Liberated Captives in the Statements of the Supreme Leader 4

Liberated Captives; The Best Soldiers of the Islamic Revolution.

In the intellectual framework of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the martyred leader of the Islamic Revolution, liberated captives hold a position beyond that of freed prisoners of the imposed war.

In this section, by examining his statements and messages from 1992 to 2012, liberated captives have been introduced as "the best soldiers of the Revolution," "the most tested fellows of the nation," "the symbol of the Iranian nation's steadfastness," and a cultural and spiritual asset for the country's future. From this perspective, the period of captivity is not the end of struggle, but rather a stage of spiritual training, self-improvement, resilience, and preparation for undertaking greater social responsibilities.

By examining the statements and messages of the Supreme Leader between August 17th, 1992, and August 15th, 2012, the most important aspects of this perspective are highlighted as follow:

a) The Divine and Spiritual Status of Liberated Captives

1. The period of captivity is a divine test and a path for the spiritual growth of a faithful individual.

Ayatollah Khamenei assumes captivity as one of the most difficult divine tests, from which the liberated captives emerged victorious with patience, faith, and perseverance, and for this reason, he refers to them as tested and worthy individuals.

2. Every moment of suffering during captivity is preserved by God.

Various statements emphasize that none of the hardships, patience, and struggles of the liberated captives is erased from the divine record, and all of them are registered by the divine archival system and have eternal rewards.

3. The sufferings of captivity are an asset for the individual and society.

In his view, the years of captivity were not merely enduring hardship, but rather created a reserve of experience, patience, faith, and social capital for the liberated captives and Iranian society.

b) The Return of the Freed POWs; A Manifestation of Divine Power

1. The liberation of the  POWs, contrary to ordinary calculations, was a manifestation of divine power and grace.

The Leader of the Revolution considers the liberation of tens of thousands of Iranian prisoners of war an event beyond political calculations and attributes it to divine power and will.

2. The return of the freed POWs is one of the great memories in the history of the Islamic Revolution.

He considers the return of the freed POWs as one of the greatest memories in the history of the Revolution and even contemporary Iranian history, emphasizing the necessity of keeping this memory alive in the national consciousness.

d) The Status of Freed POWs in the Islamic Society

1. Freed POWs are the best soldiers of the Revolution and the most tested fellows of the nation.

From this perspective, freed POWs, due to enduring years of captivity and preserving their faith and revolutionary identity, are introduced as the most deserving individuals to defend the Revolution and the Islamic Republic system.

2. Freed POWs are regarded as a symbol of the Iranian nation's steadfastness.

He considers the resistance of the freed POWs a source of pride for the Iranian nation and introduces them as a symbol of national resilience.

3. Freed POWs are among the most prominent examples of self-sacrificing individuals.

In statements from 1995, freed POWs, MIA (missing in action), and their families were identified as true examples of self-sacrificing individuals.

e) The Mission of Freed POWs After Liberation

1. Freed POWs must march in the vanguard of national reconstruction.

The Leader of the Revolution emphasizes that the experience, resilience, and spiritual capital of the freed POWs must be utilized for the country's progress and reconstruction.

2. Defending the Revolution and confronting enemies is the continuing mission of the freed prisoners of war (POWs).

From this perspective, the responsibility of freed POWs does not end with their captivity; rather, they must continue to play a role in defending the Revolution's values and countering enemy propaganda.

f) Families of Freed POWs

1. The families of freed POWs shared in the sufferings of captivity and are blessed with divine reward.

The Supreme Leader has repeatedly praised the patience and resilience of the spouses, parents, and children of freed POWs, considering them partners in the spiritual reward of this struggle.

2. The waiting of a captive's family was one of the most difficult experiences of the war.

He describes this situation, referring to the constant worry of the captives' families, as one of the most harrowing experiences of the war.

g) Freed POWs: Cultural Capital and Historical Memory of the Nation

1. The experience of captivity is a cultural treasure for future generations.

Since 2002, in the Supreme Leader's statements, the experience of freed POWs has been presented as a cultural reserve for strengthening the faith, hope, and resistance of future generations.

2. Recording captivity memoirs is a national necessity.

He criticizes the lack of efforts in recording the memoirs of freed POWs and emphasizes the production of books, films, artistic works, and research documentaries on the captivity.

3. The artistic narration of captivity is part of the Iranian nation's victory document.

In his view, the correct representation of the freed POWs' experience in artistic and media works solidifies historical memory and expresses the Iranian nation's victory in the Sacred Defense.

h) Hope, Perseverance, and Future

1. The freed prisoners exemplify hope triumphing over despair.

The Leader of the Revolution, referring to the harsh conditions in the POW camps, emphasizes that the freed prisoners, by maintaining hope and faith, overcame despair, and this characteristic made them a role model for the society.

2. The lives of the freed prisoners can guide future generations.

In his last meeting with the freed prisoners, he described their lives as a "guiding star" or a beacon for society's passage through future transformations.

Conclusion

In the intellectual framework of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the freed prisoners are not merely former POWs of the imposed war, but rather symbols of faith, steadfastness, patience, hope, and social responsibility. In his view, captivity is thought of as a school for self-improvement and spiritual growth, the return of the freed prisoners a manifestation of divine grace, and their experience a cultural capital for the continuation of historical identity and the transmission of Sacred Defense values to future generations.

See also

• Freed Prisoners in the Words of the Supreme Leader

Author

Hassan Beheshtipour