SABAH (95)

Memoirs of Sabah Vatankhah

Interviewed and Compiled by Fatemeh Doustkami
Translated by Natalie Haghverdian

2022-2-1

SABAH (95)

Memoirs of Sabah Vatankhah

Interviewed and Compiled by Fatemeh Doustkami

Translated by Natalie Haghverdian

Published by Soore Mehr Publishing Co.

Persian Version 2019

Chapter Twenty Four

After the break of siege of Abadan, many colleagues returned to the hospital. Colleagues such as Abbasi sisters and Khadijeh Bazoun who were with their families until that moment.

Little by little families of martyrs of Abadan and Khorramshahr who were living in other cities as war-stricken families, came to visit the graves of their dear ones. Therefore a headquarters had been created in Abadan in a three floor house called “martyr hotel”. Sometimes when we didn’t have much to do in the hospital we went there to visit the families of the martyrs. Sometimes we accompanied them to the graveyard of the martyrs of Abadan to their dear ones’ graves.

Little by little the personnel of Taleghani hospital became committed to be present in the hospital. One of those days when we had less to do since the personnel had returned, we heard that the mother of martyr Hossein Alamolhoda has come to the hospital. Hossein Alamolhoda was one of the university students who followed Imam’s belief who had been martyred on sixteenth day of first month of winter in 1980 in Hoveyzeh. The story of his martyrdom and his comrades were the subject of talks of all for a long time.

As we had heard, the Iraqis had surrounded them with tanks. Forces of martyr Alamolhoda fight and resist to their last strength and ammunition. When their ammunition is over, the Iraqis started progressing with their tanks and pass over them and their trenches.

Mother of martyr Alamolhoda was a kind woman and a true believer, she had a sweet face which was full of light because of her belief. She greeted us with smiling face and soft voice. Her behavior was as if she had come to greet us, instead of us going to greet her. People had gathered around her like butterflies. They all liked to talk to her.

She, who looked about fifty years old, said that she has come to visit the graves of martyrs of Abadan and wanted to visit the hospital before going there. She wanted to thank the personnel of the hospital. A few other ladies accompanied her.

Ms. Alamolhoda went to one of the injured soldiers. She wished and prayed that he gets better very soon. She visited a few other injured soldiers and asked about their whereabouts. When the injured soldiers found out that the mother of martyr Alamolhoda has come to visit them, became very happy and their mood escalated.

We expected her to talk about her son Hossein but she said nothing and prayed for all. Her words were so strong and influential that each sentence went deep into the heart and soul of people surrounding her. The atmosphere of the hospital changed with her visit.

When she wanted to leave the hospital, we all accompanied her until the yard. In the yard, she told us all: “I have a request from you. Is it possible to see the bodies of martyrs which are in the hospital before I walk to the graveyard?”

We all went towards the morgue of ice cream making factory. We were bout seven eight individuals. They opened the door of the morgue and we went inside. Ms. Alamolhoda started sending Salavat. All of a sudden her face turned red and she was overwhelmed. At that situation, she said: “God be my witness that when I stepped into this morgue a smell touched my nose which was exactly the same smell that I felt while pilgrimaging in Karbala where Imam Hossein was felt.”

She uttered these words and her tears started falling on her face. We all cried. After a while, Ms. Alamolhoda said: “send Salavat for the joy of souls of the martyrs and read Fatihah.” Then we walked out of the morgue. When we were saying good bye, Ms. Alamolhoda advised us all. She said that we have to safeguard the revolution and Imam until we have strength in our bodies. She said that we shouldn’t stop resisting and persisting until the last minute.

The person saying these words was a woman whose son had been martyred in the worst possible way. Since this woman was a person of action, her every word and advise influenced us. Her behavior was really like Zeynab.

One day my name was paged in the hospital. I went to the nurses’ station. They told me that I have a guest who is waiting for me in the lobby. I was very surprised. I didn’t know who has come to visit me. I called Shahnaz who had just arrived in Abadan to visit us to accompany me downstairs. As we were going down the stairs towards the lobby, we noticed Haj Agha Islami.

We were so happy to see him. Mr. Islami was the representative of Imam in army district eight meaning the army of Khuzestan and Lorestan. He said that I am happy to see you healthy. Then he asked about the whereabouts of my father, mother and other sisters. I said that thanks God they are all fine and live in Tehran. He said if we needed anything. I said that thanks God we have everything and we have no problem. He stayed for a few minutes. Then left and gave us his home address. He asked us to visit his wife. He said that she is along and will be happy to see you. Their house was in Zeytoun alley in Ahwaz.

