Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (23)

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (23)Edited by Mohsen KazemiSoureh Mehr Publishing Company(Original Text in Persian, 2000)Translated by Mohammad Karimi Islamic Community and the Marxists Commune in Prison What we had in Prison No. 3 was a picture of an Islamic Community. Whatever that someone would like for himself would like it for others and what he would not like for himself would not like it for the others as well. Brotherhood and unity were seen in all levels. We had no financial dependency in the prison. If someone had something it belonged to all the brothers.  And if somebody needed something the others would give him. It was the utopia we were looking for. Prison was a chance to test Islamic ideas practically. Islamic Community was an ideal goal and prison was a chance to experience it.55 INP members...

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (22)

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (22)Edited by Mohsen KazemiSoureh Mehr Publishing Company(Original Text in Persian, 2000)Translated by Mohammad Karimi Prison No. 3After about 4 months, they sent me to Prison No. 3 where the other INP members were held as political prisoners. There, we had fewer problems because of being beside other friends who were all political. Something that I should narrate here are the stories of honoring resistance of our palls.Days and nights at prison were the same. In order to flee from this condition we had scheduled our time. I dare to say that we had no misused time. From dawn to sunset we had filled our time by worship, prayers, classes, discussions, news analysis, cleaning and … Mr. Anvari had two kinds of classes; a public one and a professional one. And Mr. Hojjati Kermani had...

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (21)

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (21)Edited by Mohsen KazemiSoureh Mehr Publishing Company(Original Text in Persian, 2000)Translated by Mohammad Karimi Prison No. 2, Row No. 4Our deadline was going to be over and we were ready to go on hunger strike. Major Teymouri came and said: “Don not think that we are frightened of your threat; since there some room is being freed, we are taking you to Prison No. 3. However, 3 people should go to Prison No. 2. Thus, two people and I went to row No. 4 in Prison No. 2 and the rest were taken to Prison No.3.They had transferred the INP leader and some central committee members to this row. Ayatollah Mohiyeddin Anvari, Sheik Fazlollah Mahalati and Haj Ali Noori were among other prisoners in this row who were completely aware of our resistance in Prison No. 1. When we entered they...

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (20)

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (20)Edited by Mohsen KazemiSoureh Mehr Publishing Company(Original Text in Persian, 2000)Translated by Mohammad Karimi Qasr PrisonWhen the trail was over they transferred us to Qasr Prison (1) on Thursday. There, they separated 15 of us whose verdicts were  death, life or long imprisonment sentences and sent them first to a newly constructed school and then to a big but dirty room where coal was kept. This room was the old visiting room of the 1st row. They wanted to move us to Prison No. 1 during the next days. Since I was familiar with that prison because of my brother’s presence there, I told the pals that Prison No.1 is for ordinary prisoners and the atmosphere there is immoral. Some others approved what I told. So, we decided to confront in case if being sent there. They...

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (19)

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (19)Edited by Mohsen KazemiSoureh Mehr Publishing Company(Original Text in Persian, 2000)Translated by Mohammad Karimi         INP Members TrialIn late January, after a hundred days of silent in the press, the regime broadcasted the news about INP members arrest along with great propaganda. My picture was printed on the first page of Ettela’at and Keyhan newspapers (Documents no.1 & 2)     By the propaganda in the press, our pals found out the trials were so near. So, they gathered together and consulted each other about their defense in the court. It became almost clear for each of us how begin, rise and finish our defense.  All of us agreed that each person should only defend himself and do not accept the deeds by others. So, the...

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (18)

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (18)Edited by Mohsen KazemiSoureh Mehr Publishing Company(Original Text in Persian, 2000)Translated by Mohammad Karimi Jamshidiyeh PrisonOn early days of January, all INP members were transferred to the prison of Jamshidiyeh Garrison. This prison had better equipment such as a big hall, double or triple stairs beds, blankets and heater.There were two prisons, one for the officers and one for the soldiers. We were prisoned in soldiers’. The central cadres were in a separated cell. That winter is a memorable one for all of us. Because of cold weather the heaters were on. They would burn coal and this matter had its own troubles. I remember that we had to open heater’s door to feed it with coal and whenever we would open it, there was a lot of black smoke coming out. Then we had to...

