Deceiving the Officers in the Dress of Eulogy
Compiled by: Islamic Revolution Website
Translated by: Fazel Shirzad
2024-8-16
In 1974, when the internal events of »the People's Mojahedin Organization« had not yet been revealed, the vitality and mobility of religious students was higher than others, especially during [month] Muharram. Anyway, we continued the programs day and night of Ashura 1974. From announcements of pouring inside mosques and shrines to demonstrations in the distance of mourning processions. We usually went to Jalili, Amir al-Momenini, Javid, Qaba mosques and wherever SAVAK was not closed yet. At a certain moment, we would cut off the electricity in the building or wait for the eulogy and natural blackout, and then the leaflets that were carried inside the shoes or undergarments would be distributed. On Ashura of that year, with "Alireza Honarabakhsh, Alireza Emami and Javad Sediq", we organized a student demonstration with anti-regime slogans in the distance from Cyrus Street to the Shah Mosque. The guard violently attacked and beat and arrested Javad Sadiq (science student) in front of our eyes. I myself managed to escape from the clutches of one of the guards that day. The guards on one side and the SAVAK on the other side were chasing us next to each other with chest and chain slings. We had no choice but to escape into the ranks of the delegation. Suddenly a thought flashed in my mind. I saw myself next to a young chanter who was singing a lamentation for the chained women with a tired voice. I immediately said that the reward is with Imam Hussein (PBUH), you are very tired, let me help you, and I started singing "Zainab Mutaram, goodbye, goodbye, my sister's kindness, goodbye, and goodbye" in front of the microphone! Of course, I had experience in this matter from the past. It happened that the attackers either didn't find me or they didn't realize that eulogist is me.[1]
[1] Source: From University of Tehran to Savak torture camp: the narrative of student struggles and the story of the joint anti-sabotage committee, interview with Jalal Rafi, Tehran, Ebrat Museum of Iran, 2014, pp. 52-53.
Number of Visits: 1748
The latest
- Obstacles, Limitations, and New Horizons
- Third Regiment: Memoirs of an Iraqi Prisoner of War Doctor – 11
- 100 Questions/10
- The 23rd Commemoration Ceremony of the Martyrs of the Ansar al-Rasul Battalion Held
- A Narrative of Pakistani Pedestrian Pilgrims of Arbaeen in Sistan and Baluchestan
- Oral History Methodology/National Archives and Library Organization of Iran, Archives Research Institute
- Third Regiment: Memoirs of an Iraqi Prisoner of War Doctor – 10
- 100 Questions/9
Most visited
- Oral History Methodology/National Archives and Library Organization of Iran, Archives Research Institute
- 100 Questions/9
- Third Regiment: Memoirs of an Iraqi Prisoner of War Doctor – 10
- A Narrative of Pakistani Pedestrian Pilgrims of Arbaeen in Sistan and Baluchestan
- The 23rd Commemoration Ceremony of the Martyrs of the Ansar al-Rasul Battalion Held
- 100 Questions/10
- Third Regiment: Memoirs of an Iraqi Prisoner of War Doctor – 11
- Obstacles, Limitations, and New Horizons
100 Questions/6
We asked several researchers and activists in the field of oral history to express their views on oral history questions. The names of each participant are listed at the beginning of their answers, and the text of all answers will be published on this portal by the end of the week. The goal of this project is to open new doors to an issue and promote scientific discussions in the field of oral history.The Importance of Pre-Publication Critique of Oral History Works
According to the Oral History website, a meeting for critique and review of the book “Oral History: Essence and Method” was held on Monday morning, November 10, 2025, with the attendance of the book’s author, Hamid Qazvini, and the critics Mohammad Qasemipour and Yahya Niazi, at the Ghasr-e Shirin Hall of the National Museum of the Islamic Revolution and Sacred Defense.Challenges of Interviewing in Oral History
After years of studying the theoretical foundations of oral history, conducting numerous interviews and going through their post-interview stages, as well as reading the available body of oral history literature, I was eventually given the opportunity to evaluate the edited versions of dozens of oral history projects.Comparing the Narratives of Commanders and Ordinary Combatants in the Sacred Defense
An Analysis of Functions and ConsequencesThe experience of the Sacred Defense cannot be comprehended merely through statistics or official reports; what truly endures from war are the narratives of those who stood upon its frontlines. These narratives, however, vary significantly depending on one’s position, responsibilities, and lived experience.
