Fourth “Memory Night” Special Program with the Supreme Leader

Revival of Holy Defense Memories to Prevent False Narration of History

Translated by Natalie Haghverdian

2018-10-2

According to the Iran Oral History Site, “Memory Night” Special Program for the Holy Defense was held in the evening of 26 September 2018 in the Imam Khomeini Husseinieh.

Office of Information for the Preservation and Publication of the Works of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei reported that along with the Holy Defense Week and on the onset of Abadan freedom a group of commanders, veterans and soldiers and artists met with the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution.

At the beginning of the program, a number of Holy Defense veterans, shared their memories of “Resistance and Defense”, “Bravery and Faith” and “… and Martyrdom”.

Then, the Supreme Leader, in his speech expressed his sincere appreciation of those who committed to take the flag of revival for the memories and values of the Holy Defense and stated: A movement shall be settled to translate the written material and disseminate the art relics and movies of the Holy Defense to spread the message of faith and bravery and victory of the Iranian nation in the world.

Ayatollah Khamenei perceived the memoirs of the veterans and their families to be invaluable treasure and the capital of the Iranian nation and added: through revival of such treasures we shall prevent the side effects of false narration of the history of the Holy Defense.

He stated that the Holy Defense is the image of the status of the power equation in the world of governance and said: the veterans of the Holy Defense, drew a real picture of the wild and oppressive world stripped from any spirituality and justice at the time and this image has to be shared with the world.

The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution referred to the unequal status of the Iranian Nation against the invasive Baath enemy and reminded: during the Holy Defense while the Iranian Nation had access to minimum facilities and equipment and even barbed wire was not provided to them the opposing nation had access to modern artillery and even chemical weapons.

Ayatollah Khamenei added: "While today, the world slanders us for chemical weapons, the Western countries provided chemical weapons in the course of the imposed war to Saddam's regime to use it not only in the battlefields, but in cities like Sardasht”.

He emphasized that during this period, the Islamic Republic of Iran was not only exposed to economic and political sanctions, but also advertising; and the voice of the Iranian nation was not heard, and the world-wide media that was under the Zionist domination could do anything that could propagate against this nation.

The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution referred to the artillery support of the French and Germany to the Saddam’s regime and added: Why the French and the Germans should be unaware of what their governments did in the past eight years with the Iranian people?"

Ayatollah Khamenei stated that the world is unable to see the bright and scandalous image of oppression that the Iranian nation possess and stated: this is our negligence; since we haven’t done what can be done in the field of literature, cinema, theater, TV, newspapers and the virtual world to disseminate this image.

He added: However, little has been done in some cases with high commitment and despite its limited volume it has been effective.

Ayatollah Khamenei, referring to the importance and depth of the issues of the Holy Defense, added: "In some Western festivals, some Iranian films of lower professional quality than the Holy Defense films are screened, since they are afraid, because these films reveal the real reflection of the equation of power is in the world of domination.

He emphasized that literary and artistic works of the Holy Defense are a great and effective weapon and said: "Good literary works on Holy defense should be translated into the living languages of the world so that the people of the world know that in Abadan and Khorramshahr, in our operations and in Cities and villages, what happened and who the Iranian Nation is.

He added: "If effort is not made today to collect and add to the capital of the Holy Defense, the enemy will definitely narrate the war as it is his will, and this is a danger that everyone should take responsibility for."

The leader of the Islamic Revolution said: "The narratives of the Holy Defense shall crystallize the spirit of faith, selflessness, affection, and freedom of expression, as well as the invincible message of the Iranian people who were enthusiastic in the battlefield.

Ayatollah Khamenei said: "Today, if we listen to the message of the martyrs and the eight-year war, we will not be afraid and sad, but we will receive the message of bravery and courage and action."

He added: "If this is done properly, the comprehensive arrogance map will collapse," he said, emphasizing that the responsible authorities should seriously pursue the increase in the number of literary and artistic works of the Holy Defense.

The leader of the Islamic Revolution in the end emphasized: As in the early days of the revolution and during the sacred defense, the plot of arrogance to eradicate the revolutionary seedlings failed and was forced to retreat, it is now possible, with confidence in God and with determination and action, to overcome and eliminate this plan.

In this program, Hojjatoleslam Qomi, head of the Islamic Advertisement Organization, presented the shirt of Shahid Mohammad Taha Shah, the youngest four-year old martyr of the Ahwaz terrorist incident donated by his family to the Islamic Revolution Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.

The Leader of the Revolution paid tribute to this valuable gift, and urged the head of the organization to express his sincere greetings and appreciation to the family of this martyr child and the people of Ahwaz.

In this meeting, Morteza Sarghandi, founder of the Office of Literature and Art of Resistance, Morteza Babaei Khorasani, the Holy Defense warrior and the initiator of the bridge construction on the Arvand River, Amir Dariaad Abdullah Al-Manavi, the commander of the Sabalan destroyer and the author of the Holy Defense, the Holy War soldier Mousavi, Commander Raambakhsh Habibi, war veteran and veteran of the Holy Defense, Seyyed Massoud Shojaei, Revolutionary warrior and artist, Colonel Amir Ali Milani, war veteran, Sardar Hamid Sarkhili, Abadan deputy commander during the confinement of Abadan, Amir Brigadier General Saeed Purdarab, commander of the 21st Division of Hamza, Commander of the Brigadier General Nabiullah Rudaki, commander of the 19th Division Fajr Fars and Ms. Fatemeh Joushi, veteran and writer of the sacred defense, expressed their memories of the holy defense. Also, a number of veterans and writers of the Holy Defense presented their works to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution.

In this program, Maj. Gen. Bagheri, Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces, also reported on plans and activities aimed at preserving and promoting the culture and values of the Holy Defense.

The texts sent by the Office of Information for the Preservation and Publication of the Works of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on the words of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution in the fourth “Memory Night” program for the Holy Defense are as follows:

Leader of the Revolution: we have to take action in literature, cinema, theater, journalism and cyberspace. The latest video of Mr. Hatamikia was screened everywhere. Why not screened in Europe and Asia? Western festivals are afraid to show the Holy Defense films / we have to act and make films for our heroes; Hemmat, Bakery, and some of the prominent features of the Holy Defense heros. The world must know the greatness of these faces.

Leader of the Revolution: Today, the Westerners are sweeping up for the slander of chemical weapons, but on that day Saddam even used chemical weapons in the cities, and the same France, Germany and the Soviet Union helped that day. That day we were surrounded by political, economic and propaganda. Your voice is not getting anywhere. Now why do not the German and French people know what their government did in that eight years? Now they do not know, and this is our fault.

The Leader of the Revolution in the Memory Night Program: In the Holy Defense narration, the message of the invincibility of the Iranian nation must be crystallized. The war is a bitter matter, but the Qur'an gives the message of glory and grandeur from this incident: And they will be pleased with those who have not attacked them from behind, but fear for them, and they will not grieve; Today, if we hear the message of the martyrs, we will not be afraid and sad, and we will receive the message of bravery and courage and action.