Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (34)

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (34)Edited by Mohsen KazemiSoureh Mehr Publishing Company(Original Text in Persian, 2000)Translated by Mohammad Karimi The Sun Still ShinesWe passed through the big gate of barracks and entered a big yard. The guard guided me beside a wall and told me: “Stand right here.” Then he called some soldiers and told them: “He should stand there and not move and if he moved, hit him by stock or bayonet. He stands here until I get back.” The soldiers frightened of the sentences by that agent, looked at me worriedly. It seemed they were guarding a dangerous killer.I could not believe my eyes when I felt the warmness of sunshine on my body. I had been in darkness for a long time and my eyes were not familiar with all that light and they began weeping. With all those injuries on my body...

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (33)

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (33)Edited by Mohsen KazemiSoureh Mehr Publishing Company(Original Text in Persian, 2000)Translated by Mohammad Karimi Dreadful Tortures in Qezel Qa’eh Prison When we reached Qezel Qa’eh Prison (1), they guided us to a corridor where Saqi’s room was on its left side. There I could drop the keys on my feet and slowly on the ground and they were lost in the darkness over there. It was relief for me.After some moments they moved me to “Surgery Room [otagh-e amal]” (2). This room was located in the east to west side of there. They shoved me behind the table in middle of the room. One of the agents put his hand on the chair. I did not notice what he wanted to do. Suddenly he pulled the chair. I fell down on the ground by my back so hard before being able to do anything. I could...

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (32)

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (32)Edited by Mohsen KazemiSoureh Mehr Publishing Company(Original Text in Persian, 2000)Translated by Mohammad Karimi Job ChangeFor the people who had prison background finding a job and keeping it was hard work. After passing my military service SAVAK was monitoring me persistently at my work in Pars Metal Company. After some time they put pressure on Ahmad Tahsili and Haji Baba (Company owners) to fire me, but they resisted. I was working in supply department in that company. They purveyed me a car to speed up my job affairs. After some time I faced a great problem. Whenever I would buy something, the sellers would not accept to write the discount rate on my receipts. Sometimes they would give me the money in cash after issuing the receipt. My insistence on mentioning the...

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (31)

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (31)Edited by Mohsen KazemiSoureh Mehr Publishing Company(Original Text in Persian, 2000)Translated by Mohammad Karimi The Souvenir Just Fight When the military service days with all their up and downs passed, I found some time to follow my postponed political activities in Hezbollah. I began actively participating in party meetings and mountain climbing programs. I got more acquainted with Mohammad Mofidi, Alireza Sepassi and Abbass Agha Zamani. Of course, whenever I could find any chance at the time of my military service, I would come to Tehran and take part in meetings and speech sessions of people like Mr. Hashemi Rafsanjani in Hedayat Mosque.Social and cultural conditions of those days were so awful and far from Islamic values. Immoral behaviors among the youth were so...

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (30)

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (30)Edited by Mohsen KazemiSoureh Mehr Publishing Company(Original Text in Persian, 2000)Translated by Mohammad Karimi   Spout of Water   One day I heard a high ranking army general from Imperial Army Inspectorate had come to Semnan and resided in Governorship building. It seemed that he had come for some immoral pleasure party in Damghan and then disposing some affairs in Semnan in three days before returning to capital.I welcomed this chance and went to governorship building to visit him. I also asked Kheir Abad people to go there separately and express their need for tap water. They stopped me when entering the building. I said: “I am soldier of Construction and Development Corps and not form locals. Finally I could enter by forcing myself to them. I entered the...

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (29)

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (29)Edited by Mohsen KazemiSoureh Mehr Publishing Company(Original Text in Persian, 2000)Translated by Mohammad Karimi Mozembel After being familiar with the people of Kheir Abad, I intended to do my divine task. So I went to see the governor and report about the hardships of the people. I asked him to do something to eliminate the roots of injustice and tyranny for this kind and sincere people. The governor was quite disappointed and told me that his attempt had been fruitless in this regard. He said: “As long the Khans rule, the conditions would not change.” He continued: “Now, you go on! Do something. I will help you indirectly; I do not want to be involved in tribal conflicts.”He clarified for me that this condition had been formed based on some policies. The policies...

