Groups, Institutions, Organiza

Fadayan-e Islam

Written by: Akram Orouji Translated by: Hadi Qorbanyar
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The Fadayan-e Islam was a popular group formed shortly after Iraq invaded Iran. It took part in numerous operations, including Tavakul and Thamin al-Aemmah (as). Under the command of Seyyed Mojtaba Hashemi, the Fadayan-e Islam members were active in Khorramshahr and Abadan from September 1980 until November 1981. Seyyed Mojtaba Hashemi (1940–1985) had a long history of resistance, dating back to the June 1963 Uprising and his activism in protest against the arrest and exile of Imam Khomeini (ra). After the victory of the Islamic Revolution, he served in the Revolutionary Committee for Tehran’s District 9, collaborated with Ayatollah Sadeq Khalkhali in the fight against drug trafficking, and joined efforts to clear Kurdistan of anti-revolutionary elements in 1980.

At the outbreak of the Iran–Iraq War, Hashemi rushed to the frontlines, where he organized the first irregular military unit to counter the enemy in Khorramshahr and later Abadan. With authorization from Ayatollah Khalkhali, he established the Fadayan-e Islam force. This group was entirely distinct from the earlier Fadayan-e Islam Organization (active 1945–1955) founded by Seyyed Mojtaba Navab Safavi.[1]

The earliest document regarding the presence of Fadayan-e Islam in the war dates back to a contact made with the head of the group in the Sarpol-e Zahab area on 11 October 3, 1980. Immediately after the bombing of Mehrabad Airport on September 22, 1980, Seyyed Mojtaba Hashemi traveled to Ahvaz with around 100 comrades. Hojatolislam Abulhassan Nouri, one of Khorramshahr’s defenders, recounted meeting Hashemi in Ahvaz[2] and agreeing to take the group to Khorramshahr, as the war room had not yet deployed them.

After entering Khorramshahr, the Fadayan-e Islam took responsibility for parts of the customs area and the city’s traffic police checkpoint. During the reorganization of the city’s main defenders on October 2, 1980, naval commandos were deployed to the “Sad Dastgah” axis, with support from the Fadayan-e Islam.[3]

After Khorramshahr fell on October 26, 1980, the group relocated to Abadan, setting up base in the Carvansara Hotel. The members of Fadayan-e Islam participated in numerous operations and night raids. At the same time, some members were also active in western Iran, undertaking guerrilla operations, including one in Rijab and Dalahou on February 17, 1981.[4]

As Iraqi troops advanced towards the Bahmanshir River to control the eastern bank of the Karun and fully capture Abadan, the Iranian forces—including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Fadayan-e Islam—engaged them on November 9, 1980, pushing them back four kilometers.[5]

Night raids were a core tactic for the Fadayan-e Islam; Hashemi believed constant attacks denied the enemy time to regroup.[6] However, some uncoordinated attacks, like the Operation Doqolouha (December 7, 1980) led to tensions between Fadayan-e Islam members and other commanders.[7]

The group also joined the unsuccessful Operation Tavakul on January 10, 1981, during which Hashemi was wounded in the hand.

Despite the relative calm in Khuzestan in early 1981, Iranian accounts reported “successful” clashes on March 6, 9, and 13 in Bahmanshir, the Zulfaqariya, and Abadan.[8] In late March 1981, the command of the southern region was assigned to the 77th Division of Mashhad, placing the Fadayan-e Islam under its control. By April 5, 1981, the group had around 560 fighters across Zulfaqariya, Abadan, and Kot-e Sheikh in Khorramshahr.[9]

The 77th Division’s first limited offensive came on May 15, 1981, north of Bahmanshir and at Abadan’s firing range, with Fadayan-e Islam participation.

Operation Dar Khovein on June 11, 1981, achieved its objectives; however, overconfident Fadayan-e Islam members in the Fayaziya and Zulfaqariya launched an unauthorized large‑scale attack, resulting in friendly casualties.[10]

The last major operation in which the Fadayan-e Islam officially participated was Thamin al-Aemmah (as) on September 27, 1981, aimed at breaking the siege of Abadan. Following its success, Imam Khomeini (ra) sent a message of appreciation to all the forces involved, including the Fadayan-e Islam.

