In the previous program, we talked about the epic, bravery and military prowess of Dr. Mostafa Chamran in the irregular wars headquarters and liberation of the city of Susangerd from the siege of Baathist army. This time we are going to talk about the epic of a hero and a heroine namely Hussein Alam ul-Hoda and Saham Khayyam.

Hoveize is a small city in Khuzestan province. The defenders of this city created epic in the history of holy defense and their self-sacrifice became eternal. The name of Hoveize, in the first months of Saddam's invasion on the Iranian borders and outbreak of the imposed war on September 22, 1980 has been mixed with two people. One is Seyyed Hussein Alam al-Hoda the IRGC commander of Hoveize and the other one is a 12-year-old girl Saham Khayyam. She was a fifth grade primary school student who was shot and killed while throwing stones toward Ba'athists during the occupation of Hoveize.  

After the victory of the Islamic Revolution, the Iraqi Baathist regime started animosity against the nascent Islamic Republic system. Hoveize was of paramount importance for Iraq since most of its people speak Arabic. Saddam intended to spread sentiments of Pan-Arabism in the region. He sought to absorb agents in Hoveize for spying and sabotage operations. But he failed and faced their resistance. Men and women, old and young, whether Arab or Farsi speaking ethnics of Hoveize resisted against the Baathist army and created an unforgettable epic.

Saham Khayyam was a brave 12-year-old girl who after occupation of Hoveize decided to defend her city against the Baathist invasion. One day she collected stones in her skirt and threw them towards the Baathist soldiers. This infuriated the invading forces and they shot her in the head. The 12-year-old heroine fell on the ground and soon she was martyred. Martyrdom of Saham Khayyam caused the arousal of the entire people of Hoveize against the Iraqi regime and thus her name became eternal among the martyrs of holy defense.

Hussein Alam al-Hoda was another brave combatant who defended the city of Hoveize to the last drop of his blood. He was one of the revolutionary students devoted to Imam Khomeini who rushed to the battle front in Khuzestan. After breaking the siege of Susangerd, Seyyed Hussein Alam al-Hoda along with a number of youths from Ahwaz arrived in Hoveize. Their mission was to organize a commanding center in Hoveize. His presence was a beacon of hope for all as he would act as the commander. The Joint Chiefs of Staff prepared a plan which became the basis for Nasr Operation but it failed and Hussein Alam al-Hoda and those under his command were besieged by the Iraqi army’s tanks. The tanks approached to the distance of 50 meters from the embankment of Hussein Alam al-Hoda, and Hussein spotted the closest tank and exploded it with RPG. The rest of the tanks shot the embankment and martyred all his companions. Hussein stood up and went to another embankment, while holding 2 RPGs. He shot the first grenade and when the four tanks approached to 10 meters from his embankment, the IRGC commander fired the last grenade at one of them and the other three tanks fired at the same time at Hussein's embankment and he was martyred.

The Ba'athist soldiers drove the tank over the bodies of Hussein Alam al-Hoda and his fellow-combatants so that they were completely crushed. 16 months later, during Bayt-ul Moqaddas Operation, these lands were liberated from Saddam's occupation. Hence, with the efforts of the investigation team, the corpses were identified with much difficulty. Hussein Alam al-Hoda was identified from the Qur'an next to him as he was a lover of Qur'an and used to recite it very much. The Qur'an was signed by Imam Khomeini and Ayatollah Khamenei. Hossein Alam al-Hoda was buried at the place of his martyrdom with his friends. There is a memorial on their graves, and millions of people visit the place every year to keep alive the epic and sacrifice of Hussein Alam al-Hoda and his fellow-combatants.

The Iraqi army, after occupying Hoveize, raised it to the ground so that no single wall was left erect. The name of Hoveize has been recorded with respect and honor in the history of holy defense. This small town was one of the great strongholds of Iranian popular resistance. According to a foreign visitor, Hoveize should be considered the museum of Saddam's crimes. The leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, who was present in Khuzestan province at the time of martyrdom of Hussein Alam al-Hoda, wrote in the introduction to a book about the epic of Hoveize: "The lesson that this epic and heart-rending memory teaches us is an eternal message to all nations and  all generations; the lesson of the brave resistance of great men who attached their great power to the divine will, consciously stepping in the field of sacrifice and making colorful the scene of battle against enemy with their blood.”

FK/RM/SS