Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (79)

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (79)Edited by Mohsen KazemiSoureh Mehr Publishing Company(Original Text in Persian, 2000)Translated by Mohammad Karimi Public MovesThe initiative by palls in Islamic Councils Coalition and INP in making contacts with me after my freedom and their vast spiritual support saved me from the danger of losing my believes and getting back to the struggle. As Ayatollah Khamenei said: “…people are moving…”, the best scene in the struggles were being made by people without any affiliation to any group, sect or organization.The years 1978 and 1979 were the peak of revolutionary activities by people. I freed myself as a drop in this ocean. The presence of the youth in different aspects was something so interesting to me. In 1979 it was the people who said the last word, not a group or...

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (78)

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (78)Edited by Mohsen KazemiSoureh Mehr Publishing Company(Original Text in Persian, 2000)Translated by Mohammad Karimi Remarriage From the very early days after my freedom, in all the meetings and gathering I had, I was eager to hear something about Fatima; news that may clarify what had happened to her. I was deeply thoughtful about whatever that had passed to us. Some of my relative and friends had identified my confusion and perplexity. They would console me.My mother in law was the one who would come to visit me more than others but saying not a word about Fatima. I thought that she might have some news about her but she did not like to say anything. I waited till the time that there were less visits. My mother in law was a believing woman and was always suspected by SAVAK. She was...

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (77)

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (77)Edited by Mohsen KazemiSoureh Mehr Publishing Company(Original Text in Persian, 2000)Translated by Mohammad Karimi Carpet Shop Three weeks after my freedom, Haj Yousef Rashidi –one of INP pals of mine- called me and said: “Ahmad! You should not stay at home. You should work. I have a shop near to Emamzadeh Ma’soum at Qapan Siding. Go and sit there.”I said: “I have disabled legs; how could I move and work there?” He said: “That shop is my brother’s. I am your associate. Do not worry. You should just sit and do not care about anything.” I said: “Oh God! They will shut your shop. Your brother and you would be jobless then.” He said: “It’s not your business! Just go there. At least you may find a circle for making contacts with other comrades.” I said:...

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (76)

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (76)Edited by Mohsen KazemiSoureh Mehr Publishing Company(Original Text in Persian, 2000)Translated by Mohammad Karimi Hope MelodiesDefeated Plot I analyzed the situation as SAVAK aimed to crush my nerves and force me into a mental war. They repeatedly had not succeeded in defeating or crushing me in previous prisons by tortures and interrogations. SAVAK had concluded that my presence in prison was a sign of hope and strong soul for other prisoners. It would also persuade the strugglers out of prison to take revenge. So, they freed me in a very calculated plot to reach two goals. The first goal was to engage me in a mental dilemma and pretend to my friends that I had cooperated with SAVAK. The second goal of SAVAK was to know and indentify the people who might have contacts with me....

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (75)

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (75)Edited by Mohsen KazemiSoureh Mehr Publishing Company(Original Text in Persian, 2000)Translated by Mohammad Karimi Freedom and Boycott DelusionIn my previous imprisonments, despite all the tortures and interrogations and trails, I hoped to be free and continue my struggle. But this time it was different; no tortures, no interrogations, no trails and no hope. I was mixed up mentally and quite depressed. My body was so weak and my legs were hurt. Uncertainty about my fate and also Fatima conditions had occupied my mind and bothering me.They took me to the interrogation room but there was no sign of threat, torture or beating. They just advised me (as they would say it) and sometimes promising my freedom. I did not know the reason behind this behavior and floundering in ambiguity....

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (74)

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (74)Edited by Mohsen KazemiSoureh Mehr Publishing Company(Original Text in Persian, 2000)Translated by Mohammad Karimi The Unforgettable Day of VisitThe visiting days in prison had a quite different feeling. After visiting families the prisoners would become more determined and patient. So my friends would ask me to let them inform my family to visit me. But I did not like to because I thought that I would be executed.Ayatollah Teleghani’s granddaughter, A’zam Khanom’s daughter who was 15 years old would come to visit her mother and grandpa repeatedly. During one of these visits, Agha introduced me to her in order to take my health news out of prison. Once I remember the late Taleghani said: “Mr. Ahmad let them inform your family to come and visit you. Many things may happen;...

