With the Iraqi people
Khadijah Bahrami
He came to Karbala to visit. In the hotel alley, a crowd gathered around Haji's car. There was such a crowd around the car that the door wouldn't open. Some of them had a keffiyeh wrapped around their heads and some around their necks. Whether they were wearing expensive dresses or simple, old blouses and pants, everyone was waiting for a kind handshake. The same Arab shopkeepers, some of whom did not respond to our greetings, had come and wanted to see Haj Qasem by force. The alley was full of people. The hustle and bustle of hot breath filled the alley. The heat of the sun increased with the population density. Both the guards and Abu Mehdi were worried, but not Haji himself. No one dared to speak with the spirit we knew from Haji. He was calm, comfortable, and confident, shaking everyone's hand, greeting them, and taking pictures.
The plaid azure blue shirt was loosely tucked into the pants. He went to all sections and asked about the progress. An old man, who had a keffiyeh wrapped around his head and the buttons of his wet shirt open, was standing behind. When Haji saw him standing further back, he took a step closer and grabbed the old man's weathered hands, kissing his forehead while hugging him. As the old man smiled, the gap from his missing canine tooth was visible. He kissed Haji's shoulder and placed his hand on his chest.
The Iraqi man insisted on moving forward to see Haj Qasem, but the guards did not budge. Haji managed to break free from the crowd and approached the man. He got out of the car and showed the Iraqi man. The man had a large body with full, wide eyes. He was speaking in Arabic. Haji went over, hugged the baby, kissed it, and shook hands with the father. Opening the car door with one hand, he shook their hands before getting into the car and driving off. The sparkle in the man's eyes, filled with tears and excitement, showed that he was deeply moved.
For Haj Qasem, being with the people was not just in Iran; he was also with the people in Iraq. He believed that the people of Iran and Iraq should unite under the flag of Imam Hossein, regardless of ethnicity, color, or language. He was a staunch
advocate of his beliefs and actively worked towards realizing them, even on Iraqi soil.
Narrator: Ali Mohajeri
Source: Hekmat Soleimani's documentary, the documentation unit of the Center for Research and Publication of the Works of the Headquarters for the Reconstruction of Atbat Al-Ayat.
Khadijah Bahrami
He came to Karbala to visit. In the hotel alley, a crowd gathered around Haji's car. There was such a crowd around the car that the door wouldn't open. Some of them had a keffiyeh wrapped around their heads and some around their necks. Whether they were wearing expensive dresses or simple, old blouses and pants, everyone was waiting for a kind handshake. The same Arab shopkeepers, some of whom did not respond to our greetings, had come and wanted to see Haj Qasem by force. The alley was full of people. The hustle and bustle of hot breath filled the alley. The heat of the sun increased with the population density. Both the guards and Abu Mehdi were worried, but not Haji himself. No one dared to speak with the spirit we knew from Haji. He was calm, comfortable, and confident, shaking everyone's hand, greeting them, and taking pictures.
The plaid azure blue shirt was loosely tucked into the pants. He went to all sections and asked about the progress. An old man, who had a keffiyeh wrapped around his head and the buttons of his wet shirt open, was standing behind. When Haji saw him standing further back, he took a step closer and grabbed the old man's weathered hands, kissing his forehead while hugging him. As the old man smiled, the gap from his missing canine tooth was visible. He kissed Haji's shoulder and placed his hand on his chest.
The Iraqi man insisted on moving forward to see Haj Qasem, but the guards did not budge. Haji managed to break free from the crowd and approached the man. He got out of the car and showed the Iraqi man. The man had a large body with full, wide eyes. He was speaking in Arabic. Haji went over, hugged the baby, kissed it, and shook hands with the father. Opening the car door with one hand, he shook their hands before getting into the car and driving off. The sparkle in the man's eyes, filled with tears and excitement, showed that he was deeply moved.
For Haj Qasem, being with the people was not just in Iran; he was also with the people in Iraq. He believed that the people of Iran and Iraq should unite under the flag of Imam Hossein, regardless of ethnicity, color, or language. He was a staunch
advocate of his beliefs and actively worked towards realizing them, even on Iraqi soil.
Narrator: Ali Mohajeri
Source: Hekmat Soleimani's documentary, the documentation unit of the Center for Research and Publication of the Works of the Headquarters for the Reconstruction of Atbat Al-Ayat.
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