SABAH (27)

Memoirs of Sabah Vatankhah

Although the commuting of Iraqi planes above Khorramshahr increased during night, the situation was calmer after ten pm and the Iraqi artillery was less active. Therefore, we could go out of the mosque to renew our ablution easily. I had had no shower in the past few days. My clothes were dirty, covered in soil and blood. During the first two days, in different rescue operation, when blood was pouring from the body of the

SABAH (26)

Memoirs of Sabah Vatankhah

The city was gradually growing empty. Those who had stayed had nowhere to go. They all left the city with the hope of coming back in the next few days. Many people like, khahar Rana, daughter-in-law of Elaheh’s uncle, did not even take their jewelry and had hid their valuables in the washing machine. They considered their houses as the safest place. The sound of the blast and five-fives did not stop for even a second.

SABAH (25)

Memoirs of Sabah Vatankhah

Thanks God! They were frightened by the blast waves but were unharmed. Mahnazs sister was a beautiful girl with long blond straight hair, which were down her waist. Although the poor girl was frightened and shaking, but she kept saying to her sister: “those men can see my hair. I could not cover myself.” Mahnaz hugged and caressed her. I tied my chador under my chin and gave her my scarf and helped her wear it.

SABAH (24)

Memoirs of Sabah Vatankhah

Jameh mosque was very crowded. Families, holding their wraps of clothing in hand were sitting anxiously and terrified in a corner of the yard and seraglio of the mosque. Most of them were poor families. There was a strange humming in the mosque. People, confused and terrified, were looking for a solution to save themselves of this disaster. Neither the mosque nor the houses were safe anymore. We did not know how ...

SABAH (23)

Memoirs of Sabah Vatankhah

We returned home when we were finished. Auntie wanted to make fish for lunch. She had already brought the fish called Zobeidi out of freezer and started preparing the rice. When the fish was defrosted Fouziyeh and Nahid dumped it in special flour and fried it. Auntie Maryam was a lux and chic person. She always had a calm life void of any tension. She was rich too.

SABAH (22)

Memoirs of Sabah Vatankhah

Mosadegh hospital was at the end of Chehel Metri Avenue and near the river. Prior to the Revolution, it was called Khombeh hospital. The hospital was a one-story building with brick façade. It had a big iron door that opened to a green area. On the right hand was the morgue and the emergency was facing the main entrance of the building. I never thought I would see such an image in the hospital.

SABAH (21)

Memoirs of Sabah Vatankhah

He was traveling from Tehran. According to him, he was not told if his sons were martyred or wounded. They had only told him to get to Khuzestan as soon as possible. My mom wiped her tears. She was an emotional woman. She was trying to comfort this impatient father but could not control herself. Mom and Mohsen bought lentils with rice for dinner. We pressured the old man to have dinner but he refused. He could not eat anything.

SABAH (20)

Memoirs of Sabah Vatankhah

Summer of 1980 was uneventful. My only activity was to attend the Islamic Rules (Ahkam) classes held in the Bureau of Islam Advocacy. I attended the classes with Shahnaz. Shahnaz showed more interest in Ahkam and religious topics and decided to go to seminary in Qom to continue her studies. My parents disagreed with her going to the seminary in Qom or any other city.

SABAH (19)

Memoirs of Sabah Vatankhah

One of the topics we discussed about was the massive killing of Muslims by Stalin; a horrible crime, which happened in Russia due to resistance against Communism belief by Muslims and thousands of innocent men and women, were killed in one day. We asked for a justification for this crime. What kind of a dictatorship do you follow? They never had anything to say to convince us.

SABAH (18)

Memoirs of Sabah Vatankhah

Among the members of Jihad there were Maryam Kohandel and Fariba Toghrol; my classmates in Farah and Irandokht high schools. Fariba and I were classmates for four years. I met Maryam Amjadi after the victory of the Revolution and in the high school’s Islamic Association meetings. Maryam was a student in Khorramshahr Jame high school and I was studying in Irandokht high school. When we had meetings in our schools, the revolutionary members ...