The annual gathering around Babak's castle in AzarAbAdegAn, has been getting larger and larger every year. Iranians gather around this historic site to pay homage to one of our greatest heroes.

Babak fought the Arab occupiers for more than 22 years from this remote castle and inflicted heavy defeats upon the forces of the Arab Khalife.

Babak was finally arrested and along with his brother was tortured to death. Yet even in death he defied the Arab rulers and showed his true unyielding Iranian spirit. When his arm was first cut off, he dabbed the blood on his face with his other hand. The Khalife asked Babak what he was doing and Babak replied: "Because I am bleeding, I was worried my face may turn pale. I wanted to make sure no one gets the impression that I was scared of death..."

And now the clerical occupiers of our country have noticed how this annual gathering is rekindling the spirit of Babak and have banned gatherings and started to arrest the organisers. Listen to the interview with Iranian journalist:

Radio Liberty interview with E. hedayat in Tabriz

www.radioazadi.org/realaudio/iran/2002/07/20020702_1500_4333_4804.ram

Little do they know that Iran will never die.