Third Regiment: Memoirs of an Iraqi Prisoner of War Doctor – 1

By Mojtaba al-Hosseini
Translated into Farsi by: Mohammad Hossein Zavar Kabeh
Translated into English by: M.B. Khoshnevisan

2025-10-19

Third Regiment: Memoirs of an Iraqi Prisoner of War Doctor – 1

By Mojtaba al-Hosseini

Translated into Farsi by: Mohammad Hossein Zavar Kabeh

Translated into English by: M.B. Khoshnevisan

Starting this week, we will be reading "The Third Regiment: Memoirs of an Iraqi Prisoner of War Doctor." The book was written by Dr. Mojtaba al-Hosseini and translated by Mohammad Hossein Zavar Kabeh. "The Third Regiment" was first published in 1991 by the Bureau for the Literature and Art of Resistance at Islamic Proselytization Organization’s Art Center. This work is the 73rd book produced by the office and is counted as its 22nd book in the format of memoirs.

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I dedicate this book to the resilient people, and to the pure blood that was spilled upon the earth for the exaltation of the Word of God; and to those who chose the crimson path of martyrdom, and who lent their voices, their hearts, and their strength to the struggle against the infidel Ba’athist regime; and likewise, to the awakened conscience of the nation, to the martyrs, and to the freedom-seeking repentant.

Dr. Mojtaba al-Hosseini

Table of Contents

Author’s Note/ The Eventful Year/ From the Halls of Mercy to the Dungeons of Death/ The True Face of Conflict/ Jofeir Revisited/ Jofeir: The Aid Center/ The Reckless Mission/ Jofeir: The Supply Center/ The Endless Summer /The Summer’s Events/ Incentives and Coercion/ A Breath of Freedom from Khuzestan/ The February Offensives and the Dread of Special Ops/ The Assault on Sa’dun al-Toffang Village/ The Crossing Point/ Iraqi Forces in Khorramshahr/ The Liberation of Khorramshahr/ The Israeli Triangles/ The Night of Qadr, The Night of Freedom

Author’s Note

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds... In Him I place my trust, and from Him I seek help. And may the most excellent prayers and peace be upon the Chosen and Trustworthy Mohammad, and upon his pure progeny.

The conflict and struggle between the divine civilization and the civilization of ignorance began with the very emergence of humanity on this earth. Throughout the ages, it has played out between the forces of good and evil—that is, between the prophets and saints on one side, and the tyrants and pharaohs on the other. The Holy Quran has depicted this struggle in its sacred verses in the most beautiful way.

Approximately fourteen centuries ago, the divine light manifested in the Arabian Peninsula, the land of Abraham and Ishmael. A fierce struggle commenced between the Prophet of Islam (blessings of God upon him and his progeny) and his companions on one side, and the polytheists, hypocrites, and Jews who shamelessly conspired against them on the other. Fortunately, within a few decades, Islam succeeded in subduing the forces of polytheism and hypocrisy, compelled the two powerful empires of Rome and Persia into submission, and illuminated vast regions of the globe with its light. From that point onward, millions swelled the ranks of the followers of the Prophet Mohammad (blessings of God upon him and his progeny), whose numbers had initially not exceeded the fingers on one hand. However, the conflicts did not cease with these victories. Instead, they continued throughout history, at times with diminished intensity and at others with great ferocity.

A prime example of this conflict is the Crusades, which were launched in the name of Christianity against Muslim nations and lasted for many years. In the end, they culminated in the victory of the Muslims and the defeat of the Crusaders. It should be noted that Muslims at that time possessed both unity and a sophisticated civilization. In fact, the Crusades proved to be a useful experience—one that our enemies have since utilized more effectively than the Muslims themselves.

Following their defeat, the Crusaders returned to their homelands. Preoccupied with the goal of subduing the Muslim world, they gradually rebuilt their forces and took deliberate steps to advance their scientific knowledge and technology. Meanwhile, the Muslim world was mired in internal division and dependence. Over time, by the early 20th century, Western powers—now equipped with advanced science and modern weaponry—invaded Muslim-populated regions. They dismantled the Ottoman Empire, which was considered the final political stronghold of Islam. It was at this time, when General Allenby entered Jerusalem, that he famously declared, "Today the Crusades have come to an end."

