Magazines Full of Takbir

Compiled by: Mahia Hafezi
Translated by: Fazel Shirzad

2024-8-22

The book "Magazines Full of Takbir"[1], the memoirs of Colonel Qoodrat Akhrian in 2022, with the number of 500 copies and 590 pages, has been published by the Foundation for the Preservation of Works and Publication of Sacred Defense Values ​​of West Azarbaijan Province. The interview and editing of this book was done by Jila Moradi, and on its cover, there is a picture of the narrator in Majnoon Island (1984) wearing a chemical mask.

The book begins with the narrator's handwriting and includes his memories from 1963 to 2021. After the introduction and foreword, 26 chapters including photos, documents and lists have been announced.

In order to write this book, forty 2-hour sessions and more than 85 supplementary and correction sessions were held over 2 years. The narrator was born in East Azerbaijan (Hashtrod). He was 2 years old when he immigrated to Urmia with his family. He heard the reason for the family's migration from his father as follows: "At that time, it seems that it was customary that the women of the village took turns doing the work of the Khan's house. When it comes to my mother, my father does not allow her to go there to do household chores. This issue causes tension between my father and Khan. Khan knew that if he passed easily, the rest of the villagers might do the same. He confiscates all my father's property and expels him from the village." Ravi was working in his brother's sewing workshop until the victory of the Islamic Revolution.

In the fall of 1978, the owner of the shop where he worked with his brother was listening to the radio. Narrator asked him what you are doing. He said I follow the news. He heard the name of Imam Khomeini in the news and asked Asgar Agha. After that, he follows the news and participates in the demonstration near the shop at the invitation of his mosque friend. In the end, fearing arrest, he reaches the shop barefoot. After that, he used to go to the Grand Mosque and was informed about the issues of the revolution.

After the victory of the revolution, the narrator really wanted to join the army. At the beginning of 1981, Mr. Hossein Alaei, who was the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Urmia at that time, gave a speech in the Jama Mosque. He asked the youth to join the army; even people who have not served in the military can apply. This was confirmed for the narrator to talk to the family.

After that, he says about the mission to Ahvaz and the front until leave and family: "The second time I returned home, Hamed was older and could sit. The third time, he was just learning to walk on all fours. The last time I came back from the south and Vasanandaj, Hamed was walking easily on all fours. When I went to him, he ran away from me. Our landlord named "Mash Jalal" had tears in his eyes when he saw this scene and said: “O brother, go on leave so that your children at least know you."

Later, at the Dezful base, he finds out that his father's house has been bombed by a phone call from his friend. The same night, he received a call from the battalion and he felt relieved about his family, but when he went to Urmia, it was as if dead soil had been scattered in the city. This description is also on the back cover of the book:

"The entire city was closed except for bakeries and essential places, and everyone took refuge in the surrounding villages. Three or four days had passed since the bombing. I walked to Vahdat Street. No one was on the street. From there, it was close to Gharamani Alley. I reached our alley. In the alley, one or two people put something in the back of a van and quickly left... I was wearing a paramilitary uniform. I had boots and a backpack. If anyone saw me, they would know that I had returned from the area. That's right, in front of our house on the street corner, a bomb fell on a Mazda and burned, and its skeleton was left there."

One week after the adoption of the resolution, in July 2017, they were playing in Patak area. The narrator says we should have answered. After the mini Katyusha ammunition ran out, Hamid kept pointing and asking for fire. He said to hit 10 wirelessly. I was saying it was understood. I sent 20. I said Allahu Akbar (takbir) every time. Even though we didn't have bullets and I was lying to him. I was just chanting and there was no mortar. Selmas battalion had our air from above and shot the bullets. I just kept them by saying Takbir.

Colonel Akhrian's important mission in 1995 was the polio vaccine project in Urmia. This plan belonged to the Ministry of Health and they agreed with the heads of the IRGC that it would be done with the participation of Basij. A battalion was formed and they did it with 25 groups of 10 people.

In the end, the narrator talked about the importance of family and said that even though I was only at home on holidays, I was not neglecting the education of my 2 sons and 2 daughters. He tried as much as possible not to let his children feel lack of love.