Ramadan in POW Camps:

Fasting, the Biggest Crime in POW Camps

Navideshahed: During the captivity era, in many cases the Iraqi Baathist authorities would attack the Iranian prisoners of war when they were praying and they would change their direction which was towards Mecca; In fact they would try to ruin their prayers by this work. Even at one night we had to perform the evening and night prayer in prone position under blanket. But fasting would be considered as a heavy crime for us.

News ID: ۳۶۲۳۲۳

چهارشنبه - ۱۵ آبان ۲۰۱۲ / 2012 15 August

We were considered missed in action during captivity, because neither Iran knew about us nor the Red Cross had registered our names as captives. That was why our problems were more than the problems that the other prisoners of war would face with.

No names and address had been registered about us in any places.

The Iraqis had created very tough moments for us. We had no way except relying on God. Indeed the only hope that we had was the assistance of God.
One of the ways to make your relationship stoner with God is done through prayers and fasting; those prisoners of war who were in the camp 12 and camp 18 would fast the Rajab month and Shaban month too. They would prepared themselves for Ramadan month by starting fasting earlier; although performing prayers and fasting would be considered a crime even if we would do that individually.

During the captivity era, in many cases the Iraqi Baathist authorities would attack the Iranian prisoners of war when they were praying and they would change their direction which was towards Mecca; In fact they would try to ruin their prayers by this work. Even at one night we had to perform the evening and night prayer in prone position under blanket. But fasting would be considered as a heavy crime for us.

The war veterans would receive the noon foods and they would put it in a plastic and they would tie the foods and then they would hide these foods under their shirts in order to eat it during the Iftars.

If they would find foods when they would investigate the war veterans, they would beat and torture them. The cold foods that would be given to them during the noon and the little foods which probably would be given to them at night would be the Iftar of the prisoners of war. So the situation would go on under such a circumstance like this.

Only God know that today though 15 years have passed since our captivity era and today that we have different foods in our Ramadan month table clothes at the time of Iftar, but it does not have the enjoyment of captivity era Ramadan months. I think those foods were the heaven foods and we could feel the presence of God at the time of Iftar.

The Ifter prayer would be recited with a special atmosphere for the prisoners of war. Although after eating the Iftar, we would not have foods until the next Iftar, but it was really enjoyable for us.

The End
Narrated by: General Mortaza Haj Bagheri

We were considered missed in action during captivity, because neither Iran knew about us nor the Red Cross had registered our names as captives. That was why our problems were more than the problems that the other prisoners of war would face with. No names and address had been registered about us in any places. The Iraqis had created very tough moments for us. We had no way except relying on God. Indeed the only hope that we had was the assistance of God. One of the ways to make your relationship stoner with God is done through prayers and fasting; those prisoners of war who were in the camp 12 and camp 18 would fast the Rajab month and Shaban month too. They would prepared themselves for Ramadan month by starting fasting earlier; although performing prayers and fasting would be considered a crime even if we would do that individually. During the captivity era, in many cases the Iraqi Baathist authorities would attack the Iranian prisoners of war when they were praying and they would change their direction which was towards Mecca; In fact they would try to ruin their prayers by this work. Even at one night we had to perform the evening and night prayer in prone position under blanket. But fasting would be considered as a heavy crime for us. The war veterans would receive the noon foods and they would put it in a plastic and they would tie the foods and then they would hide these foods under their shirts in order to eat it during the Iftars. If they would find foods when they would investigate the war veterans, they would beat and torture them. The cold foods that would be given to them during the noon and the little foods which probably would be given to them at night would be the Iftar of the prisoners of war. So the situation would go on under such a circumstance like this. Only God know that today though 15 years have passed since our captivity era and today that we have different foods in our Ramadan month table clothes at the time of Iftar, but it does not have the enjoyment of captivity era Ramadan months. I think those foods were the heaven foods and we could feel the presence of God at the time of Iftar. The Ifter prayer would be recited with a special atmosphere for the prisoners of war. Although after eating the Iftar, we would not have foods until the next Iftar, but it was really enjoyable for us. The End Narrated by: General Mortaza Haj Bagheri