Ava Bazzi disappeared at the height of a crackdown by the morality policeagainst womenwho were openly violating Islamic modesty laws. Isn’t that a fact?”

“I don’t know that as a fact.”

Asmoun’s credibility was shot. Jack used it to make one final point. “Mr. Asmoun, you’re afraid to say anything in this courtroom that will make the Iranian regime unhappy. Isn’t that true, sir?”

Farid’s counsel rose. “Objection.”

“Overruled. If there is some external influence on this witness’s testimony, this court wants to know about it. The witness may answer.”

“That’s not true,” he said.

“Mr. Asmoun, you’re so afraid that you won’t even admit, as a matter of historical fact, that women ofanyfaith, not just Islam, have faced more severe judgment for adultery than men.”

“I’m not a historian.”

“You’re so afraid, you won’t even admit that women were unjustly arrested, imprisoned, and even killed during the hijab protests.”