Leader hails Iranian war prisoners martyred during captivity

The leader made the comments in a message addressing the congress honoring ‘Unknown Martyrs of Captivity’: Commemoration Is a Tribute to Steadfastness, reported Taqrib News Agency (TNA).

Ayatollah Khamenei described these martyrs as a reflection of oppression and isolation endured by the Iranian nation alongside its courage, faith, and perseverance during the Sacred Defense.

The Leader stressed that holding such a commemoration is “a tribute to steadfastness.”

“The eight-year Sacred Defense in the 1980s was, on the one hand, a proud test of the Iranian nation in courage, faith, endurance, and military innovation; and on the other hand, a scene of oppression, loneliness, and enduring physical and spiritual suffering”, read part of the message by the Leader.

Ayatollah Khamenei added,” The writings by freed prisoners of war about their years of captivity, the violence, and the inhuman treatment they endured reveal part of this second dimension—though undoubtedly they recount only a fraction of it.”

The Leader of Islamic Revolution referred to those martyred during captivity and said,” The number of those identified so far exceeds two thousand. One can be certain that they endured hardship until their final moments, yet never submitted to the demands and coercion of cruel jailers, and bore torture with resolve.”

The message by the Leader of Islamic Republic was read by Hujjat-ul-Islam Mousavi Moghaddam, representative of the Leader in Martyrs’ Foundation at the venue of the congress held in Iran’s northeastern city of Mashhad.