Growing tensions between Fadayan-e Islam and both the Army and the IRGC in the south—stemming from the group’s uncoordinated actions—led the Abadan Revolutionary Court to rule on November 18, 1981, that the Fadayan-e Islam members must leave the city, declaring any further activity illegal and effectively disbanding the group.[11] Therefore, Hashemi returned to Tehran. He later volunteered to fight in the war twice before being assassinated in Tehran in 1985 by the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (Munafiqeen).[12]

 

[1] Fakour, Asghar, Aqa Seyyed Mojtaba (Aqa Seyyed Mojtaba), Tehran: Shahed, 1391, Pp. 19–38.

[2] Dorudian, Muhammad; Ansari, Mahdi; Nakhai, Hadi, Khorramshahr dar Jang-e Toulani (Khorramshahr in the Prolonged War), Tehran: Markaz-e Motaleat va Tahqiqat-e Jang-e Sepah, 2nd ed., 1377, Pp. 292–293.

[3] Ibid., Pp. 262–263.

[4] Behrouzi, Farhad, Taqvim-e Tarikh-e Defa Muqaddas, Vol. 6: Gam bar Bam-e Meimak (Chronology of the Sacred Defense, Vol. 6: Advancing onto the Heights of Meimak), Tehran: Markaz-e Asnad-e Enqelab-e Eslami, 1386, p. 580.

[5] Shahin-Rad, Farzollah, Gordan-e 144 dar Nabard-e Abadan (Battalion 144 in the Battle of Abadan), Tehran: AJA, 1380, Pp. 154–155.

[6] Fakour, Asghar, Aqa Seyyed Mojtaba (Aqa Seyyed Mojtaba), p. 77.

[7] Lotfollah-Zadegan, Ali-Reza, Ruzshomar-e Jang-e Iran va Araq, Ketab-e 11: Hoveyzeh, Akharin Gamha-ye Eshghalgar (Chronology of the Iran-Iraq War, Book 11: Hoveyzeh: The Last Steps of the Occupier), Tehran: Markaz-e Motaleat va Tahqiqat-e Jang, 1380, Pp. 384–385; Fakour, Asghar, Aqa Seyyed Mojtaba (Aqa Seyyed Mojtaba), Pp. 114–115.

[8] Pourdarab, Saeed, Taqvim-e Tarikh-e Defa Muqaddas, Vol. 7: Bar Faraz-e Reqabiyeh (Chronology of the Sacred Defense, Vol. 7: Over Reqabiyeh), Tehran: Markaz-e Asnad-e Enqelab-e Eslami, 1387, Pp. 233, 276, 324.

[9] Artesh-e Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran dar Hasht Sal-e Defa Muqaddas, Vol. 3: Eshghal-e Khorramshahr va Shekastan-e Hasr-e Abadan (The Islamic Republic of Iran Army during the Eight-Year Sacred Defense, Vol. 3: Occupation of Khorramshahr and the Breaking of the Siege of Abadan), Tehran: Sazman-e Aqidati-Siasi-ye Artesh-e Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran, 1373, p. 219.

[10] Javedani, Abolqasem; Sarvari, Ruhollah, Amaliyat-e Thamen al-Aemmah (as) (Operation Thamen al-Aemmah (as)), Vol. 1, Tehran: Arshan, 1382, p. 118.

[11] Behrouzi, Farhad; Karimi, Nabi, Taqvim-e Tarikh-e Defa Muqaddas, Vol. 15: Forough-e Fath ((Chronology of the Sacred Defense, Vol. 15: The Radiance of Victory), Tehran: Markaz-e Asnad-e Enqelab-e Eslami, 1388, Pp. 257–258.

[12] Fakour, Asghar, Aqa Seyyed Mojtaba (Aqa Seyyed Mojtaba), p. 16.