Iranian poet and torture survivor Ala Khaki spoke about his experience as a political prisoner in his native country Thursday in Pearlman Lounge before a full room of politically diverse students. In the presentation, "Democracy in Iran: A Past and Present Experience," Khaki shared stories of his personal battle against the autocratic regime of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in the 1970s and explained how his political struggle led him to write poetry.

"I could not believe that I could live in a society where this was going on behind everyone's back," said Khaki, who was jailed twice for opposing the government in underground publications and for, according to the charge, "attempting to violate the security of the country."

I wasn't sure if I would come out of that place alive or not," he said.

Khaki read from Return, a collection of his poetry written in English between 1978 and 2005 about life as a political exile, released this month.

He told the audience about rallies he attended for democracy that ended with citizens being thrown from buildings or beaten to death. "You see these things and you can't accept this as normal," Khaki said. It was after his first arrest, Khaki said, that he decided to continue writing, no matter what the cost.

Following his second release from prison, a family member in the military informed him that he was on a military "hit list" for his political dissents and democratic pursuits.

Under advisement from his family, Khaki emigrated to the United States, joining the millions of Iranians living in diaspora since the revolution and the Shah's ascent to power in 1953.

Audience members stayed for an hour of dialogue with Khaki following his presentation.

"[Khaki] really shared so much. He was so honest and open and I think that was really important to the audience," said Sam Vaghar '08, founder of Positive Foundations, the club that brought Khaki to campus. Positive Foundations, a club dedicated to providing a platform for students interested in social activism, was chartered last semester.

Ben Woodring '06, who is an English major, said he liked Khaki's integration of poetry with political ideas. "They do go hand in hand," Woodring said. "I think poetry could possibly be one of the most profound vehicles of expression."

Rebecca Wasser '08, a member of Positive Foundations, said the majority of the seats were filled, and by conservatives and liberals alike. "We had people from certain organizations that usually . would [not] come to such an event, but found either Ala Khaki's story so interesting, or the message we are trying to send so important, that they showed up.