Martyr Elham Farahmand, a graduate of Al-Zahra Seminary in Gonbad-e Kavus, along with her husband Hojjatoleslam Abolfazl Niazmand and their children Motahhareh, Fatemeh, and Ali, attained the honor of martyrdom following the brutal attacks by the Zionist regime on Friday in Tehran. The purified bodies of this five-member family were held in a magnificent funeral ceremony in Gonbad-e Kavus and laid to rest near Imamzadeh Yahya ibn Zayd.

Hojjatoleslam Niazmand, a devoted preacher and the imam of Imam Musa Kazem (AS) Mosque in Shahid Chamran Town, along with his wife Elham Farahmand and their three young children, attained martyrdom on the morning of Friday, June 13, 2025, as a result of the Zionist regime’s ruthless attack on residential areas of Tehran. They were active jihadi clerics from Gonbad-e Kavus, who had spent years working in cultural sectors and providing valuable services to the underprivileged in Golestan province. Navid Shahed Golestan conducted an interview with the parents of Martyr Elham Farahmand, the mother and father of the family, to commemorate their sacrifice.

Amir Farahmand, father of Martyr Elham Farahmand, said:

“Our roots are from Azerbaijan, but due to the harsh winters and my father’s limited job opportunities there, our family migrated to Gonbad. I was born in Gonbad, worked here, and later got married. My wife, Tayebeh Mohammadi, was originally from our village in Bostanabad, Tabriz. About thirty-five years ago, during a trip to Tabriz, we met her family, got married, and were blessed with five children (two sons and three daughters). Elham was our second child and eldest daughter. She was very kind, polite, calm, and dignified. She loved nature, flowers, and spending time outdoors. She was diligent in observing religious duties. After finishing high school, concerned about the university environment, I consulted with our local cleric, who suggested she enroll in the seminary. We also discussed that after her graduation, she could work as a Quran instructor. Elham agreed and enrolled in the seminary, first in Qom, then Najafabad, Isfahan, and graduated after four years.”

“My children were the first martyrs of Tehran”

After graduation, Elham married Hojjatoleslam Abolfazl, a kind, devout, and moral man who was also a seminary student. For her dowry, in devotion to the Fourteen Infallibles, we gave 14 coins and a Quran. After marriage, they first lived in Qom. Once they had children, Elham stayed home to care for them. They had three children: Fatemeh (13), Ali (10), and Motahhareh (6) at the time of martyrdom. Both Elham and Abolfazl worked for the Ministry of Defense while also serving as imam and ideological-political employees. Elham worked alongside her husband on religious and Quranic duties.

On the morning of the attack, their home was struck by missiles. My other daughter, living in Tehran, called crying: “Elham’s house has been hit by a missile. I’ve been calling, but no one answers.” When she and her husband arrived, they saw the building had been destroyed.

“My daughter was trapped like Hazrat Zahra (AS)”

Immediately after hearing the news, my wife and I went to Tehran. First, they recovered Abolfazl’s body, then Elham and our youngest grandchild. My eldest son went to the forensic office to identify Elham, but since her head was separated, identification was difficult. She was trapped between walls like Hazrat Zahra (AS). Abolfazl’s hands were severed, and my grandchildren were dismembered. Accepting this was extremely hard, but I thank God that my children never deviated from the path of Imam Hussain (AS) and were faithful to Islam and leadership. Their family lived in a 14-story building, which was completely destroyed; all residents were martyred under the rubble. Our grandchildren were identified only after several days, during which my spouse anxiously awaited news of their survival.

“The presence of people and officials eased our grief”

The Martyrs’ Foundation in Tehran instructed us to return to Gonbad; the martyrs’ bodies were sent by ambulance. The ceremony in Gonbad was magnificent, attended by people and officials: the respected Friday Imam, the governor, the seminary of brothers and sisters, police, friends, and relatives. Their wide presence offered us some consolation in our deep grief.

I constantly dream of my grandchildren and feel they are still at home. This morning, when I woke up for prayer and saw their photos, tears flowed. The kindness and politeness of my daughter and son-in-law and the sweetness of my grandchildren, who always visited us, made their absence extremely hard to bear. My youngest grandchild, at 4 years old, once stood on the balcony, raised his voice, and shouted Allahu Akbar in support of religion, the country, and the leader. My eldest grandchild, though small and weak, fasted during Ramadan, saying: “Palestinian children are martyred while hungry and thirsty; we should fast in their memory.” The family also made the annual pilgrimage to Karbala during Arbaeen, enduring hardships joyfully in memory of the martyrs of Karbala.

“I pray for the health of our Leader until the arrival of Imam Mahdi (AS)”

My daughter always told me: “Father, pray that our family becomes martyrs.” I was always surprised by this, as if she was inspired that they would attain martyrdom together—and indeed, God granted this wish. I ask God for the health of our Leader until the appearance of Imam Mahdi (AS). God protect him; we love him dearly. My other son-in-law serves in the Leader’s office, and my daughter and her husband used to contact the Leader’s office for their children’s names, which were beautifully chosen.

“Losing five loved ones in one day is extremely hard”

Tayebeh Mohammadi, mother of Martyr Elham Farahmand, said:

“Elham was calm, dignified, and kind, always helping with household tasks. After high school, she entered the seminary, and Hojjatoleslam Abolfazl, a very intelligent and kind man, proposed marriage. Around 3:30 a.m., my younger daughter called crying. I had just woken up after Fajr prayer and thought it was an earthquake. She told me Elham’s house had been hit by a missile. My heart sank. When they confirmed that Elham and her family had become martyrs, I couldn’t believe it. For a month before, I was restless and grieving, wondering why I felt so uneasy. I couldn’t sleep the night before Eid al-Ghadir, and when my daughter called to inform me of Elham’s martyrdom, it broke my heart. They were all so kind and respectful. Every month, they visited us in Gonbad, always greeting us warmly. Elham was modest, calm, and devout, following the path of Hazrat Zahra (AS). Losing five beloved family members in a single day is incredibly difficult.”