

A Day in History: our UNSUNG HEROES
rising against tyranny and mislead…
18 Tir - July 9, 1980
July 11th 1980, two days after the discovery of the military
Coup of (18 tir), Bani SADR ( first president of the Islamic Republic),
Colonel Javad FAKOURI ( commandar of Air Force) and Morteza REZAI, one of the
commanding officers of Pasdaran, participated in a television interview and
talked about the discovery of a military Coup, to overthrow the Islamic
Republic.
530 days have passed since the revolution and many killing since have happened in the name of God. At the same time his Imperial Majesty was spending the last days of his life in a military hospital in Cairo, Egypt. In Iran, 52 American hostages were held by the so called hard line students of the Islamic Republic. Mr. Shapour BAKHTIAR as the last and legal prime minister of Iran was in Paris, France and started activities against the Ayatollahs, supported by the Iraqi government politically and financially.
The television interview allowed people to find out about the military coup in Iran. The media reported that Shapour BAKHTIAR was thankful to the group participating in overthrowing the Islamic Republic and was sadden by its discovery and ultimately defeat. This gives us the indication that BAKHTIAR was aware and involved in the plans. During the same period we also became aware of the complete Knowledge of the coup by the Islamic Republic a month before with exact date and location. Many of them never had a chance to even fire a bullet. ONLY a captain, Nasser ROKNI, was able to fire his gun at the time of his arrest at his home and killed a Pasdar in the name of Mohammad A. GHORBANI.
Eleven days after the discovery of this coup the executions started by the order of REYSHARI, the presiding Judge of the military tribunals. In that day General Ayat MOHAGHEGHI, Major farokhzadJAHANGIRI, Captain Mohammad MALEK, Captain Bijan IRANNEJAD, were executed. The executions continued, until the Iraqis attacked Iran. During 65 days the Islamic republic executed 115 believed in participating in the coup.
Many of these unsung heroes participated, believing that Mr. BAKHTIAR was the chef d’orchestreof this coup (it is a common believe that the leaks to the Islamic Republic came from his office).Manoucher GHORBANIFAR, was the former prime minister spokesman, a former Savaki at the 8thbureau (Savak: intelligence service during the Monarchy) and his director was General HASHEMI. In 1980 this two met in Lisbon (Portugal) with Navy General Ahmad MADANI (former Islamic Defense Minister) to forward him funds from US intelligence service C.I.A.
M. Ghorbanifar resided in Istanbul (Turkey) under the name of Suzani and continued working withBakhtiar. He helped the people who participated in this coup to escape Iran: such as Colonel HadiAZIZMORADI, Colonel Behrouz SHAHVERDILOU, and Colonel Ahmad HAMEDMONFARED.
One of the most shameful story is the execution of 18 years old Shahriar NOOR (son of ColonelNOOR), who’s father was a participant in the coup attempt and had weapons in his basement. He escaped the country. The Islamic republic took his son and executed him in place of the father.
The Military base of Hamedan, SHAHROKHI, was renamed the military base of NOJE, name of the Colonel who supported the Islamic Republic and helped discover the Coup. He later, was killed in the military action in the Kurdistan region.
Shirin Neshat
www.alineshat.org
www.sarbazan.com
Killed in Nojeh uprising:
KNOW THAT BEHIND EACH NUMBER, AND EACH NAME, THERE IS A MAN, A WOMAN, A CHILD, A
FACE, A SMILE, A TEAR
PUT YOURSELF IN PLACE OF THE CONDEMNED AND IMAGINE
THE SOLITUDE AND LONELINESS OF THE MOMENT WHEN THEY COME TO TAKE THEM AWAY, THIS
LAST VOYAGE, WHERE ARE YOU AT THIS VERY MOMENT, PARTISAN OF HUMAN RIGHTS ? WHY
HAS THE WORLD SUDDENLY BECOME A VAST DESERT WHERE THERE EXISTS ONLY THE VICTIM
AND HIS EXECUTIONERS? HOW MUCH LONGER CAN YOU STAY SILENT ?
