On Friday evening, June 17, 2022, the “Adviser on Women’s Affairs to the Deputy for International Affairs of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly” visited the mother of the only Japanese martyr of the Holy Defense and wished her good health.
While conveying the regards of Ayatollah Ramazani, Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly to this faithful and devoted lady, Dr. Iran Roknabadi was informed about her treatment process.
Of Japanese descent, Mrs. Koniko Yamamura (also known as Saba Babaei in Persian) became a Muslim after meeting and marrying her Iranian husband, immigrated to Iran at the age of 21 and lived there for more than fifty years.
She experienced the 1963 Demonstrations in Iran, the victory of the Islamic Revolution and the holy defense (Iraq’s 8-year imposed war against Iran), and her 19-year-old son (Mohammad Babaei) was martyred during the holy defense.
The diary of Martyr Babaei’s mother have been published under the title “An Immigrant from the Land of Sun Rising”.
Yamamura was an employee of the Ministry of Culture (and Islamic Guidance) who retired at the age of 65. Her employment at the Ministry of Culture coincided with the early years of the Imposed War when translators were needed to translate news from other countries.
She was a teacher at the Refah School for 20 years, and then, for six years she taught foreign languages, including Japanese, at the University of Tehran.
Without asking for salary, like a mother she accompanied the wounded in action veterans on journeys to other countries, especially Japan, for treatment and peace activities. Also, as a symbolic leader, she accompanied the Iranian Paralympic convoy to the opening ceremony of the 2020 Paralympic.
It is worth mentioning that she is also a member of the General Assembly of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, represents the Sister-Followers of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) in Japan, and was honored in the Sixth Session of the General Assembly.