The properties and assets of the Muslims were divided among the infidel Crusaders and their descendants. The occurrence of such events was hardly surprising, as the Western powers had spent centuries preparing for this offensive. Meanwhile, the Muslims had fallen into a deep slumber, regressing instead of advancing. A strange race was underway between the two sides, with each moving in the opposite direction. The West was marching toward greatness and power, while the Muslim world was sliding into decline, disintegration, and backwardness. Ultimately, the lands of the Muslims—particularly the Arabs—were carved up into small states under the infamous Sykes-Picot Agreement, negotiated between London and Paris. The colonial powers eventually withdrew after handing over control of their colonies to their local agents in the region—men who blindly obeyed their masters’ commands. These puppet rulers opened the door to colonial influence in all aspects of life—economic, political, and military. Under the slogans of freedom, progress, and nationalism, they rose to combat Islam, while placing oil and other natural resources at the disposal of their overlords. Amid this, millions of faithful believers, whose hearts beat for Islam and who saw through the deceptive nature of the new civilization and the subservience of their rulers, waited in hope for a savior to arrive and deliver them from this degrading condition.

The conflict between the colonial puppets and the pioneers of the Islamic movement began. Following this confrontation, a large number of Muslim fighters were imprisoned, and many religious scholars and ordinary people were executed. Gradually, the false mask of patriotism slipped from the faces of the mercenary rulers, and their enmity toward Islam and the Islamic community was laid bare.[1]

In 1979, a powerful wave surged forth from Islamic Iran, shattering the throne of one of the region’s most despotic rulers and the West’s most crucial puppet, placing power into the hands of a combative religious authority and a revolutionary Muslim populace. When global arrogance saw this stronghold lost, it mobilized all its resources—propaganda, economic, and military—along with its mercenaries and agents, both inside and outside Iran, to combat this revolution and bury this nascent infant in its cradle.

The Islamic Revolution was, in truth, an earthquake that shook the region and the world, transforming the political map of Iran’s neighbors. Hidden faces were revealed, and new ones came to light. Alliances were forged, and treaties were torn asunder. East and West temporarily set aside their differences, forming a united front against this new tidal wave. The rulers of the region, thrown into confusion, joined in chorus with their masters to confront this surge. Meanwhile, the Muslim masses soared with joy, rediscovering their true identity and regaining their self-confidence.

Following these developments, the nascent Islamic Revolution of Iran became the target of conspiracies and aggressions from within and without, unleashing a wave of psychological warfare, propaganda, and economic and military pressure against the revolution. This culminated on September 22, 1980, when the Ba’athist regime of Iraq launched a full-scale military invasion of Iranian territory, attacking from the northwest to the southwest. It is widely recognized that this war was initiated based on the designs and plans of America, with the lavish financial backing of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states, and ultimately with the support of the atheist East and the infidel West. They forced the Muslim people of Iraq into an unwanted war with their brotherly, Muslim, and revolutionary Iranian nation. This war created an ideological and political rift between the two Muslim peoples of Iran and Iraq, and among Muslims worldwide, making it difficult for many to distinguish truth from falsehood. Some rose in support of Iran, others aligned with its enemies, and yet others adopted a neutral stance. Although this situation brought to mind the battles of Saffein and Nahrawan, we hold to the saying of Imam Ali (PBUH): "To recognize the people of truth, one must first know the truth itself." The course of the war clarified many truths about the revolution and its enemies, proving that the truth is as clear as day to any awakened conscience and leaves no room for denial.

In this war, thousands were taken as captives, the hearts of millions of Iraqi and Iranian Muslims were wounded, and immense economic and social damage was inflicted. Beyond these immediate consequences, the scars of this conflict may not fade for a very long time, potentially leading generations of this one nation to view each other with hostility for years to come.

Destiny decreed that I, too, would be a victim of this war. Although I understood the underlying truths, the peculiar circumstances I found myself in compelled me—against my personal beliefs and desires—to participate in the conflict on the side of the Iraqi regime. Despite having entered the battlefield unwillingly, after two years of enduring hardship and dislocation, I chose to remove myself from the war. On September 14, 1982, with God’s grace, I emerged with my life, so that both my body and soul could finally find peace.

And now, as a prisoner and a physician, I am putting down my modest memoirs in this small volume. May it stand as a testament to the suffering of the Iranian people and their Islamic Revolution, expose a fraction of the true, vile nature of this war, and serve as a lesson for future generations of Muslims. I pray to God Almighty that He accepts my repentance, envelops me in His grace and mercy, and grants me the blessing to serve upon the Straight Path. "Indeed, He is the All-Hearing Who Answers." Mojtaba al-Hosseini. Winter 1991.

To be continued ...