Below is a list of all those who were affiliated to NAMIR or its military
wing - NEGHAB - and were murdered by the Islamic Republic of Iran :
Date Location Name
04/07/1980 Tehran A.Mohagheghi (general)
04/07/1980 Tehran G.Ghayeghran (non-commissioned officer : pilot)
04/07/1980 Tehran F.Jahangiri (non-commissioned officer : pilot)
04/07/1980 Tehran A.Kamiani
04/07/1980 Tehran A.Karimbar
30/07/1980 Tehran H.Kazemi (non-commissioned officer)
30/071980 Tehran M.Moradi (non-commissioned officer)
30/07/1980 Tehran S.Norouzi (sergeant)
30/07/1980 Tehran A.Mohamadi
30/07/1980 Tehran M.Assangochai
30/07/1980 Tehran Y.Mahboubian
30/07/1980 Tehran E.Mamaghani
30/07/1980 Tehran N.Sedarat
30/07/1980 Tehran E.Baroukhim
30/07/1980 Tehran M.B.Fard (lieutenant)
30/07/1980 Neyshabur Y.Khadjeh
30/07/1980 Neyshabur G.Jafari
31/07/1980 Tehran M.Farzam (lieutenant)
31/07/1980 Tehran H. Karimpurtari (non-commissioned officer)
31/07/1980 Tehran D.Jalaii (colonel)
31/07/1980 Tehran N.Yahyaii (lieutenant)
31/07/1980 Tehran N.Najaf-Nejad (sergeant)
07/08/1980 Tehran I. Soltani (corporal)
07/08/1980 Tehran H.Lashkari (lieutenant-pilot)
07/08/1980 Tehran M.Saghafi (lieutenant-pilot)
07/08/1980 Tehran A.Zarineh (colonel)
07/08/1980 Tehran H.Gohari (major)
07/08/1980 Tehran K.Alizadeh (major)
07/08/1980 Tehran A.Morvaridi (sergeant)
07/08/1980 Tehran S.Pourfahmideh (lieutenant)
07/08/1980 Tehran M.Najafabadi (lieutenant)
07/08/1980 Tehran M.Zahedi (lieutenant)
07/08/1980 Tehran M.Asgharian (non-commissioned officer)
07/08/1980 Tehran H.Abedini
07/08/1980 Tehran F.Azarian (lieutenant)
16/08/1980 Tehran E.Arab-Shirazi
16/08/1980 Tehran A.Awazzadeh
16/08/1980 Tehran M.Sajadi (non-commissioned officer)
16/08/1980 Tehran M.Farahpour
16/08/1980 Tehran Z.Momeni
16/08/1980 Tehran G.Khergani (sergeant)
16/08/1980 Tehran M.Kiani (sergeant)
16/08/1980 Tehran D.Bakhtiar
16/08/1980 Tehran G.NaghibZadeh (non-commissioned officer)
16/08/1980 Tehran H.Zamanpour (flight-lieutenant)
16/08/1980 Tehran K.Azartash (major)
16/08/1980 Tehran A.Azmudeh (colonel)
16/08/1980 Tehran C.Ahmadi (lieutenant)
16/08/1980 Tehran S.Mahdiun (general-pilot)
16/08/1980 Tehran M.Farnejad (non-commissioned officer)
16/08/1980 Tehran K.Mohamadi-Koubaii (non-commissioned officer)
16/08/1980 Tehran M.Tightiz (non-commissioned officer)
18/08/1980 Tehran M.Mirlaki (non-commissioned officer)
18/08/1980 Tehran M.Abedini-Moghadam (non-commissioned officer0
18/08/1980 Tehran K.Rahmati (non-commissioned officer)
18/08/1980 Tehran P.Bayani (non-commissioned officer)
18/08/1980 Tehran L.Lotfolahi (non-commissioned officer)
18/08/1980 Tehran A.Habibi (lieutenant)
18/08/1980 Tehran N.Zandi (flight lieutenant pilot)
18/08/1980 Tehran C.Karimian (sergeant)
18/08/1980 Tehran O.Boyeri (flight lieutenant)
18/08/1980 Tehran A.Soleimani (flight lieutenant)
18/08/1980 Tehran D.Mazaheri-Kashani
18/08/1980 Tehran D.Fatehjou (non-commissioned officer)
18/08/1980 Tehran A.Pourkarbassi-Dehi (non-commissioned officer)
18/08/1980 Tehran D.Fateh-Firouz (non-commissioned officer)
18/08/1980 Tehran K.Afrouz (flight lieutenant)
18/08/1980 Tehran M.Azimifar (flight lieutenant)
21/08/1980 Tehran M.Arad (lieutenant)
21/08/1980 Tehran M.Sadeghi (colonel)
21/08/1980 Tehran H.Izadi (colonel)
21/08/1980 Tehran Asghari
25/08/1980 Tehran D.Rahbar (non-commissioned officer)
25/08/1980 Tehran G.Hamedani (non-commissioned officer)
25/08/1980 Tehran F.Javaherian (non-commissioned officer)
