“They told me not to kill me, if I give in. But I will not make the slightest compromise with them
Susan Amiri (Sahar), the daughter of Ali and Janat Amiri, was born in 1337 Iranian year (1958) in a working-class Kurdish family in the city of Kermanshah. As a teenager, she became acquainted with political issues and participated in sport activities such as mountaineering. During the same period, she was taken to the SAVAK office (secret security department of Shah’s regime) and was interrogated for writing an anti-regime essay in high school. In the mid-1350s (1970s), Susan’s brothers, Asghar and Hassan Amiri, founded a communist group with several others. She came in contact with this group, where she met Pirout Mohammadi (Kak Ismail), member of the Union of Communists of Iran –Sarbadaran- (a leftist Maoist organization). She married him. In 1355 (1976), Susan and some of her comrades went to abroad to get access Marxist literature and become acquainted with communist groups.
The activity of the group expanded and the organization “Group for the liberation of the working class” (a leftist organization) was formed. It united later with the Union of Communists of Iran. During this period, Susan and Kak Ismail changed the center of activity to the tractor manufacturers in Tabriz (a tractor producing factory). She was the inspiring figure in the street demonstrations and in organizing the workers’ units in year 1357 (1978) in Tabriz.
After the uprising of 1357 (1978) in Iran, Susan focused her activity in the Kermanshah student movement and attracted the combative youth of this city to the Union. The organization of the May Day demonstration in Kermanshah’s Javanshir Square with the participation of 15000 people was due to the efforts of comrades like Susan.
During this period, Susan faced serious problems due to the pregnancy and child care like many other revolutionary women. She loved her child but was determined to solve the problems. She did not let motherhood to become an obstacle to her political activities. She turned to her mother for support. Susan’s mother was brave and did not withhold any support from her children and the realization of their ideals.
Gaining more revolutionary experience, Susan realized that the right approach to feminism issue and to counter against patriarchalism was reconnaissance work. In this regard, women should act more against the flow than men. When Kak Ismail was stationed in the Kurdistan Region as the military commander of the “Workers’ Peshmerga Organization” (armed wing of the Union), Susan refused to join Ismail despite the organization’s offer. She continued to operate in Kermanshah. She argued that it is not correct to determine women’s duties and their place of residence in accordance with the duties and location of their husbands. She believed that it would be repetition of patriarchal relationship that prevailed in society.
Susan was in charge of organizing the headquarters (student organization affiliated to the union) in Kermanshah until the spring of 1980. With the beginning of the month-long resistance war in Sanandaj, she was commissioned to go to this city. She carried out relief work, medical work and fulfilled the responsibility of transporting the wounded to other areas for immediate treatment. After the Sanandaj war, Susan was commissioned to Tehran and was employed in the national shoe factory. She was active among the workers and took over charge of one of the labor section of the organization. She applied her experiences in the labor movement and quickly became a trusted leader of the workers. After the defeat of the Amol uprising and the execution of her husband Kak Ismail, Susan was forced to give up her job. She joined the comrades who had survived the uprising of Amol. Susan took part in the military clash on 13/3/1361 (3/6/1982). At the closing meeting after that event, she criticized the method of organizing the forces. Spontaneously and as usual, the male comrades were sent to the front trenches and female comrades were given responsibility for caring for the wounded and logistics. She criticized the traditional idea that women did not deserve to participate directly in the revolutionary war and play the role of warriors and commanders.
After the regime’s nationwide crackdown on the organization, Susan joined the “Interim Leadership Committee”. She left for Kurdistan to participate in the fourth council of the organization. Unfortunately, it did not take place. Sahar was arrested in 8/1362 (10/1983) along with Fereydoun Siraj, a military deputy in one of the organization’s (Sarbadaran) divisions. She said it many times before her arrest: “If I am arrested, I will make the enemy kneel down and force him to admit his helplessness. The mercenaries’ enthusiasm for arresting any communist must turn into despair”. She kept her promise in prison. Her body was bruised from brutal torture and was bandaged, but she resisted, bringing Evin’s executioners to their knees. Sahar was shouting, chanting, mocking the regime and its mercenaries and cursing them.
She was transferred to a public ward in 6/1362 (8/1983), a few days before her execution. She encountered a comrade and told him: “They told me not to kill me, if I give in. But I will not make the slightest compromise with them”. And she was executed.
The memorial ceremony for comrades Susan, Asghar and Hassan Amiri was held in all its glory in Kermanshah. Although the area had been under the control of the Revolutionary Guards for several days, large numbers of people flocked to their homes to condole their families. This ceremony became a scene of revelation of the regime of the Islamic Republic. The Revolutionary Guards raided the event, arrested a number of youths and detained them for a month to a year.
The memory of Susan Amiri will always be remembered as an uncompromising fighter and a rebellious and aware woman and will inspire all freedom-loving men and women.
Sources:
- Website of the Communist Party of Iran
- Facebook Ms. Nasrin Ramazan AliFacebook Ms. Nasrin Ramazan Ali
- YouTube Ms. Sahar Mohammadi, daughter of Susan Amiri
- Radio Payam
