Sincere Meeting of the Student Outside the Country with Imam in Paris

Translated by Ruhollah Golmoradi

2022-12-6

Following the meeting between security officials of Iran with Saadoon Shaker in Baghdad and implementing the agreement among foreign ministers of three countries of America, Iraq, and Iran, Iraqi authorities decided to expel Imam. Heading and hegira to Paris by Imam brought a new phase in the history of Iranian Revolution.

A massive protest was held by members of Union of Islamic Student Associations in Bonn against laying siege to Imam by Iraqis ten days before. The demonstration, attended by some followers of Confederation of Iranian Students National Union, aimed at protest against Iraq’s embassy in Bonn, and expressing our hatred of measure by Iraqi Ba’athists in service of USA and Shah of Iran as well as complete support for Muslim Iranian People and Prisoners. …

At the time, the annual congress of Union of Islamic Student Associations in Europe was held in Germany, Hagen. The first day of the congress was started with reading received messages and report (that I presented as I was in charge of international relations of the Union) of the process of the country’s past developments and its future perspective as well as the report by Reza Safaee, who was in charge of the Union’s financial affairs, and it was almost the evening that the meeting had a break for a quarter. After continuing the meeting, Mr. Mohammad Jafari who headed the meeting of general assembly asked the cultural and publication secretary, Mr. Alizadeh, that present performance report of the last year, when I was asked to answer the telephone.

The caller was Dr. Hassan Habibi that informed Imam had head from Najaf to Kuwait, and now there was a problem in entering the country….

Announcing this news caused the congress lose its natural state. It was supposed to cancel the meeting temporarily in order to acquire quite information from Imam situation and his plans.

To this end, I returned to Bochum so that I could acquire necessary information through phone contact and transfer to the congress custodian.

After clearing Imam situation and announcing that he would be in Paris tomorrow, the congress cancelled temporarily, and it was supposed to hold the special session three months later in Aachen.

The day after Imam arrived Paris, representatives of the Union’s congress (that was cancelled temporarily) had come to Paris and visited Imam. While Imam had prepared to have a rest after launch, when Mr. Ahmad [(Imam’s son)] told the gentlemen are new secretaries of the Union, he accepted them. The students, who had spent the two last days with worry for Imam and that they saw themselves before Imam in a sincere gathering, cried inevitably and were shocked. To end the state and heavy emotional atmosphere, I told Imam if you are in good mood explain what happened that you headed to Paris. He first told me do you have anything to entertain the gentlemen? The guys, who had been exited out of this intimacy, said your talks is the best entertainment for us. Before the imam started speaking, Mr. Mohammad Kiarashi, who was in charge of driving and transporting Imam to Nofel Loshato and managing the kitchen in the first days, said we have prepared tea for the brothers and sisters. Imam said in a humble manner, although you are my guests, but I do not have the means to entertain; then, he turned to me and Mr. Ahmed, said something sweet, and then told the story of their decision to migrate to Paris:

The Iraqi authorities warned me that they could not tolerate my activities because of their relations with the Iranian regime. I answered them if you have responsibilities towards the government of Iran, I am also responsible towards Islam and the Iranian nation, and I must fulfill my divine and spiritual duty... If I stayed, I would have felt guilty before the Iranian nation. But I can't remain indifferent...

Source: Tabatabaee, Sadegh (2008), Political-Social Memories of Dr. Sadegh Tabatabaee [in Perisan: Khaterat-e Siasi-Ejtemaee-e Doctor Sadegh Tabatabaee], vol. 1, The Student Movement, Tehran: Orouj Publications.