Memoirs of Marzieh Hadidchi (Dabbagh) (Part 39)

2018-5-1

Memoirs of Marzieh Hadidchi (Dabbagh) (Part 39)

Edited by: Mohsen Kazemi

Tehran, Sooreh Mehr Publications Company

‎2002 (Persian Version)‎

Translated by: Zahra Hosseinian

Missing the Revolution Flight

Some news like increasing the number of Iranian people who came to Paris to visit Imam, escaping and departing of a large number of capitalists and officials of the Shah's regime from Iran, increasing the wave of unrest and strikes, falling of Azhari’s military cabinet, coming to work of Bakhtiar government, and finally the escape of Shah, and etc. had caused our heart throbbed hard and we expected complete failure of the regime, and we hoped more and more for victory and could not wait for returning. Therefore, all those who were in Neauphle-le-Château were involved in preparing preliminaries for returning to Iran.

I remember martyr Araghi[1] who was very energetic and active in the last days. I became acquainted with this great man in Neauphle-le-Château, and became aware of Imam's interest in him. 

A lot of meetings were held at the Neauphle-le-Château camp to discuss how and when to return, and how to plan for issues after the victory of the revolution.

One of these nights, Imam Khomeini said, "Tell all men who live in the building to come." Everyone gathered in Imam Khomeini's interview room. After thanking everyone for their efforts, Imam said, "You have no allegiance to me anymore. Come back to each country you have come from and continue your works, I will go to Iran alone in order if there is any risk, you will not be bothered." All cried at once, and everyone said something and it was heard that if we had thousands of lives, we would sacrifice them in your way and in the aspirations of the revolution. I remembered Hussein ibn Ali (AS) and his oppression at the night brfore Ashura. But devoted companions of Imam Hussein didn’t leave him alone and only those who had come for worldly concerns preferred to escape. But Imam's followers in Neauphle-le-Château, except for one, were all special and stayed with him and returned to Iran along with him.

Being aware of Imam Khomeini’s decision for returning to Iran, Bakhtiar wanted to dissuade him by raising different issues. And when he saw Imam's insistence, he began threatening and intimidating that if Imam steps in the airport, he would arrest him. And in the next few days he shut down the airport. But ultimately, with the increasing pressure of the people on the cracked body of the regime which inhaled the last breaths, Bakhtiar could not do anything and inevitably retreated a few steps every day; then it was announced that it is the time of departure.

One week before the date of Imam’s departure to Iran, it was announced that Bakhtiar had closed the airport. In the early morning, reporters from all over the world had gathered in the street in front of Imam’s house to find out what was Imam's view about returning to Iran and the closure of the airport. Imam came and talked to reporters and answered their questions. It was a strange scene; Imam said firmly and determinedly, "I will go to Iran next week, even though all the airports have been closed." At the same time, I noticed one of reporters was climbing the wall suspiciously. I went toward the wall hurriedly and threw the reporter down. Suddenly I felt a severe pain in my chest. Then one side of my body became numb and paralyzed. The friends realized what happened and took me quickly to the hospital.

I was treated by doctors in a few days. When I was discharged from ICU, I heard that Imam Khomeini and some of his friends and companions had departed to Tehran the same day or the next day. I was sure that in the event of my recovery, I would be in this caravan too. But I was worried about my illness. Mr. Ahmad Khomeini came to visit me in the hospital and said, "My father have ordered me to come and discharge you. We are going to Tehran tonight or tomorrow morning. But now, unfortunately, doctors said that your general condition is not favorable for flying and they do not allow you for flight."

Hearing Haj Ahmad’s words, I got very upset. For me, it was difficult to withstand this separation and to remain behind the caravan. Suddenly, I burst out crying. Seeing my crying brought tears to Haj Ahmad’s eyes. He said that he should ask Imam again what he had to do. But Imam had said that since doctor’s prescription was obligatory, I had to stay and endure.

The day Imam arrived Tehran, the doctor entered my room in the afternoon. I saw he was turning on the TV. “I have no interest in your TV programs,” I said, “please don’t turn it on.” He said to me with a laugh, “I want you to see the film of Ayatollah Khomeini.” I became agitated and burst into cry when I saw the scenes of Imam’s departure from Paris and his arrival in Tehran and warm welcoming of Iranian people of their leader. I wept bitterly and said to myself why I lagged behind this caravan of light and why I did not have any chance to accompany Imam, and I left behind the revolution flight. The doctor, who saw my deplorable state, regretted of what he had done and he said, "I wouldn’t turn it on, if I knew you would get upset and cry."

I was discharged about ten days later, but I should not do hard works. Except me, several other brothers, including brother Farhad and Hassan and a brother under the pseudonym of Jaffar, stayed there to settle remaining works. Jaffar had evacuated the house which was on the opposite side of Imam's house (that was No.2) and went to house No.3 in Paris. I also joined them.

At the first opportunity, I called Refah School where was Imam's residence and requested martyr Araghi to ask Imam’s permission for my move to Iran. Imam had said that I had to stay there, so if they did not succeed here or faced any problems, they had at least a system over there for propagandizing.

I was waiting impatiently for permission to move to Tehran. Although I was still in bed and spent recovery period, I still listened to the Arabic news of Radio Monte Carlo and the Persian news from Iran Radio. Every day the news became hotter and more exciting, and hearing them would double our wish for being with Imam and people in these sensational days.

On February 11^th 1979, I was on the second floor of the building. I heard "Allāhu akbar, Khomeini Rahbar"[2], as soon as I turned on the radio. I wondered, first I thought the radio wave had been manipulated. I called Dr. Farhadi, or brother Farhad, and asked if he had tampered with radio. He said, "No!" I listened again to radio and heard some sentences such as "Here is Iran", "The Voice of Iran Revolution", or "The Voice of Iranian Nation", and then the song of Iran victory was broadcasted; God knows how suddenly I screamed loudly! As the brothers thought that something had happened for me. They rushed upstairs terrified and saw me excited and pale. While I cried, I told them pantingly what I had heard. They also were overjoyed and laughed and even cried (!)

During the time, when we three or four were in Paris, we were regularly in contact with Refah School, and received news from them and then sent them to foreign media and news agencies.

To be continued…