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (73)

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (73)Edited by Mohsen KazemiSoureh Mehr Publishing Company(Original Text in Persian, 2000)Translated by Mohammad Karimi Ayatollah Motazeri and Ayatollah Taleghani in Evin PrisonAyatollah Montazeri, Ayatollah Modarressifar and I were in the same cell. Mr. Montazeri's had a special kind of personality and behavior. He had been misbehaved and tolerated a lot of tortures in prison. Since we were in the same room I would witness the miserable behavior they had with him. Mr. Montazeri had a simple earnest personality. There were sometimes people who would make conversations with him to have fun. . He would talk to them a sweet Najafabadi accent. He would take the religious commands easy for others and hard for himself. He had shown a great resistance to tortures. I saw that he would...

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (72)

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (72)Edited by Mohsen KazemiSoureh Mehr Publishing Company(Original Text in Persian, 2000)Translated by Mohammad Karimi Evin, Row No.1 In the middle of February the agents came and made me blindfolded and took me along without saying anything. I guessed I would be shot by death squad. I was saying my Shahadatain (religious phrases that a Muslim should say before death).On the way they removed what was on my eyes. I saw the prisoners moving around. They were talking together and looking at me as new comer. I asked where was there. They said it was Row No.1 of Evin. I was surprised why they had moved me out of solitary confinement to a public row. When the guards left, I saw somebody was coming to me. Rahim Banaee hugged me. He was from a Marxist group that I knew him right there in...

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (71)

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (71)Edited by Mohsen KazemiSoureh Mehr Publishing Company(Original Text in Persian, 2000)Translated by Mohammad Karimi Evin Prison The day after Eid-ul-Fitr I was told to ready to go to prison. First I called Mrs. Moslehi and thank her for her helps during those days particularly for the help she did to keep me there in the hospital in Ramadan; she thanked me I prayed for her a lot.Before leaving, Faramarzi –SAVAK torturer- came and told the agents not to close my eye and take via the newly constructed freeways and bridges to see how progressed had become the country. He said that I had been in hospital and was not aware of anything.I could not walk by those disabled legs and had to use a cane. Before leaving I made plan. I thought that I would be executed. I decided to hit on...

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (70)

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (70)Edited by Mohsen KazemiSoureh Mehr Publishing Company(Original Text in Persian, 2000)Translated by Mohammad Karimi Ramadan in Hospital It was about five months that I had been bedridden in Shahrbani Hospital. It was getting closer to Ramadan that SAVAK asked the hospital to afford the arrangements for my transference to prison. The hospital advised that I still needed more treatments and I had to stay there more. They said it was enough if I could stay by a crane. I understood what they wanted. I was sad that their decision was going to happen at the brink of Ramadan. I asked God to do me a favor and keep me there another month. I wanted to fast relaxingly. I knew that outside the hospital I would be tortured and even executed.The supervisor of that section in the hospital was...
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Book Review

Kak-e Khak

The book “Kak-e Khak” is the narration of Mohammad Reza Ahmadi (Haj Habib), a commander in Kurdistan fronts. It has been published by Sarv-e Sorkh Publications in 500 copies in spring of 1400 (2022) and in 574 pages. Fatemeh Ghanbari has edited the book and the interview was conducted with the cooperation of Hossein Zahmatkesh.

Is oral history the words of people who have not been seen?

Some are of the view that oral history is useful because it is the words of people who have not been seen. It is meant by people who have not been seen, those who have not had any title or position. If we look at oral history from this point of view, it will be objected why the oral memories of famous people such as revolutionary leaders or war commanders are compiled.

Daily Notes of a Mother

Memories of Ashraf-al Sadat Sistani
They bring Javad's body in front of the house. His mother comes forward and says to lay him down and recite Ziarat Warith. His uncle recites Ziarat and then tells take him to the mosque which is in the middle of the street and pray the funeral prayer (Ṣalāt al-Janāzah) so that those who do not know what the funeral prayer is to learn it.

A Critique on Oral history of War Commanders

“Answering Historical Questions and Ambiguities Instead of Individual-Organizational Identification”
“Oral history of Commanders” is reviewed with the assumption that in the field of war historiography, applying this method is narrated in an advancing “new” way, with the aim of war historiography, emphasizing role of commanders in creation of its situations and details.