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (17)

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (17)Edited by Mohsen KazemiSoureh Mehr Publishing Company(Original Text in Persian, 2000)Translated by Mohammad Karimi Temporary Custody of the Police The Police Custody had a round courtyard and a three-storey building around that yard. They had put a group in each cell, but the ones who had resisted, including me, had put in solitary confinement. My cell had a window opening to the courtyard. The guards were so rude and bad-tempered. They behave with us as we were wild animals. For example when they wanted to give our food, first they would look inside the cell and wait until the prisoner would go far from the door and then he would open the door slowly and put this of food behind the door and close it fast.The trousers that I had were not easy to wear. One day, the guard that my...

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (16)

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (16)Edited by Mohsen KazemiSoureh Mehr Publishing Company(Original Text in Persian, 2000)Translated by Mohammad Karimi INP UncoveredDuring early days of my arrest, I could not find the reason behind uncovering INP; later I found it in prison.Mr. Mohammad Baqer Senobari, a new INP member, was so enthusiastic in expanding the party and was so active. In a mission in the city, he had asked an individual to swear for the activity in the party; but that person would not appear for the meeting. Senobari who had waited till night darkness would go to a monastery in order to save his time. He remains there till late that night and when coming out of there, the police agents became suspicious to him quite accidentally and after some chase and flee he is arrested. He had a bag containing papers...

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (15)

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (15)Edited by Mohsen KazemiSoureh Mehr Publishing Company(Original Text in Persian, 2000)Translated by Mohammad Karimi AmbiguitiesWhen we reached the police office, they did not take me to my brother and we were separated. It seemed my brother had understood from their talks that the problem was with me. An hour later they would tall my brother that he could go. He had asked: “What will happen to my brother?” they had told him: “He is guest of us for a long time. You can go.” Haj Mehdi had told them: “He is young and doesn’t understand. He has done nothing and if he has done something wrong, it has been just because of his youngness; he did not mean to." They had told him: "He has done something that you not think of. Go, we will send him later."When Haj Mehdi found out how...

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (14)

Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (14)Edited by Mohsen KazemiSoureh Mehr Publishing Company(Original Text in Persian, 2000)Translated by Mohammad Karimi  Marriage “No!”, Arrest “Yes!”Being a teacher and working with the children were my personal interests. So, political activity was not an impediment for keeping these interests.I was teaching sports in several schools and had contacts with many teachers and students. It was necessary for me to keep Islamic behavior as a good Muslim believer. It was a kind of positive propaganda for Islam. In an atmosphere that sin, iniquity and corruption had occupied all the ranks of regime, my behavior was obviously observed. All the people around, particularly the unveiled ladies would react with other men in relax and easy going way, but when talking to me they would...
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The Necessity of Receiving Feedback in Oral History

Whenever we engage in a task, we naturally seek ways to evaluate our performance — to correct shortcomings and enhance strengths. Such refinement is only possible through the feedback we receive from others. Consider, for instance, a basketball player whose shots are consistently accurate; should he begin shooting blindfolded, his success rate would rapidly decline, as he would be deprived of essential feedback from each attempt.
Book Review

Sir Saeed

The book “Sir Saeed” is a documentary [narrative] of the life of martyr Seyyed Mohammad Saeed Jafari, written by Mohammad Mehdi Hemmati and published by Rahiyar Publications. In March 2024, this book was recognized as one of the selected documentary biographies in the 21st edition of the Sacred Defense Book of the Year Award. The following text is a review on the mentioned book.

Morteza Tavakoli Narrates Student Activities

I am from Isfahan, born in 1336 (1957). I entered Mashhad University with a bag of fiery feelings and a desire for rights and freedom. Less than three months into the academic year, I was arrested in Azar 1355 (November 1976), or perhaps in 1354 (1975). I was detained for about 35 days. The reason for my arrest was that we gathered like-minded students in the Faculty of Literature on 16th of Azar ...

A narration from the event of 17th of Shahrivar

Early on the morning of Friday, 17th of Shahrivar 1357 (September 17, 1978), I found myself in an area I was familiar with, unaware of the gathering that would form there and the intense reaction it would provoke. I had anticipated a march similar to previous days, so I ventured onto the street with a tape recorder I had brought back from my recent trip abroad.