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (28)

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (28)Edited by Mohsen KazemiSoureh Mehr Publishing Company(Original Text in Persian, 2000)Translated by Mohammad Karimi Reconstruction and Development Corps of Semnan After finishing the training course and learning some information about hygiene, rural construction, irrigation, agriculture and … I was waiting to be dispatched to a village or county for serving people and be freed of dry army system. But I firmly believed forming this kind of governmental organizations such as Reconstruction and Development Corps, literacy Corps, and ... was only propaganda for dissembling people by the Pahlavi regime. However, I welcomed this opportunity and tried to change the situation in my favor and serve my people as a member of Reconstruction and Development Corps.Because of my good marks...

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (27)

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (27)Edited by Mohsen KazemiSoureh Mehr Publishing Company(Original Text in Persian, 2000)Translated by Mohammad Karimi Knowing Mohammad Mofidi Knowing Mohammad Mofidi (1) was one of the greatest achievements for me during my military service. He was martyred later. The story of knowing him is a nice one. In Karaj Garrison I was in the 6th battalion. Once when they were calling the names of the soldiers, I heard the name of Ladjevardi in the 3rd battalion. I guessed he may be a relative of Assadullah Ladjevardi. I went to see him and asked the matter. He said that he was his relative. We became friends. Gradually I noted that he had a relation with a tall young man. I monitored him and saw that he would Koran so well and without mistake. At that time considering reading Koran was a...

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (26)

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (26)Edited by Mohsen KazemiSoureh Mehr Publishing Company(Original Text in Persian, 2000)Translated by Mohammad Karimi Going to Military Service- Karaj Garrison My father was under my tutelage and I was exempted from military service for seven years. This time was going to finish. I referred to the Military Service Administration and asked to prolong my exemption from military service. They examined my case and referred it to the court. There, they wrote "soldier" with red pen on my file and said: "Go and serve your country!" I argued: "My father is seven years older, and my exemption of military service should be forever or at least prolonged at the right moment." But they did not accept and said: "We cannot do anything!" Now, what for? I do not know! But I guess they had some...

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (25)

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (25)Edited by Mohsen KazemiSoureh Mehr Publishing Company(Original Text in Persian, 2000)Translated by Mohammad Karimi Being Trained in Hezbollah We needed some training to ready to fight against the regime consciously. So we scheduled program for the needed trainings such as martial arts, shooting and ideological discussions somewhere around brick kilns near Khavaran Road. We (Abu Sharif, Sepasi Ashtiani and I) would go to places far behind the public eyes in order to save any human or animal from the possible hurts of our shooting and also not to make any suspicion.In another program, Abba Agha Zamani conducted Arabic Language classes first in Haj Amjad Mosque (1) and then in Amir-al-Mu’menin Mosque (2). These classes were free and in a new style and beside the call Agha Zamani...
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Reza in Revolution

Memoirs of Hujjat al-Islam Reza Motalebi

Hujjat al-Islam Reza Motalebi is a cleric from Isfahan. Before the revolution, he was the imam of the Fallah Mosque – which was later renamed Abuzar Mosque. By his presence and efforts, Abuzar Mosque soon became a base for supporters of the Imam and the revolution. After the victory of the revolution, he played a role in uniting forces and maintaining political vitality in southwest Tehran.

The Necessity of Receiving Feedback in Oral History

Whenever we engage in a task, we naturally seek ways to evaluate our performance — to correct shortcomings and enhance strengths. Such refinement is only possible through the feedback we receive from others. Consider, for instance, a basketball player whose shots are consistently accurate; should he begin shooting blindfolded, his success rate would rapidly decline, as he would be deprived of essential feedback from each attempt.
Book Review

Sir Saeed

The book “Sir Saeed” is a documentary [narrative] of the life of martyr Seyyed Mohammad Saeed Jafari, written by Mohammad Mehdi Hemmati and published by Rahiyar Publications. In March 2024, this book was recognized as one of the selected documentary biographies in the 21st edition of the Sacred Defense Book of the Year Award. The following text is a review on the mentioned book.

Morteza Tavakoli Narrates Student Activities

I am from Isfahan, born in 1336 (1957). I entered Mashhad University with a bag of fiery feelings and a desire for rights and freedom. Less than three months into the academic year, I was arrested in Azar 1355 (November 1976), or perhaps in 1354 (1975). I was detained for about 35 days. The reason for my arrest was that we gathered like-minded students in the Faculty of Literature on 16th of Azar ...