SABAH (37)

Memoirs of Sabah Vatankhah

After the transfer of prisoners from the mosque, the Sepah soldiers paraded in front of the mosque for half an hour using the Iraqi trophy vehicles and tanks. We also thanked them with uttering Takbir. We were sitting in the yard of the mosque with friends and Dr. Saadat and were dividing the medication that we had received from people or those that friends had gathered from stricken drug stores in Fakhre Razi Street.

SABAH (36)

Memoirs of Sabah Vatankhah

All other soldiers had the same condition and were in dire need of clothes and shoes. Mostly their trousers were torn in the knees since they had lots of activities and the fabric was worn out. I had even seen soldiers in the fronts wearing slippers. There were some who took them off and walked bare foot! The dire situation of soldiers ached my heart. I had even given my shoes to ...

SABAH (35)

Memoirs of Sabah Vatankhah

As the situation got calmer, two three soldiers decided to move the injured soldier one more time. Abbas Alivand and Hassan Sorkhou and I set our weapons to fire and set a fire line for the others. Under the cover of the fire line, the soldiers could move their friends out of a water stream with utmost care. He was shot in the stomach and had lost a lot of blood.

SABAH (34)

Memoirs of Sabah Vatankhah

I had seen Hassan Sorkhou in the mosque during the recent days. He was one of the members of Abouzar group. I did not know why they called him Sorkhou, was it because of his red facial skin or it was his family name. When he wore khaki clothes, he was exactly like US or Israeli soldiers. Abbas Alivand was one of those forces who took food and water for the soldiers in the fronts.

SABAH (33)

Memoirs of Sabah Vatankhah

It was the morning of late September. It was still dark when a house near the mosque was raided. Elaheh and I ran towards the explosion site. The explosion came from Fakhre Razi Street. There were many old houses in that street. We entered the street. A few meters away, the door of a house had fallen off and landed a few meters away. At the entrance of the house, a few children ...

SABAH (32)

Memoirs of Sabah Vatankhah

I gazed at the nurse mouth. I came to myself hearing my mom crying. I turned back and saw my mom and Shahnaz standing above two corpses and crying. I went to them. Both Shahnazes were martyred; Shahnaz Mohammadi and Shahnaz Haji Shah. Shahnaz Mohammadi was lying there on her stomach in the hall and Shahnaz Haji Shah was lying on her back. They were both covered by their chadors.

SABAH (31)

Memoirs of Sabah Vatankhah

Zahra agreed with laughter. After Mahmoud Farrokhi mediated, the young man went to the medical box which was in the corner of the yard and started dividing the medicines. Then, when it was time for evening prayer, he went into a corner and said his prayers and returned to his task. When he wanted to sleep, he took off his white suit and wore a brown blouse and trouser as nightwear and ...

SABAH (30)

Memoirs of Sabah Vatankhah

We walked towards Hosseyniyeh. When we arrived, nobody was there. Mahmoud Farrokhi said: “Sister Sabbah, it might be that you had a strong discussion with them yesterday and they found out that you might know things about them and felt insecure and threatened and left the place.” Behrouz Moradi confirmed his words. I said: “I don’t know exactly. Maybe this is the case.” Mahmoud Farrokhi said: “by the way, thank you for informing us.

SABAH (29)

Memoirs of Sabah Vatankhah

I did not have a good impression from her since she had disgraced the mosque by spitting and using inappropriate words although she was right. When she came to herself, people asked her name and she said that her name is Zahra and is from Khorramshahr. We asked:” what were you doing during the last few days?” she said: “wherever there was an explosion, I went and collected the corpses and took them to Jannat Abad.

SABAH (28)

Memoirs of Sabah Vatankhah

The Iraqi planes started their attacks from midnight. We could not rest for even a second in the mosque. Many injured were brought in. Khalil was busy the whole time. I stood by his side and did whatever I could. I heard from injured soldiers that the Dezh garrison is falling. They said that seven Iraqi tanks have invaded the city from Khorramshahr border. The Guard Corps members have blown the Khorramshahr Bridge ...