Memoirs of Marzieh Hadidchi (Part 9)

2017-9-19

Memoirs of Marzieh Hadidchi (Dabbagh)

Edited by: Mohsen Kazemi

Tehran, Sooreh Mehr Publications Company

‎2002 (Persian Version)‎

Translated by: Zahra Hosseinian

Bitter ‘sweet bread’[1]

Those days, receiving communiques and leaflets of grand ayatollahs and fighting clerics, including Imam Khomeini, and distributing them in Tehran and other cities were one of the dozens of duties which was comprised in my activities.

On a Tuesday, I entered Qom. After visiting the holy shrine of Hazrat Masoumeh, I headed an address where I should receive the leaflets. In the afternoon I went to Jamkaran and Sahib Al-Zaman Mosque. Reaching there, I observed the recommended acts (mostahab actions) after praying, and then, cleverly, I put some of leaflets between pages of Qur'an, Mafatih al-Jinan, and prayers books. I also walked around the mosque and with patient put leaflets between the pages of most of books.

After performing Morning Prayer, I bought some sweet bread and placed the rest of leaflets between them and set off, while it had not still lightened. I had to arrive in Tehran when I had enough time to prepare my children for going to school. There was no vehicle to move to Tehran on that time of the morning. I stood in the roadside waiting for a car. Few moments later a Volkswagen stopped in front of me. I saw a clergyman is driving it. He rolled down the glass and asked: "Where’re you going to go, lady?"

"Tehran. I came to Jamkaran last night and now, I have to come back home sooner, before my childrens go to school." I said.

"Get in; I'm going to go Tehran too. I'll take you." He said.

I said: "Thank God!"

The clergyman got off and took the bag of sweet breads and put it into trunk[2]. Then he bent the front seat and I got in and sat on the rear seat.

When we went ahead a little in the road, he pulled over, stopped, and said: "lady, it is better you sit on the front seat. Siting in the rear isn’t advisable. It is assumed I, as a clergyman, have ridden a passenger." I agreed and sat on the front seat.

It was still twilight. In the middle of way, he again stopped at one of parking lots along the road and got off. Then he opened the trunk which was in the front and I couldn’t see anything. Perhaps by curiosity or by guiding a strong inner feeling, but not doubtfully, I stretched my hand and opened the dashboard. I was shocked. There were a colt revolver and a blindfold. I was very worried and anxious. I wondered what to do? What is my duty? How and with what excuse could I get rid of this dilemma? I thought but I found no answer. Finally, I came to the conclusion that I should behave normally and it is not good to get off the car; if his suspicion was raised, the situation would get worse. Suddenly, I remembered sweet breads and the leaflets which were between them. I guessed that he looked at them. So, I was more worried. No matter how, I controlled myself.

When he returned, there was no clergyman, he had disguised himself. He had taken out his aba and turban, worn jacket and jean, combed, and smelled perfume. I prepared myself for death. I saw myself arrested and his captive. I concluded that he had been a SAVAK agent in disguise.

In that situation, I thought of how to inform my friends and colleagues that I have been arrested; so that, they didn’t get into trouble. But there was no way out, I didn’t get any result of these thoughts. I said to myself trust in God, I’ll wait and see what happens.

It had been lightened. We had come close to Tehran. "Why didn’t you ask me why I changed?" He started the ball rolling and asked.

"I’m not snooper, that’s not my business." I replied.

He said: "No, don’t be surprised, I'm a clergyman, but I like to go to cinema and have fun. I come to Tehran in the weekends, and after watching a few films, I go back to Qom. What about you? How do you like cinema?"

I felt an opportunity opened up. I guessed he have not yet noticed the leaflets. In fact it was clear through his behavior. It was a good opportunity. "Well, I also like to go to cinema sometimes." I replied shrewdly.

"So, let’s go to cinema together when we arrive in Tehran." He suggested abruptly. I was on target. "I have to go home and prepare my children and send them to school." I said, "I can’t come to cinema now." He said, "never mind, if you want we can arrange it." I said, "Ok, that’s fine!" He asked "Where and when?" I replied: "Today, at 4 pm, Shoosh Square, in front of cinema. I’ll see you there." He was gladdened and said, "Ok." Then he kept driving. As we reached to the Shoosh square, I said, "I'll get off here." He said: "No! I'll drive you home." I said, "No, It’s better to get off here and go home by bus. It’s not good to be seen with you. Surely, there was no problem if you had worn clerical dress. But now I ‘ll get into trouble if a friend, an acquaintance or a member of my family see me."

Finally, he pulled over in the Shoosh Square and opened the trunk. I took the sweet breads and moved. At each moment I was expecting to be surrounded and arrested by SAVAK agents, but nothing happened. I got on the bus. I was assured that nobody chased me. That indecent thought had blinded the SAVAK agent. "Thanks God!" I said to myself.

Reaching home, I concealed leaflets quickly, then I called one of my colleagues and said: "I’ve found a bait for you", and then reported what had occurred. We decided to punish him properly! I explained the time and place of my appointment and said: "that would be great to punish him properly! It’s worthwhile even a SAVAK agent is beaten up."

I went to the Shoosh Square on time, while my colleagues watching over me from afar. In a very clean and tidy clothes, the above-mentioned SAVAK agent was awaiting me in the meeting place. I went toward him and said hello. During our greeting, one of my colleagues arrived and slapped on my face according to the plan and cried out, "Sister! What are you doing here?! What is your relation with this man?!" and then he collared SAVAK agent. He began to beat him up badly. I stepped aside, and rode the car of one of my colleagues and returned.

They kept beating up each other until a police interfered and took both of them to the police station. "This man has seduced my sister and ..." My colleague told the police. The head of police station guided him out of the room and then spoke with SAVAK agent alone. What they did and what they heard was unclear. But then he called my colleague and said: "It is advisable to let it go at that. As a matter of fact your sister has a husband and children, and she is young. It might make hearsay..." However, the case is resolved and we were pleased that we had been able to punish a mercenary SAVAK agent.

The colleague who has been involved in this plan was ‘Hamid’. He martyred on the eve of the victory of the revolution.

To be continued…