Page 38 of Grave Danger

Jack found it interesting that only after their second witness blew up in Farid’s face was the “unavailable” imam suddenly available.

The imam’s image appeared on the LCD screen, and the witness was sworn. The imam was dressed in the traditional black camel-hair robe with a blue jacket underneath. His crown-style turban was the same type made popular by the hardline lawmaker Mahmoud Nabavian. The imam was a calm, poised witness, answering Beech’s questions in English, though his accent was thick.

“Imam Reza, do you know the petitioner, Farid Bazzi?”

“Yes, very well.”

“Did you play any role in connection with his marriage to Zahra Bazzi?”

“Yes. I presided at their wedding ceremony.”

“When was that?”

“It will be two years this coming January. The fifteenth of January.”

“Did you play any role in his divorce from either Ava Bazzi or Zahra Bazzi?”

“Yes. I served as a witness on Farid’s behalf in his divorce both from his first wife, Ava, and his second wife, Zahra.”

“Explain to the court how the divorce process works, please.”

“Under Islamic law, a man can divorce his wife by so stating, verbally, in the presence of two ‘just men’ as witnesses. I was one of those ‘just men’ to bear witness to Farid’s pronouncement of divorce as to both of his wives, first for Ava and then later for Zahra.”

“When was Farid’s divorce from his first wife, Ava?”

“She was arrested in mid-October. The divorce was approximately six weeks later, the first day of December.”

“In his divorce from Ava, did Farid state a reason for the divorce?”

Jack rose. “Your Honor, I would ask the court to direct the witness to answer that question with either a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer.”

“Point taken,” said the judge. “The witness shall give a one-word response.”

“Yes,” the imam said.

“As to Ava Bazzi, what did Farid state as the reason for the divorce?”

Jack was back on his feet. “Objection. Hearsay.”

“You’re technically right, Mr. Swyteck. But the rules regarding hearsay do not apply in Hague proceedings. Ms. Beech, what’s your response?”

“What you just said,” she quipped. “Plus, Farid made the statement to Allah in the presence of an imam, and the imam is testifying under an oath to God.”

“The statement does seem trustworthy,” the judge said. “The witness may answer.”

The imam paused, making sure the back-and-forth between lawyers was over, then answered. “Farid stated that the reason for his divorce from Ava was abandonment.”

Bomb number one had just hit its mark. Testimony from a holy man that supported the Iranian regime’s position: Ava Bazzi was alive and well, having fled the country after abandoning her husband and daughter. As for the Hague proceeding, Zahra’s adoption of Yasmin was a nullity.

The carpet-bombing campaign continued. “Imam Reza, let me ask you now about the second divorce. What grounds did Farid state in support of his divorce from Zahra?”

The imam looked directly at the camera, his dark eyes clouded with cataracts. “Divorce was warranted because the marriage was never consummated.”

Bomb number two: Zahra’s marriage to Farid was a fraud, all part of her premeditated plan to adopt and then abduct his daughter. Whether Ava was dead or alive, Zahra’s adoption of Yasmin was void. Jack had to find a way to continue the fight.

“Judge, I move to strike the response.”

“On what grounds?” the judge asked.

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