25/08/1980 Tehran M.Zade-Naderi (non-commissioned officer)
26/08/1980 Tehran G.Hejazi (female)
26/08/1980 Tehran D.Shomali
26/08/1980 Tehran H.Ahmadi
26/08/1980 Esfahan M.Altani
26/08/1980 Esfahan H.Karimi
26/08/1980 Esfahan S.Mozaii
26/08/1980 Esfahan H.Dari
26/08/1980 Esfahan A.Allahverdi
26/08/1980 Esfahan S.Hemati
26/08/1980 Esfahan M.Vesaali
26/08/1980 Esfahan B.Nikbakht (female)
26/08/1980 Esfahan E.Biglari
26/08/1980 Esfahan J.Hemati
26/08/1980 Esfahan E.Karimi
26/08/1980 Esfahan M.Karimi
28/08/1980 Tehran S.Bassani (female)
28/08/1980 Tehran M.T.Bahrami (non-commissioned officer)
29/08/1980 Tehran A.Almasi (lieutenant)
29/09/1980 Tehran H.Haleki (lieutenant)
29/08/1980 Tehran M.R.Javadi (lieutenant)
29/08/1980 Tehran H.Ahmadi (non-commissioned officer)
29/08/1980 Tehran J.Ranjbar (non-commissioned officer)
30/08/1980 Tehran A.Azizian (major)
30/08/1980 Tehran R.Soltani (colonel)
30/08/1980 Tehran A.Faria (colonel)
30/08/1980 Tehran I.Derakhshandeh (non-commissioned officer)
30/08/1980 Tehran M.Bahrami
30/08/1980 Tehran S.Shahbeui (colonel)
30/08/1980 Tehran I.Khalafbegi (major)
30/08/1980 Tehran K.Keyvanfar
30/08/1980 Ahwaz M.Borati (corporal)
30/08/1980 Ahwaz I.Marvdashti (non-commissioned officer)
30/08/1980 Ahwaz R.Yahyapasand (lieutenant)
30/08/1980 Ahwaz M.A.Mehrabi (non-commissioned officer)
30/08/1980 Ahwaz O.Atashboro
30/08/1980 Ahwaz S.Sotoudeh
01/09/1980 Tehran D.Asghari (officer)
01/09/1980 Tehran D.Raastgu (lieutenant)
01/09/1980 Tehran M.Fatahi-Nourdehi (non-commissioned officer)
03/09/1980 Ahwaz M.Hokmabadtchi (sergeant)
03/09/1980 Ahwaz E.Ostad-Nazari (lieutenant)
03/09/1980 Ahwaz F.Reissi (lieutenant)
03/09/1980 Ahwaz S.Dehgan (lieutenant)
09/09/1980 Tehran M.Sayah (sergeant)
09/09/1980 Tehran M.Rahbai-Nejad (lieutenant)
09/09/1980 Tehran M.Tajvari (lieutenant)
09/09/1980 Tehran B.Partovi (major)
09/09/1980 Tehran H.Mostafavi
11/09/1980 Tehran K.Atri
11/09/1980 Tehran M.Sadeghi (colonel)
11/09/1980 Tehran M.Sohaneki
11/09/1980 Tehran N.Morovati (lieutenant)
11/09/1980 Tehran N.Sajadi (non-commissioned officer)
11/09/1980 Tehran A.Mohammad (soldier)
11/09/1980 Tehran A.Shafigh (flight lieutenant)
16/09/1980 Tehran M.Tabrizi-Khatun
16/09/1980 Tehran E.Azadighaneh (non-commissioned officer)
16/09/1980 Tehran M.Jalali-Ghajar (major)
16/09/1980 Tehran S.Nour
13/071981 Tehran M.Khadem
10/08/1981 Tehran Amir-Tahmasbi (major)
10/08/1981 Tehran A.Abdolmalek-Pour (colonel)
10/08/1981 Tehran Didehvar (colonel)
10/08/1981 Tehran Mohajeri
23/12/1981 Tehran R.Marzban
23/12/1981 Tehran A.Mohebi
30/01/1982 Tehran A.Amir-Tahmasbi (colonel)
30/01/1982 Tehran K.Yarahmadi
30/01/1982 Tehran E.Seyrafi (colonel)
30/01/1982 Tehran A.Foroughi (colonel)
30/01/1982 Tehran A.Abdol-Malekpour
30/01/1982 Tehran G.Rahimi (colonel)
30/01/1982 Tehran M.Sabah (colonel)
30/01/1982 Tehran G.Biglou
30/01/1982 Tehran A.Mohajeri
30/01/1982 Tehran M.Lotfzari
30/01/1982 Tehran G.Naghib-Manesh
30/01/1982 Tehran G.Didehvar (colonel)
30/01/1982 Tehran G.Shahandeh-Ashtiani
30/01/1982 Tehran M.Khashayar
11/09/1982 Tehran R.Shahbakhti
11/09/1982 Tehran H.Moghbelzadeh
of these victims, none had the rights
of an accused as foreseen in
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
In a nother word:
The core officers who were recruited to start the preliminary planning
of the coup came from various sources: infantry, air force, army, ex-Immortal
Guards, Imperial Guards, and some former members of the Savak secret service.
