The story of Younis Bahri, an extraordinary Iraqi figure, captivates the imagination. Known for his audacious encounters, he famously entered in the presence of Adolf Hitler without permission. Throughout his life, Bahri established 16 radio stations, mastered 17 languages, held 15 nationalities, and engaged in 90 lawful marriages, along with more than 200 civil unions. His legacy includes fathering 365 sons, while the number of daughters remains a mystery, and he bragged about having more than a thousand grandchildren. Born in Mosul between 1900 and 1904, Bahri earned the nickname ‘Al-Bahri’, meaning ‘The Sailor’, after graduating as a naval officer from the Military Academy in Istanbul. He furthered his education at the Cavalry Military Academy in Munich, Germany in 1921.
His literary contributions are significant. He authored numerous books and traveled extensively, mastering various languages, such as French, German, Italian, Spanish, Turkish, and English. Notably, he founded the first Arabic radio station in Europe, the Berlin Arabic Radio, in 1939, which broadcast from Germany to the Arab world. Through this platform, he famously declared, “This is Berlin, the voice of the Arabs.” While some aspects of his life might be embellished, the legend of Younis Bahri endures, reflecting a remarkable journey filled with achievements and adventures.
Turning to the Iranian Revolution, we encounter the enigmatic figure of Imam Khomeini. According to some accounts, Khomeini’s grandfather hailed from India and signed his name as ‘Hindi’, meaning ‘Indian’. His life was marked by exile. He was forced from Iran to Iraq during the Shah’s regime and later sought refuge in France. In France, his image was carefully crafted by intellectuals as a symbol of opposition, even if the revolution itself criticized Western influences.
In 1979, he returned to Tehran on a French plane, accompanied by 120 foreign journalists, enjoying blanket Western media protection. When asked about his feelings upon returning, his response was a simple “Hichi,” which means ‘nothing’. This seemingly innocuous word would later carry profound implications, as Khomeini executed the translator of this phrase three years later. The word ‘nothing’ was not just a slip of the tongue, as it became the guiding principle for his governance. Khomeini ruled Iran until his death, amassing power while leaving a legacy of destruction rather than construction.
In a poignant reflection on familial responsibilities, a young man approached the manager of a care home, inquiring about the necessary documents to put his father in an elderly care facility. The manager’s response was profound and touching: “You must provide a photograph of your father rushing your mother to the hospital when you were born, a picture of him holding you, filled with joy at your arrival, whispering the call to prayer into your ear. Include a photo of him returning home from work, weary from laboring to support you and your siblings; a snapshot of him carrying you to the hospital in the middle of the night due to fever; and one of him checking your temperature with his hand on your forehead.
Add a photo of him buying you Eid clothes, just to see the happiness in your eyes; a picture of him borrowing money for your tuition or to buy you a phone; and finally, a photo of him saving money to celebrate your wedding day. “Remember, my son, when you were young, he cared for you; now that he is old, it is your turn to care for him. Did he ever think of putting you in a shelter when you were little? “May God bless the living with long lives, have mercy on the deceased, and grant us the strength to treat our parents with the kindness they deserve.”
