First-hand narratives of two heroes at Shah Cheragh Holy Shrine
On the tragic evening of August 13, when terrorists once again targeted the holy shrine of Shah Cheragh in Shiraz, Iran, Mohammad-Mobin displayed immense bravery and selflessness as he stayed by his wounded father’s side. Now, his name is forever etched in Iran’s history as a hero.
Mohammad-Mobin Qodrati, a soon-to-be second-grader from Tasuj village in Fars Province, has become the youngest individual to be recognized for courage and sacrifice in Iran’s history. In an interview with ISNA, Mohammad-Mobin recounted his experience: “It was close to prayer time when my father and I went to Shah Cheragh for pilgrimage and prayer.”
With a trembling voice, he continued, “As we entered through the door, there was a loud noise. Panic ensued as everyone started running; in the midst of everything, I became separated from my father.”
The young boy added, “I saw a man with a gun shooting; I got scared and tried to run towards the courtyard along with others. My father reached me first but then got hit by a bullet in his leg and fell down. Despite being terrified myself, I knew I had to stay by his side.”
This eight-year-old student expressed emotionally, “The armed man was still behind us while I clung onto my dad’s shirt trying desperately to pull him away. The situation overwhelmed me—I couldn’t hold back tears. Eventually, after the attacker left, several people came forward to help. They bandaged my father’s injured leg before rushing him off to the hospital.”
Currently receiving specialized care at Namazi Hospital, following surgery on his injured leg, the student’s father is continuing on his path toward recovery.
The terrorist attack on the evening of August 13 at Shah Cheragh Holy Shrine claimed two lives and left seven others injured.
Another hero, Farzad Badpa, deserves recognition for his courageous act of sacrificing himself to stop the terrorist who targeted Shah Cheragh Holy Shrine. As a member of the shrine’s service forces for about 14 months, he vividly describes the moment when the attacker entered: “That night, many pilgrims were present in the shrine. When I heard gunshots initially, I thought it was just firecrackers. Rushing outside, I noticed a female pilgrim on the ground with her leg bleeding.”
He continued, “The terrorist had a Kalashnikov weapon and was attacking people. Without hesitation, I chased him down and tackled him until operational forces arrived.”
When asked if he felt afraid when facing off against the terrorist, Badpa replied, “In that moment, I looked at the dome of the shrine, and my heart found solace. I sensed someone behind me pushing me forward, telling me to keep moving. I firmly believed that Shah Cheragh’s divine presence stood by my side.”
This dedicated hero added, “Upon reaching him, the terrorist fell after I struck him with my knee. He remained silent as I restrained his hands behind his back. I brought him down near an area where we lay carpets in the evenings for resting pilgrims. There were around fifty to sixty people there. The attacker intended to harm them, but upon seeing me, he pointed his gun at me. Miraculously, the will of God ensured he didn’t shoot. I reached him swiftly, pinned him down, and threw his gun aside. Eventually, the security department colleagues arrived and took control of the assailant.”