Memoirs of Mrs. Seddigheh Samiei
Compiled by Iranian Oral History Website
Translated by Fazel Shirzad
2026-3-30
Seddigheh Samiei, with a Master of Art’s degree in Nursing and Law, was the guest of the 281st Night of Memory program (July 2017). Samiei stated: “I started working from the spring of 1980 at Valiasr (pbuh) Hospital, which was the first IRGC hospital and was established at Pol-e-Raj St. in Tehran. I had the honor of working with Martyr Dr. Rahnemun, Martyr Asemani, Martyr Sharifi Nia, and Martyr Mortaji. Martyr Mortaji was one of the soldiers who deserted from the Shah’s garrisons [on the eve of the revolution’s victory]. In the year I joined the hospital, he was also doing clinical work there, and I worked with Martyr Asemani in the clinic. Dr. Rahnemun was one of those who truly deserved martyrdom. He was a brave, patient, capable, and excellent-spirited individual. In 1981, I insisted on being sent to Khuzestan, and eventually, I was sent to Ahvaz Hospital. Since there were very few nursing graduates at the time, they wanted to utilize me in the educational department. At that time, there were very few nurses on the fronts and many medics, but very few people who could be trusted and assigned tasks. I was sent to Behbahan to work at the Nursing Training School. Fortunately, I had an acquaintance in the wounded staff of the Ministry of Health and Treatment who would inform me whenever there was an attack so I could go to help. I assisted in the Fath-al-Mubin, Beit-ol-Moqaddas, and Ramadan operations, and from 1981 onwards, I was practically in Ahvaz. The Fath-al-Mubin operation was in Dezful. At that time, I had come to Tehran for leave, and it was the Eid holiday. Our acquaintance called and said an attack was imminent, so I should get back quickly. I was supposed to travel with my parents. I managed to cancel our trip with difficulty and come to Afshar Hospital in Ahvaz. In that hospital, they had placed a tall male nurse in front of the emergency door so that all patients would receive a tetanus shot before entering, and then they would enter, so they wouldn’t have to worry about it inside. This person was nicknamed Mr. Kozazi at the hospital.”
So far, 377 programs of the Sacred Defense “Night of Memory” have been held by the Center for Studies and Research on Culture and Literature of Resistance and the Office of Resistance Literature and Art of the Islamic Art Center. The next program will be held on Thursday, April 22, 2026.
Number of Visits: 181
The latest
- Third Regiment: Memoirs of an Iraqi Prisoner of War Doctor – 35
- Rahim Afshar's Memories
- The Story of the First Sacred Defense Book Award
- Oral History and Social Resilience in Hard Times
- 100 Questions/ 34
- Third Regiment: Memoirs of an Iraqi Prisoner of War Doctor – 34
- A Review of Scientific and Operational Strategies for Overcoming the Erosion of Narrators’ Memory
- 100 Questions/ 33
Most visited
- Third Regiment: Memoirs of an Iraqi Prisoner of War Doctor – 33
- Expert Panel Session on Oral History of the Country – (Part 2)
- 100 Questions/ 33
- Memoirs of Ahmad Nabavi
- A Review of Scientific and Operational Strategies for Overcoming the Erosion of Narrators’ Memory
- Third Regiment: Memoirs of an Iraqi Prisoner of War Doctor – 34
- 100 Questions/ 34
- Oral History and Social Resilience in Hard Times
Validation: Challenges and Necessities
Where does truth stand in oral history? How can the correctness of a narrative be recognized? Does fact-checking matter? If there is exaggeration in the reporting of some accounts, how can it be detected? Is it possible to record an event accurately through the recording of a narrative? Readers and users of oral history works are often faced with these questions, and sometimes encounter doubts about some oral history works.From Revolutionary Circles to the Military Arm of the Islamic Government
In those days, it became clear that certain institutions had to be established very quickly—institutions suited to the temperament, expectations, and lingering aspirations of the younger generation; young people who had been politically active before the Revolution and, in some cases, had been directly entangled in arrests, imprisonment, ...Authenticating Oral History: From Possibility to Necessity
The use of oral history as one of the historical sources has long been one of the principal challenges facing oral historians and those who employ it in contemporary historiography. The development of international standards for oral history, as well as IRIB standards, was intended to address the criticisms raised in this regard. The relationship between Diplomatics in written records and oral history is reciprocal.100 Questions/27
What is the place of research ethics in compiling oral history?We asked several researchers and activists in the field of oral history to express their views on oral history questions. The names of each participant are listed at the beginning of their answers, and the text of all answers will be published on this portal by the end of the week.
