August 21st, marked as the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism since 2017, is a day dedicated to honoring and supporting the victims and survivors of terrorism. On this occasion, Habilian Association (Iranian Famiies of Terror Victims) is examining the case of one of Iran's terrorism victims who was assassinated by the MEK terrorist group. The victim highlighted in this case is Hojjatoleslam Abdolhossein Rezaei, the only cleric martyred in the Rudsar county. In the following, we will present a brief introduction to the life of this martyr, the MEK terrorist group's confession to this crime along with excerpts, the confession of the perpetrator of this crime accompanied by a copy of the document, and excerpts from interviews with the martyr's son and driver about his moral character and details of his assassination.
Hojjatoleslam Abdolhossein Rezaei, a respected religious leader, was born on March 26, 1927, in the village of Lima Gavabar, located in the Ashkor-e Sofla rural district of Rahimabad, Rudsar County. His father, Morteza, was a humble farmer, and his mother's name was Khadijeh. After completing his rigorous studies at the seminary, Hojjatoleslam Rezaei dedicated his life to serving the people and leading congregational prayers in the village of Bibalan.
Tragically, on January 15, 1983, at 5:30 PM, while traveling in a Paykan car from Bibalan village towards Selakjan village in the Kelachay district of Rudsar County, Hojjatoleslam Rezaei fell victim to a heinous act of terrorism perpetrated by members of the Mujahedin-e Khalq terrorist group (MEK). He was ruthlessly martyred, struck down by a barrage of five bullets.
His final resting place is the hallowed martyrs' cemetery of Kelachay. Hojjatoleslam Rezaei leaves behind a legacy of compassion and service, survived by three sons, all of whom are esteemed physicians, and four daughters.
In one of its publications in the early 1980s, the notorious MEK terrorist group, confessed to this heinous crime:
"At approximately 5:25 PM on a Friday, January 14, 1983, a unit of MEK fighters, in a carefully planned ambush along the Rudsar roads, intercepted the vehicle carrying Hojjatoleslam Abdolhossein Rezaei, a prominent figure within the regime, and meted out punishment for his criminal acts. The MEK elements compelled the cleric to exit his vehicle. They then executed him on the spot, firing a barrage of bullets into his body. After this successful operation, they all retreated to their forest hideouts."
One of the perpetrators of this heinous act was a man named Hossein Abbasi, who, after the assassination of Martyr Rezaei, fled to Tehran and was subsequently apprehended. In his confession, documented in Volume 4 of the book Black Record, Abbasi revealed that Martyr Rezaei was not the intended target of the MEK operation. Instead, the team had been dispatched to assassinate another individual, a religious and pro-government figure named Sohrabkhani, who ran a grocery store in Goldasht village. The plan involved seizing a car on the secondary road from Bibalan to Selakjan village, then proceeding to Goldasht and carrying out the targeted assassination. Following the attack, the MEK elements would retreat to the forests surrounding Arbu Sara village, evading capture by the IRGC forces.
In his chilling confession, Abbasi revealed that despite Martyr Rezaei not being their intended target, the MEK elements, after stopping his vehicle with the aim of kidnapping him and utilizing it in their planned assassination, identified him and, seizing the opportune moment, ruthlessly martyred him.
“On one of the nights of month of Dey, at the stroke of midnight, the MEK unit departed from their base and arrived at Bibalan village. Their clandestine base was concealed in a dug-out pit alongside the Polrud River. At approximately 3 AM, they assumed their ambush position near the blackberry bushes, patiently awaiting their target. From their vantage point, they spotted a Paykan vehicle approximately 30 meters away. I swiftly moved towards the road to intercept the vehicle. As I peered through the bushes, I beheld Hojjatoleslam Rezaei seated within the car. I approached the vehicle calmly, stating, 'We have no quarrel with you. We merely seek your vehicle.' Ali Jame echoed my sentiments, urging Hojjatoleslam Rezaei to disembark. He complied, but only momentarily, returning to the vehicle with a swiftness that suggested his apprehension. In a flash, I positioned myself before the car's door, repeating my demand for him to exit. However, Ali unleashed a barrage of three bullets into Hojjatoleslam Rezaei's chest. The cleric uttered a single cry of pain before succumbing to his wounds. I followed suit, firing two rounds into his body."
Incredibly, according to their own confessions, these ruthless terrorists were fully aware of Martyr Rezaei's esteemed reputation and immense popularity among the people. Yet, driven by their twisted ideology, they proceeded with their heinous act, killing a man revered by his community.
Two days following the martyrdom of Hojjatoleslam Rezaei, the MEK's propaganda machine, their radio station, disseminated a distorted narrative. In their daily news program, they brazenly claimed that MEK fighters had executed Abdolhossein Rezaei, labeling him as an agent of torture, a henchman of the regime, and a feudal lord who had oppressed the people of the Rudsar region.
Upon hearing this blatant falsehood, Abbasi couldn't help but express his disbelief to Ali. He pointed out the glaring contradiction between their fabricated narrative and the reality of Hojjatoleslam Rezaei's character. He was their neighbor, a well-respected figure within their community, admired for his compassion and integrity. He feared that if the people of their region were to fully comprehend this blatant lie, it could have a devastating impact on their perception of the MEK and their cause.
The martyr's driver, in an interview with Tasnim News Agency, recounted the harrowing events of that fateful day, saying “Just two hundred meters from Martyr Rezaei's residence, a chilling scene unfolded as three masked men, armed to the teeth, emerged from the shadows and blocked their path. Martyr Rezaei immediately recognized the grave danger posed by these assailants. With a voice filled with both alarm and defiance, he sighed three times. The men attempted to forcibly remove Martyr Rezaei from the vehicle. However, he resisted their attempts, refusing to relinquish his position. Despite his valiant efforts, the assailants mercilessly opened fire. Three bullets tore into his chest, ending his life in an instant”.
Dr. Mohammad Sadegh Rezaei, the esteemed son of Martyr Rezaei, shared a memory of his father's commitment to education and his unwavering belief in the transformative power of knowledge. In an interview with Tasnim News Agency, Dr. Rezaei recalled his father's sage advice: “He constantly urged us to pursue knowledge relentlessly, to set our sights on lofty academic goals. Throughout our lives, he inspired all three of us brothers and our sisters to embrace the pursuit of education. Even during the oppressive regime of the Shah, when opportunities for formal education were scarce, our father created the necessary conditions for his daughters to continue their studies within the confines of our home. Under his guidance, three of us brothers embarked on the noble path of medicine, driven by the aspirations he instilled within us.”
Dr. Rezaei further reminisced about a term his father often employed: "study night." This simple yet profound phrase encapsulated his belief in the importance of rest and preparation for academic success. He would exhort us to stop all our activities early on nights before our school days, ensuring we were well-rested and invigorated to tackle our studies with renewed vigor the next day.
The memory of that fateful day, when his father was ruthlessly assassinated, remains etched in Dr. Rezaei's mind. He recounts the harrowing scene witnessed by his 16-year-old sister, who arrived at the assassination site before the rest of the family. Overwhelmed by shock and grief, she succumbed to her despair two weeks later, her heart unable to bear the weight of her father's loss. This tragic event amplified the sorrow that already consumed their family, leaving an indelible mark on their hearts.