From One Martyr to Another: A Woman’s Silent Resolve
In sacrifice and memory, Soraya Kazemi stands as witness to her father’s and husband’s martyrdoms for Iran
Soraya Kazemi is among the generation of Iranian millennials who lost their fathers during Iraq’s invasion. Her father, then serving as a soldier, succumbed shortly after exposure to chemical agents supplied by Germany and deployed with American intelligence assistance.
“My father was martyred when I was four. Living without a father was hard. But I learned to live with his memories, even if those memories weren’t mine,” she says.
Years later, Soraya married Gholam‑Ali Najafi, an officer in Iran’s military, with whom she had two daughters and a son. When asked whether her father’s fate made her hesitant to marry a serviceman, she responded:
“No, I wasn’t concerned about the dangers of his job … I didn’t really think that we would encounter another war after the one with Saddam.”
Gholam‑Ali served in the Army’s air defense branch, often relocating and working long hours. “He told me that he had a big responsibility … he must do anything he can to ensure the safety of the Iranian people,” Soraya recalled.
On June 15, during an enemy strike on the Fordow nuclear site, General Najafi was killed in action. Whether he was repairing defense systems or operating them at the time remains uncertain. At a ceremony honoring martyrs, Soraya watched his face among those memorialized. She now carries both grief and pride.
“Losing my husband hasn’t been easy … But at the same time, I know Gholam‑Ali sacrificed himself for something he loved the most: his country and his people.”
To those gathered at the commemoration, the sorrow was real—but so too was resolve. Soldiers who served alongside Najafi, even those finishing mandatory service, asked to remain in uniform, anticipating further conflict.
One commander put it plainly:
“They want our sovereignty and integrity … we are ready. We have never been more prepared to defend our country.”
Source: Tehran Times