A few days after Mr. Islami left, Shahnaz and I decided to visit his wife and children. The seventh station had military check. It meant that when we wanted to cross the bridge, we had to get permission both for entry and exit. Shahnaz and I were waiting like others in the queue to pass. As we were standing, I saw that one of the Arabs of the region is angry on the other side. The military forces didn’t let him inside Abadan so that he could cross the bridge and go to the edge of Bahman Shir. They told him that he has to have permission. He was forty years old wearing Dashdasheh and a coat! Poor man was pleading and saying: “You are here, your wife is here, your child is here, your job is here, why don’t you let me pass?”

He meant that I live here and my wife and child are here, my house is here. Why don’t you let me pass? I have to commute. I can’t get permission every minute. They didn’t let him pass. He insisted and said I just passed here!

His honesty helped him pass. This strict rule was because they were afraid of fifth column. We got permission and passed. We got to Ahwaz by minibus and went to Mr. Islami’s house. When we knocked and Ms. Islami opened the door for us, she was very happy to see us. She said that she didn’t even think that a friend or relative might visit them in a strange city.

Mr. Islami’s house was a big house with a big yard, four five rooms and a cozy kitchen in the corner of the house. Ms. Islami said that when Mr. Islami returns home, the house turns into the base and commuting place of authorities. As she told us she was busy with cooking and hosting guests all the time. Ms. Islamic was an active type and couldn’t sit still. She was either cooking or cleaning the house or attending to children. Mashallah she was very smart and energetic.

At that time they had five boys. Their first son was Mehdi who was in fifth grade, second son was Mohsen and then twins called Hadi and Ahmadi. The last child was Morteza who was an infant at that time. Attending to five small children was a full time job let alone hosting guests. We talked and laughed until evening. Ms. Islami said that her mood changed when we visited. I hadn’t talked to anybody like this for a long while.

In the evening, Mr. Islamic came home. When he saw us there he became very happy and greeted us warmly. Then turned to his wife and said that they have guests from Tehran for dinner.

Together with Ms. Islami, we went to the kitchen and started arranging the dinner. The guests arrived at night. Mir Hossein Mousavi, along with a group of his closed people were guests and Mr. Islami’c house. Between the kitchen and living room, there was a wooden wall which contained a few shelves. Ms. Islamic had arranged books, Quran and prayer mats. Between the shelves inside the wall, there was a small crack through which one could see the living room. We watched the guests from that crack along with Ms. Islami. Visit of Prime Minister to their house was interesting for us. We liked to see what they talk about and what they do. When Mr. Islami came to kitchen to take tea and serving items
and saw us two looking at Prime Minister from the crack, he burst into laughter and said: “What are you two doing there?! What you do is ugly. Go to other side.”

I felt so embarrassed. I thought to myself that Mr. Islami thinks that I am voyeur! I dragged myself aside and said: “Sorry!: Ms. Islami said: “We wanted to see Mir Hossein!”

Mr. Islami said: “He is a human being, what is to see my wife!”

We stayed at their home for two three nights and then returned to Abadan.

After exiting the Zolfaghari frontline, I didn’t see Dr. Mostafavi anymore and after break of Abadan siege I didn’t see Dr. Sa’adat either. I didn’t know whether Dr. Mostafavi has returned to Shiraz or is gone somewhere else. Dr. Sa’adat also must had returned to his city Behbahan[1].

It was the last days of first month of autumn 1981 Shahnaz found a job in one of the junior high schools of Sanandaj. The residence area of teachers and personnel of education was one of the barracks of the city. Once when Shahnaz came to visit us, I talked to her and said that I want to go to Sanandaj with him. She accepted to take me for a short while.

With the return of personnel of the hospital and also presence of a big number of aid workers from Abadan and Khorramshahr, practically there was not much left for us to do. On the contrary to the first days when we had a lot to do and we didn’t know what to do and where to start and whom to attend, these days the situation was under control and there was no need anywhere. Therefore I decided to be in a place where I could do more services and be more useful.

The service in Sanandaj was the best option. Due to the presence of Komalah[2]  and democrats and what was said about their crimes, they were short of volunteers to render services. If I could find a suitable place to work, I would be calm. There was only one big problem; the severe cold there! I hadn’t been able to endure the cold weather of Farahzad, how could I endure the cold weather of Sanandaj.

To be continued …