“Don’t pay any ransom to the enemy to set us free”-Iranian prisoners of war letters to Imam Khamenei

We receive a number of letters from some who had been captured during Saddam’s war. Those letters go back to two years after the ceasefire of the imposed war of 1980-1988 and were written to their families. When those families came to know that I am the one who was addressed in those letters, then they brought them to me. I also used to reply many of the letters. “Don’t pay any ransom to the enemy to set us free”, this was written by a prisoner of war. This is really important for a nation that has got his son in captivity, who instead of pleading constantly, like how would an unbeliever do, to come and help him get free, writes and says that I want to get free with honor; He says that he didn’t want us to be humiliated before the enemy in order to get release. This is what we have experienced. These are among documents of our national honor and will be preserved forever.

The same attitude also existed among their families and the nation. Although fathers, mothers, wives and children were having a hard time, but they have never made any troubles or put any pressure on the officials. They understood that the officials were making their best to set free their prisoners of war with honor and pride; this was what God the Almighty has made it happen, helped to happen and was fulfilled. This was also one of God’s deeds.

Supreme Leader’s Speech to Former Iranian Prisoners of War 26/08/1990