Iranian Group Recruits Iranian Volunteers for Anti-U.S. Martyrdom [Suicide] Operations to be Carried Out by Hizbullah
Memri.org
On November 1, 2008, the Iranian website Tabnak, which is identified with Expediency Council Secretary and former IRGC commander Mohsen Rezai, reported that flyers have recently been circulated in Iran calling on the public, especially young people, to sign up for martyrdom operations to be carried out by the Lebanese Hizbullah. The flyer promises registrants that they will become "fighters in the worldwide front against the Global Arrogance [i.e. the U.S.]."
Following is a translation of the Tabnak report: [1]
"In the recent days and months, forms have been distributed in Tehran and in several of [Iran's] large provinces, titled "[Registration for] Membership in the Lebanese Hizbullah" and "Registration for Martyrdom Operations." [These documents] call on the public, and especially on young people, to join the 'world-wide front against the Global Arrogance [i.e. the U.S.]' by filling out the form and providing an address and [phone] number where they can be reached.
"The Hizbullah registration form bears a Tehran address, which has not yet been verified, but the martyrdom operations form bears the name of an organization [that is known to be] active in this sphere, as well as a phone number for further enquiries.
"It should be mentioned that this group - some of whose previous activities and [projects] were not without merit - has in the past recruited martyrdom squads [for operations in] Palestine, which generated a wave of [anti-Iranian] propaganda worldwide and branded Iran a terrorist [state]. [The same group] also produced a recent documentary on [the assassination of former Egyptian president] Anwar Sadat which aroused considerable protest in Egypt and prompted the creation of an anti-Islamic and anti-Iran film that insults the great leader of the [Islamic] Revolution [Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini].
"The provision of specific personal information to unauthorized movements and persons by members of Iranian society can give rise to innumerable dangers and problems."
"It should be mentioned that an Iranian movement called the World Islamic Organization Headquarters for Remembering the Shahids has carried out several recruitment campaigns for volunteers for martyrdom operations in Iraq and Israel, [2] and has produced a film titled Assassination of a Pharaoh, on the assassination of Sadat. [3]
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[1]Tabnak (Iran), November 11, 2008.
[2] See: MEMRI Inquiry and Analysis No. 181, " The Internal Debate in Iran: How to Respond to Western Pressure Regarding Its Nuclear Program," June 17, 2004, ;
MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 929, "Al-Arabiya TV Report: Iranian Volunteer Suicide Bomber Organization of 40,000 'Time Bombs' Recruited to Target Americans in Iraq and Israel," July 6, 2005, LINK
MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 1106, "Iranian Martyr Recruitment Website: Coalition Forces In Iraq Be Warned - Iranian Martyr Forces on Alert to Move In," March 3, 2006, LINK ;
MEMRI Inquiry and Analysis No. 439, "Iranian Women's Magazine Shut Down for Publishing Investigative Article on Martyrdom Movement," May 22, 2008, LINK ;
MEMRI TV Clip No. 736, .
[3] See MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 2074, "Iranian Film Calling Sadat Traitor Strains Egypt-Iran Relations," October 7, 2008, .
