Seyyed of Quarters 15 (2)

Memories of Iranian Released POW, Seyyed Jamal Setarehdan

2016-10-15

Seyyed of Quarters 15

Memories of Iranian Released POW, Seyyed Jamal Setarehdan

Edited and Compiled by: Sassan Nateq

Tehran, Sooreh Mehr Publications Company

‎2016 (Persian Version)‎

Translated by: Zahra Hosseinian

Most of the time people gathered in Sa’at Square and started their demonstrations. Directions of demos often ended in Shahpour T-junction, Pahlavi Street[1] and Mojasameh Square[2]. I also wanted to participate in demos and my older brother read this into my eyes. One day, he let his eye rest on me when he was preparing to go out. Stretching his hand to me, he said, "Just on this condition that you promise not to gain distance from me!"

I nodded happily and went along with him. I was dragged about streets like a drop along with the wave of crowd. I also saw Sheikh Saeed Asghari Niari [3], when we passed Mirza Ali Akbar mosque. Mirza Ali Akbar mosque and Haj Mirsaleh mosque were centers of fighting and a gathering place for the people. Ayatollah Moravej[4] and Ayatollah Masaeli[5] were prayed in these mosques and preached from the pulpit.

Along the way, younger wrote slogans on the walls and distributed leaflets among people. A middle-aged man moved among the crowd and took pictures continuously with a camera which hung from his neck. The thrill of being with the people was new for me, and with an unfamiliar and vague fear of police officers I chanted and thumped my feet on the ground along with them.

On 16^th January[6], radio and television announced that the Shah has left Iran. Shahpour T-junction filled with the sound of cars horn. I went out and stood in front of our house and watched the people who distributed chocolate and sweets eagerly. Drivers had switched on the lights and windshield-wipers of their cars and honked. Returning home, my grandfather asked: "What's going on? What has happened?"

• Shah has fled, grandfather. People gathered in streets because of joyous.
• So… finally he got lost!

I heard from here and there Bakhtiar said that he don’t allow the plane by which Imam Khomeini was supposed to come to Iran landed at Mehrabad airport. People chanted in the streets and said, "Woe is you, Bakhtiar if Khomeini comes late." A few days passed before Imam returned to Iran on 1^st February 1979. That day, I was in my aunt's house and watched Imam’s getting off the plane at the airport in their TV.

The night before 11^th February, radio announced the army and military forces’ solidarity with people. On 12^th February afternoon, I had stood in front of our house and was watching the street. A few people passed frightened. They said each other that the police have massacred people. Suddenly, I saw they have tied up a fat policeman with a rope behind a car and dragged him on the ground. The blood trail of him could be seen on the ground behind. I was scared of seeing that scene. All people told each other that several ones were killed in front of police department[7]. It was like people had conquered the police building with the help of army[8]. That evening, through radio, Sheikh Saeed Asghari Niari announced that people keep their calmness and not launch an offensive to anyone.

Few days after the Revolution victory, the schools were opened. On the way to school, I saw several men in intersections who guided drivers instead of police officers. I saw the picture of Shah above the blackboard has been replaced by Imam’s picture, when I entered the classroom. Some students hadn’t come yet, and the school’s state was different. During the break, students gathered a corner and go into great details of the days and memories of Revolution.

At sunset I went to mosque for evening prayers. Adults told teens and young to take their brothers or friends next time. At night, my father and brother spoke about the plan and turn of watching. The men of neighborhood had arranged to watch and protect houses and important military and economic headquarters until the order and security established in the city.

Fans of Devotees of Islam, Mojahedin-e-Khalq, Communists and other groups gathered in front of markets, in intersections and streets, and debated about political issues. I saw them when I went to school and shopping. I did not wish to join them. They gave book, statements, and magazines to their supporters and each group tried to attract more members. Sometimes, when their debates intensified, they shouted at each other and it ended in fighting and struggling.

In the second year of junior high school, I became a member of the Islamic Association of School. A room was specified for it in the school. Those one who was responsible of Association of School registered the members and planed for cultural programs, games, the choir and theater. Devotees of Islam, Mojahedin and other groups had no specified room. Rivaling us, they found students here and there and with propagation asked them to become a member of their groups. At the first days, the Association’s members weren’t unified and everyone acted in every way he knew. There were many different tastes and there was some quarrel among members. Our activities were effective, however, and we could organize a large number of students.

Gradually, I got to the point where I intoned Quran in the morning program of our school. I concentrated fully and recited the Quran carefully. I got embarrassed to make mistake in front of all the students and teachers. The activities of choir and theater group continued very seriously until I decided to become a member of the choir. There was a special spirit among students on days when particular programs performed at school. We gathered in the school hall and watched shows and satirical programs.

Some teachers talked in such a way that it was easy to understand they are in favor of which party or group. One of them progressed to the point where he delivered the books and magazines of Tudeh Party among students. We warned him two or three times. We stopped him, when realized that he didn’t pay attention to what we say; and one of Association members said: "Sir, everyone has their own belief which is respectable. But you shouldn’t distribute these books among students. They mislead them."

We watched over him a few days and found out that he didn’t do anything anymore.

I was in charge of the Islamic Association of School in the third year of junior high school. Along with Davoud Seyyed Shokri[9], Israfil Rahimi[10], and a few others, I brought the choir and theater group of school under control. We had our own room and performed the choir and theater on occasions. The days when we performed our programs, students experienced different spirit. On the other hand, we also should be careful about leaflets and magazines of Devotees of Islam and Mojahedin. The Revolution had triumphed, but various groups were looking to recruit, and trying to take them as their fans by discussing and laying their finger on the weaknesses of students. We formed a football team for our neighborhood and I was team captain. The local football team and the Islamic Association of School were good places for gathering. Day by day, we tried to attract larger number of students and stand in front of the oppositions.

To be continued…