Iran: Eight heroines of an epic resistance in Ashraf

One of the most epic confrontations in the world's history of nationalist wars and liberation movements took place on April 8, 2011
, in Ashraf, Iraq, the seat of the Iranian opposition movement which is spearheaded by 1000 heroines.
The PMOI freedom fighters stood up to a column of ten armored, infantry, mechanized brigades and battalions of the Iraqi forces affiliated with Tehran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei, who attacked Ashraf City at the behest of the Iranian regime to massacre all of its defenseless residents, destroy the city and annihilate the opposition.
The freedom fighters, women and men, young and old, were empty handed without any shields. Their heads and hearts were targeted by snipers. At least 22 people were ran over by armored vehicles. Residential units were shelled. Iraqi troops did not allow the wounded to be taken to hospital.
The shooting of heavy armored vehicles and snipers continued incessantly for six hours. The plan was to massacre all the residents of Ashraf. 180 people were shot directly. A number of hostages died in captivity. Some 300 people were wounded.

In the history of nationalist and revolutionary wars, there never was an instance where people stood empty handed, and only with their unshielded bodies, in front of armored vehicles and armed forces of the enemy and yet succeed to repel them.
The attack was another link in the long chain of plots, siege, and murder of the Iranian opposition members carried out by Tehran's puppet in Iraq, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. But Ashraf residents stood firm and resolved to prevent the enemy from taking over the city which was the beating heart of the Iranian people's Resistance movement.

On that day, eight women and 28 men were killed either by the Iraqi Army snipers or were ran over by armored vehicles. Hundreds more were seriously wounded, some by grenades thrown to explode among them.
The price was horrendous but these brave women and men managed to stop the enemy's advancement and save Ashraf, the Iranian people’s bastion of freedom. They proved that they can overcome any force by their amazing steadfastness and resolve and by paying the dear price.
This was not only a military confrontation, but a staunch defense of the most sacred humane values inspiring people to fight for freedom and equality.
In this epic picture, there were eight women who fought and died in the forefront of the confrontations but foiled a major conspiracy by the mullahs by their sacrifice, courage and steadfastness. They symbolized the resolve and sincerity of a generation of women, 1000 heroines who pioneer and lead the Iranian Resistance movement and comprise an unprecedented asset to the Iranian people's 100-year history of struggle for freedom, an amazing force for change. If and when they overcome the misogynous Godfathers of fundamentalism and terrorism in Tehran, not only will they change the situation in Iran but will have a great impact on the war-torn Middle East and the petrified Europe.
Here is a glance on the lives of these heroines:

Saba was 1.5 years old when she came out with her mother's release. After both her parents were released from prison, they left the country and joined the Resistance in the border region.
She grew up in Ashraf and was sent abroad to Germany when the Gulf war began in 1990 and children were in danger of being killed in the massive bombardments of Iraq. Saba, however, did not forget the suffering of her people. She said, "I cannot enjoy having the best life and education in Germany, when I hear every day shocking news of women and children suffering in my homeland." So, she left Germany and went back to Ashraf in 1998.
With the beginning of another war in Iraq in 2003, another testing time began for Saba and for all the young women and men like her who were being exposed to the difficulties of struggle against the mullahs' regime in a strange land. Of course, this generation remained steadfast in the stormy events of the post-war Iraq and under attacks of the Iraqi agents of the Iranian regime.
Saba was 29 when she was shot in the thigh and started bleeding heavily. Iraqi forces impeded her treatment by delaying her transfer to hospital. Nevertheless, they did not allow Saba to receive blood from the blood bank, a measure that led to her eventual loss of life.
Saba's last words were: "We will remain steadfast to the last breath."
And with those words and her courageous endurance, she turned into the symbol of the epic resistance of April 8, 2011, in Ashraf.

After 2003, she found out that she can travel to Iraq and join the movement, which was the happiest moment of her life.
Shahnaz was very grateful for finding the movement after years of separation and she was willing to sacrifice anything for the good of others and advancement of the goals and objectives of the Resistance in Ashraf.
On April 8, 2011, when Ashraf was under attack, she volunteered to join the frontline of men and women who defended the city and was slain the direct shootings of defenseless Ashraf residents.

Mahdiyeh was 32, when she was directly shot by a sniper. Her brother, Akbar, was also ran over by an armored vehicle on April 8, 2011.

She joined the Resistance in 1999 and she was very devoted to the cause. She was prepared to sacrifice from her own for the wellbeing of others. She believed that the fate of her people in Iran is tied to the efforts and resolve of the pioneers in Ashraf, including herself.
Most recently, she was into film production and helped document the events in Ashraf. So on April 8, 2011, she was also filming the scenes of savagery and brutality of the Iraqi forces, targeting and shooting the human chain of her friends and comrades who were defending their city with their flesh and bone.
Finally, she became a target for the snipers at the age of 28.


In Ashraf, she was always in the first line of people defending Ashraf during attacks. So was the case on April 8, 2011, where she was targeted by sharp shooters and lost her prolific life at the age of 26.

Marzieh was very popular for being very kind and humble, at the same time determined. Her son was 16 when he lost his mother.

With the history of her family, however, it was very difficult for her to find a way to leave the country. Finally, when she did so with her two daughters, it was the happiest day of her life. These words are remembered from her, when she said: "All my life and existence is for my people and I have vowed to continue the path of those who gave their lives for freedom."
She loved her sisters in Ashraf and she worked hard day and night without letting anyone find out about her efforts. She did not expect anything for herself.
On April 8, 2011, she was also one of those who had rushed to the front line to defend Ashraf and help their wounded sisters and brothers.
With their sacrifices, these heroines saved Ashraf and impacted subsequent developments which opened the way towards Iran's freedom. They will be always remembered as heroines who hoisted the flag of freedom in the darkest days of their country's history.
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