Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (66)

Edited by Mohsen Kazemi


Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (66)
Edited by Mohsen Kazemi
Soureh Mehr Publishing Company
(Original Text in Persian, 2000)
Translated by Mohammad Karimi


“The Relief is so close”

The late Andarzgou would gather together and connect to each other the Muslim kindred spirits to reinforce the activities. So he introduced the late Majid Tavassoli Hojati (1) to me with the pseudonym of Meysam to cooperate with him in Movahedin Group. Andarzgou said: “Ahmad! All of them are young and separated members of MKO. They were not active there as much as you were; they have been only sympathizers. Make a group with them and try not getting involved in any conflict. Right now, you should only try to save yourselves.”
Meysam and I had few sessions together and discussed our ideological ideas and expressed our common ideological positions and the struggle strategy. Meysam was a believing enthusiastic Muslim. He was about 24 and an athlete. He showed to be a clever and competent man.
During those early meetings, the late Andarzgou said: “Ahmad! They [Meysam and his friends] know some people around the country and Tehran. They have some facilities to be used. I should go [to Najaf] to visit Agha [Ayatollah Khomeini]. In my absence, take care of everything.” I said: “Haj Agha! I am tired. Take me along too.” He said: “No, Ahmad! You should be here and take care.” Then I said: “So let be with you for the next trip.” He accepted and then went to Najaf.
The late Andarzgou returned in March 1976 from Najaf. Maysam and I went to visit him in a park [Khayyam] in Eqbal Street. After greetings and giving the reports, I asked: “Haj Agha! Did you get the permission for us to go abroad?” He said: “I delivered your message to his holiness. Agha said that it is not needed. The relief is so close. You should take care of yourself….” I became silent. As a matter of fact I did not get what the holy Imam meant by that sentence because we did not expect to see a miracle; however, it took three years that Islamic Revolution Sun shined over Iran and we Dubelieved his glad tidings.
During that meeting, the late Andarzgou presented very important matters for us; including forming a group with the separated members of MKO. He talked about the unity among the comrades and necessity of following a unique leader [Imam Khomeini]. He criticized the events in MKO. I defended pioneers of MKO and mentioned if they were alive now, these misleading events would never happen in MKO. Andarzgou said: “Ahmad! Anyway they have passed away now; however, it is not clear if they were alive now, they were not worse. [And what a destiny they might have.]”
This session of discussion with Andarzgouis one of the most remembering andinstructive memories in my life. His guidance and instructions were really crucial and gave me new reasons to continue my struggle.
Other than Meysam I had contacts with Mohammad Mohammadi Fateh (Saeed’s brother) and the late Andarzgou was aware of my contacts. He was also a separated MKO sympathizer. Thus, I made contacts with a group of Muslim comrades who were partly students and active in different counties. There was a student among Meysam’s friends who was not hidden yet. He had a big black pimple on his left cheek and it was a mark that would make him easily identifiable.
In the first session that I was present among Meysam's friends, I spoke about security matters and appointments knowhow and then I told this student: “It is better for you not to come for the appointments and just follow your studies at university; and whenever we were arrested you should instantly leave university and hide somewhere. You have a big pimple on your face and it makes it so easy to be identified.” He became a little upset because of these sentences. But it was anessential decision for his safety.
They asked me to go along with them to county for organizational, martial and defending trainings. It was impossible for me. I argued for them: “County is a small place and people would be identified so soon. But Tehran is a big city and everything can be lost in it.” They insisted, but I did not accept. I advised them not to go to county. Then I suggested only one of them call me because of the dangers that might be for me. I knew having vast contacts would increase the possibility of defeat or risks. They accepted. Then we chose an alley for our appointments and a sign to show our health.
Then after we had a meeting every week with the Tehran branch of this group for a short period and we would give and get the news and information.

Betray…

By the advice of the late Andarzgou, I called Farhad Safa, Mohsen Tarighat and their branch to separate from MKO and told them that I would support them. Farhad said: "Ahmad! If we cut from MKO we would be hurt very soon." I said: "I secure your safeness, arms and ammunition." He asked: "How could you manage to give us arms?" I said: "It is not your business." Whatever I insisted, Farhad answered disappointedly. He was also trying to absorb me to their branch. So, we did not reach to any conclusion.
Farhad replaced Mohsen Tarighat with himself. Then after, I did not visit Farhad anymore. They believed it was possible to stay in MKO and follow their strategy in struggle while saving the religious believes individually or in a group. They believed the rational result would be their survival.
After few appointments in street, Mohsen Tarighat asked me to go to his home. But he was not trustable to me I was suspicious about him. After his insistence I accepted at last. I asked him to swear not to reveal where I was if our connection was cut. Then after our meetings, discussions and news give and take would be held in my house near Mu'ezzossoltan Bazaar.
In those meetings, Mohsen believed: "Now I am a Muslim and talking to you. I am sincere if I say I am a Muslim; but I do not know what will happen in two years and if I would be a Muslim then or not? I do not know what would be my ideas in few years from now. (2) I said: "What are you saying? What does it mean that you do not know what you would be in few years?! Are you going to develop to a new human? What are you going to do? Look! Islam is the last religion. What are you looking for? Leave these fantasies and cut from MKO…" But he would continue his own ideas.
Because of my suspicion to Mohsen Tarighat, whenever he was coming to my house I would keep the gun that the late Andarzgou had given me ready to shoot. He asked me for money several times. But I would answer negatively. I would say: "This money is for people. People are not giving you money anymore. But if you cut from MKO I would support you with all the facilities you need. But alas! My insistence on their separation from MKO was useless. They were small men who needed someone to take care and tell them what to do and not to do.



1- The late Majid Tavassoli Hujjati was born in a religious family in Shahpour quarter in Tehran in 1952. As a kid and teenager he was under the affects of his brother, Mohammad Tavassoli, the first Mayor of Tehran after the Islamic Revolution. After high school he began religious activities in Kar Amooz Industrial High School. He had good and affectionate relation with the students there. In 1971 when SAVAK arrested two of his brothers (Mohammad & Abdullah) because of political activities, he began deep study on religious and political thoughts. Before 1975 he made contacts with MKO and after the Ideology Change in MKO, he separated from it and joined armed Muslim groups. Mohammad Tavassoli wrote for us: "SAVAK was monitoring him and referred to his house in Mowlavi Street to arrest him several times. One day, when he had gone to visit his mom, SAVAK agents tried to arrest him. But he could manage to escape from the neighboring roof using his security cleverness. Then after, his secret life began until 1977 when he was martyred in an armed conflict in the Holy Mashhad."
The Bureau for the Islamic Revolution Literature-Oral History Unit Archive
2- Less than two months after the martyrdom of Farhad Safa, Mohammad Sadegh and Mohsen Tarighat both became Marxists. They did some attempts to control MKO and change the ideology of other branches to Marxism…
The Pamphlet of the Groups' Positions in Prison



 
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