Mehdi Bakeri

Mehdi Bakeri (born 1954 – died 16 March 1985) was an Iranian war hero in the Iran–Iraq War.[2][3] He graduated in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Tabriz. During the Iranian revolution of 1979 he joined the protesters. After the beginning of the Iran–Iraq War he joined to the Sepah. He was killed in a combat by Iraqi troops in eastern Iraq.[4][5]

Mahdi Bakeri
Born1954
Miandoab, West Azerbaijan, Iran
DiedMarch 16, 1985 (aged 31)
East of Tigris River, Majnoon Island, Iraq
Allegiance Islamic Republic of Iran
Service/branchIslamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
Commands held8th Najaf Ashraf Brigade (deputy)
1st Ashura Brigade
31st Ashura Division
Battles/warsIran–Iraq War
Awards 2nd grade Fath Medal[1]
Alma materMechanical Engineering (University of Tabriz)
RelationsHamid Bakeri
Ahmad Bakeri

Early life

Bakeri (1954 – 16 March 1985) was born in Miandoab, West Azerbaijan Province in a religious Iranian Azerbaijani family. He lost his mother when he was a child. His brother actively participated in opposition groups that opposed the Shah's regime and finally was killed by the regime. Bakeri might have entered these groups through his brother. After graduating from high school he was accepted by the University of Tabriz in Mechanical Engineering. When he entered the university, he continued his activities against the regime. Bakeri and his friends played an important role in holding protests against regime in Tabriz.[6] According to classified documents, he was under surveillance of West Azerbaijan's SAVAK.[7]

Career

After the victory of the Islamic Revolution and formation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, he joined this institution. Bakeri served as mayor for nine months and later as the public prosecutor of Urmia, West Azerbaijan.

His wedding party was the same day as the start of Iran–Iraq War. He left his family to join the Iranian forces in the battlefront just two days later.[7] He was appointed as the commander of the 31st Ashura Division, and showed great courage and bravery in combat against the Iraqi forces.[8]

Operations

Bakeri participated in several operations:

Death

In Operation Badr (1985), like most of the time, he was in the most dangerous region of the battlefront. He got killed by Iraqi troops north of the Iraqi city of Al-Qurnah. The boat which was carrying his corpse, sunk in the river of Shatt al-Arab after being hit by an Iraqi RPG. His body was never found.[7]

Memorial

He is highly revered as one of the greatest Iranian war heroes. Bakeri Expressway, in western Tehran, has been named after him.[8] Tractor Stadium, in Tabriz, has also been renamed after him as "Tractor's Shahid Bakeri Stadium".

See also

References
  1. Poursafa, Mahdi (January 20, 2014). گزارش فارس از تاریخچه نشان‌های نظامی ایران، از «اقدس» تا «فتح»؛ مدال‌هایی که بر سینه سرداران ایرانی نشسته است [From "Aghdas" to "Fath": Medals resting on the chest of Iranian Serdars]. Fars News (in Persian). Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  2. http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2010/09/28/120568.html
  3. "Harassment of Iranian Opposition Leaders". Institute for War and Peace Reporting. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  4. http://old.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=236795
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-09-02. Retrieved 2014-11-05.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. "زندگینامه سردار بدر شهید مهدی باکری". rasekhoon.net.
  7. "زندگی نامه شهید باکری". tebyan.net.
  8. "Iran's National Heroes: Martyr Haj Mahdi Bakeri - Zibasazi Tehran". zibasazi.ir.
  9. "زندگی نامه شهید باکری". tebyan.net. 13 September 2015.
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