On the Enemy's Side: Forbidden Love in an Iranian Prison

In 1980 as the world is captivated by the Iranian hostage crisis aspiring doctor Hesam drops out of medical school in Rome and returns to Iran to serve his country. A member of the Revolutionary Guards Corps he becomes a prison guard in Ahwaz assigned to investigate and interrogate political prisoners. The more he learns about ethnic and religious tensions however the more he finds the concept of revolutionary justice questionable. Hesam finds solace in speaking with a defiant young prisoner with whom he develops a passionate bond. But when Hesam discovers damning evidence about the detainee he has to choose between his political ideals and his conscience in a country where same-sex love is violently condemned.On the Enemys Side is contemporary historical fiction inspired by real events during a tumultuous period preceding the Iran Iraq war. Baika has crafted a memorable cast of characters of divergent and conflicting political allegiances all who struggle to do the right thing in a morally complicated world. Astutely crafted meticulously researched and emotionally engaging On the Enemys Side is a haunting modern classic about love during a civil war.