The officers were chosen carefully based on their experience and level of
nationalism, resentment of the Islamic regime. They were picked based on their
access to military facilities, jet fighters, jet fuel, ammunition, maps, and
knowledge of regime's military bases. The higher ranking officers were assigned
to planning and logistics, while the lower level officers and pilots were given
the task of implementing all stages of the coup.
The plan was comprised of three stages: stage one was a combination of
twelve-hour air assaults against military, strategic, government, and clerical
targets in Tehran and five other cities followed by two dozen low altitude
supersonic flights over Tehran, Mashhad and Qom. The first stage was to be
followed immediately by the second which consisted of dispatching nine infantry
divisions to tactical locations such as the State Radio and Television,
parliament, headquarters of Islamic Revolutionary Guards, and Tehran's grand
Bazaar.
The third stage was the most ambitious. It called for cutting off Tehran
from the rest of the nation with the help of fifty thousand Baluch, Kurdish, and
Turkish mercenary fighters brought from other side of the borders, under the
leadership of an unknown national figure. The interesting and ruthless part of
the third stage was to have the fighters outfitted as Revolutionary Guardsmen
with a green bandana which had the words "Ya Vatan" (Oh Motherland) embedded on
them. That way the coup forces could distinguish the coup fighters from the
regime's forces.
The fighters' orders were to create pandemonium and confusion among
Revolutionary Guardsmen and the backers of the young Islamic Republic by
attacking the government forces that were dispatched from other cities to defend
Tehran. There were, however, two problems with the last stage of the plan: one
was the fact that majority of Baluch, Kurdish, and Turkish fighters were not
familiar with Tehran's landscape, and the other obstacle was that some of them
did not speak Persian.
It is
estimated that the coup cost somewhere in the neighborhood of a million dollars.
The money covered expenses for traveling from Tehran to Paris and Istanbul and
most of the was spent on hiring Baluch, Kurdish, and Turkish mercenaries. The
money was managed personally by Bakhtiar and no one else.
It is a known fact that the coup was no secret to Islamic regime and on
the night of July 18th, the Islamic regime’s president Abolhasan
Banisadr's task force, which consisted mostly of members of the Mojahedin Khalgh
Organization, were ready and waiting for the operation to start. Many of the
pilots were captured hours before the start of the operation and other officers
were arrested on the way to their bases. However it's not known who snitched and
how the regime uncovered coup. The circumstances leading to the leak is by far
the most fascinating part of this ordeal.
There are many different theories out there making attempts at
explaining the circumstances behind the failure of the coup and its leaders. But
the most intriguing piece comes from sources who claim that Saddam
Hussein's government tipped the Islamic Republic a month before D-Day. It is
said that Iraq intentionally reported the details of the operation knowing that
the capture and execution of the best pilots and military commanders would
seriously weaken the Iranian forces (Iraq invaded Iran two months later). Some
even go so far as to allege that the coup was reported to the Iranian government
by the U.S. to buy the release of American embassy hostages in Tehran. However,
it is likely the information cam from British sources, long lasting ally of
clergies in Iran.
Some believe that the success of the coup would have led Iran on the
path of a bloody civil war and the assassination of Khomeini would have turned
him into a mythical figure. These are legitimate concerns and yet it cannot be
denied that the failed "Nojeh Coup" of 1980 was conducted by servicemen who
deeply cared about their country. No evidence has surfaced so far that links the
coup to foreign powers or shows that the officers had illegitimate intentions.
The very fact that the coup's resources were not managed efficiently and plans
were executed poorly, demonstrates the fact that the movement was most likely
home-grown. Many of the officers believed that the country was heading in a
wrong direction and in a desperate attempt to save Iran, they lost their lives.