In Armenia, at the Faculty of Oriental Studies of Yerevan State University, a presentation of the Armenian translation of the book 'Cell No. 14' took place on Friday. This book is the autobiographical memoir of the martyr, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.
According to ISNA, the book was translated by Iranian ethnographer and translator Mariam Zazian. It describes Ayatollah Khamenei's memories of the years of struggle and imprisonment that preceded the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979.
During the opening ceremony, the Iranian Minister of Sport and Youth, Ahmad Donyamali, noted that the book tells the story of a path that began in a humble home and reached a time when the history of Iran entered a new phase. He emphasized that the significance of the book lies in illuminating the distance between Ayatollah Khamenei's youth and the figure who later played a decisive role in the political development of Iran, as well as the years marked by 'patience, solitude, choice, and sacrifice.'
Donyamali added that the book takes readers back to a period when Ayatollah Khamenei's future political stance had not yet formed; it was a time when studies, literature, teaching, communication with the people, and gradual participation in social and political issues constituted a significant part of his life.
The minister also characterized 'resistance to foreign domination' as one of the key themes in the political thought of the Martyr Leader, stating that confronting global arrogance and supporting resistance movements occupied a central place in his foreign policy. Within this concept, according to the minister, accepting social, religious, and political differences within the country while maintaining independence and countering attempts by foreign powers to impose their will makes sense.
In conclusion, Donyamali highlighted the importance of expanding cultural ties between Iran and Armenia, expressing hope that the publication of the Armenian translation of this book would pave the way for greater mutual understanding between the two nations and the development of cooperation between universities and youth in both countries.
In the book itself, the author masterfully transports the reader into a tangible and real space through simple yet comprehensive writing. The narrative lacks imposing or fictional elements, creating a striking sense of concreteness and realism. It is an outstanding saga of a young cleric with an unyielding spirit who fights the dictatorial regime with his sermons and speeches, as well as organizational abilities. Despite being sent to prison and into exile, he never loses hope and ultimately achieves victory despite all difficulties. The book serves as a source of inspiration for all activists around the world striving for social and political change. Furthermore, it contains unpublished photographs of the Leader, his father, and his children, as well as a collection of paintings related to the book's themes.
The book was originally published in Arabic under the title 'Indeed, victory comes with patience,' and later released in Persian as 'Blood of the Heart Turned to Ruby' in 2019. Since then, the book has been translated into many languages, including Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Urdu, Bengali, and Chinese. Ayatollah Khamenei was killed in US and Israeli airstrikes targeting his office in downtown Tehran on February 28.