Initiatives and creativity

Iranian prisoners' effective use of the minimum facilities available in the camps and the innovative construction of the necessary equipment. Innovation is the upshot of creativity. Enjoyment of leisure activities and the lively convivial spirit of youth prompted the captives to make the best of their time and their minimal means and facilities which they found available in order to create and innovate their required objects. Based on interviews with a number of liberated captives and reviewed literature, and according to the experiences and findings of the researcher, the following items were examined: Necessary requirements, innovations and creativity Sports ball: They made a kind of sports ball by sticking pieces of blankets or cloth together. Using the leather backstays of old shoes and boots, originated from Iraqi soldiers, the required sides were cut and sewn together, and it took the shape of a ball. Three medical gloves provided the tube of the ball. A hypodermic syringe was also used to inflate the ball. Oil stove: They made oil stoves by using empty cans of tomato paste and providing some gas, petrol or oil (from the generator which was used for emergency and black out times). Its wick was made from used clothes rags. This little stove was suitable for making tea and heating food. Picture frame: Picture frame was made by gluing matchsticks on a piece of cardboard. Handmade needle: By cutting a piece of barbed wire and rubbing it on the cement floor of the asylum, fine sewing and shoemaking needles were made. Steel nails were also used as sewing needles. Sock knitting hooks were also made from barbed wires. Hat: By reusing the thread of blankets and towels and the fabric of used clothes, a knitted winter hat was made using a knitting needle ( already made from barbed wire).

Waist shawl: Used socks and the embroidered patterns on them were used to make various types of waist shawl; Also, making a belt from these used socks was an artistic work. Sculpture: Painting on plaster and scratching it with the help of a razor blade was what sculpture in captivity implied. Spoon: By using plastics, spools, and Band-Aids receptacles they fashioned some innovative spoons. Dustpan: From tin sheets of oil can things like dustpan were made. Slippers: By using some tin sheets and dehydrated milk cans, slippers were made. Woven threads were also used as straps for slippers. In some cases, pieces of wood or cardboard served as the soles of the slippers. Bath towel: With a knitting hook made from barbed wire and using blanket and towel threads, suitable bath towels were woven. Making a TV antenna: With some wire and aluminum sheet, an amplification antenna was made for the sanatorium TV so that it could receive the programs of the national television network of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Electric wire and aluminum sheet were procured by a group of captives put to drudgery outside the camp, or by some Iraqi soldiers in exchange for a work of art, or by cooks. Rope: By waving thin strands of towel and blankets together rope was made. Making comfortable and casual clothes from Dashdasheh(a long slack robe worn by Arab men) : The Dashdashe was given by Iraqis to prisoners. One shirt and a pair of pants were made by tearing the middle of Dashdasheh

Ring and plate: By some artistic rendition on metal, neckless plate resembling the moon, crescent and heart and even earrings were made. And also, with washers from water taps some kinds of rings were made. Handicrafts Making photo albums: To store the photos sent from Iran, albums were made from frozen meat cardboards, or from wood and board. For the beauty of the work, the cover fabric was embroidered with beautiful patterns. . Plastic boxes of drip or nylon containing meat were also used for album pages. The album spine was bound using thread and needle. Medicine boxes, cigarette packets and cigarette papers were used to decorate the margin and write letters and words. Stone-craft: Colored and beautiful stones were used to make flowers, fish, birds, hearts and rosaries. Making books, seals of prayer, rings , chains and necklaces were the other manifestations of this art. Stone carving was done with barbed wire, and a hand drill made of barbed wire was used to drill the stone, which formed almost the most difficult stage. Preparation of the prayer seal: The clay was obtained from the soft soil found in the camp, then using moulds similar to match boxes, they made seals of prayer. Worry beads: As the most popular handicraft amidst captives, worry-beads were always in great demand, for they could be made with available materials of the camps such as date stones, wood, stone, flowers, pen caps and also, the insulated cover of electricity wires. Bags: The prisoners made kinds of bags such as a bag to keep the Quran, wallets, purses and etc. These bags were made of plastic or fabric originating from socks and old clothes.

Weaving traditional shoes known as GIVE: The most important raw material for the manufacture of GIVE was yarn, taken from shabby or tattered clothes or obtained from used hand-towels and socks ; And slippers were used instead of soles. The tool required for the manufacture of GIVE was an awl which captives made out of barbed wire

Shoes: By utilizing fabric, thread, needle, awl, sole (provided by old outworn slippers) and a spindle for spinning thread or string, the shoes were fashioned and then, actually worn by captives Embroidery: By using colored threads of towels, all kinds of embroidery were done in different shapes, sizes, and designs. Production of stationery Rollerball pen: Rollerball pen was produced using permanganate and used syringes. Invisible letters: Captives wrote some invisible letters using the juice of grated onions. To read such a letter, the receiver had to keep it close to a source of heat and light like fire, so that the words would appear and become visible. Making slides: By designing, calligraphy and painting on glossy paper and chocolate wrappings, slides were made. These could easily be displayed on the walls with the light of a lamp or a candle. Blackboard or whiteboard: They covered the surface of a cardboard with plastic, and then laid a piece of cloth smeared with oil and shredded soap on it. The handle of a toothbrush or a twig could be used instead of a marker.

Ink: The captives made a kind of ink suitable for writing and calligraphy by drying flower petals and dissolving them into boiling water or by mixing layers of soot found in the bathroom with oil. Binding: For protection of different books, they bound them with carton and plastic. Notebooks: Notebooks were produced using cardboard, cement wrappings, newspaper margins, cigarette packets, medicine packets, etc.

Fan dynamo: By sharpening the charcoal head of the fan dynamo, a writing tool was produced. Some of functions of invention and cultural-art production 1. to benefit more from opportunities 2. to sell their products to the Iraqis, so that in return they could buy some of their required stuff 3. to give gifts to Iraqis for reducing mass and individual torture 4. keep the mental balance, for invention and creativity would engender a kind of spiritual orientation,and dispel all negative thoughts. In fact, it would prevent captives from becoming idlers.