When His Holiness Ayatollah Hakim in protest against the Ba'thist regime (of Iraq) went to Baghdad, the Muslims and Shiites from all over Iraq would in large numbers and groups pay him a visit. This by itself was an anti-Baathist regime move that took place and it was in such a situation that the Baathist regime attacked Ayatollah Hakim’s residence, besieged it, shut the gates of the house and arrested those who came to see him. Consequently and in anger, Ayatollah Hakim departed for the town of Kufa and also cancelled all visits to his home such that in the last days of this global Shiite religious authority’s life, he departed from this earthly abode in exile and oppression. The ‘ulema’–erudite theologians–of the holy city of Najaf, out of fear and terror lest they become targets of the wrath and fury of the Ba'thist regime, avoided all contacts and meetings with Ayatollah Hakim. However, it was Imam Khomeini who with his characteristic and prophet-like courage would visit him regularly, and also send his son the late Hajj Aqa Mustafa to visit Ayatollah Hakim at his home. Thus, on one such occasion the Ba'thist regime of Iraq arrested the Imam’s son, Hajj Aqa Mustafa, and transferred him to Baghdad. An aura of fear and horror overtook the city of Najaf. People came in droves to see the Imam and asked him to officially demand the Ba'thist regime of Iraq release Hajj Aqa Mustafa, because everybody feared that they would do something terrible to him. In response Imam Khomeini stated: “These hardships and bitterness are part of the (political) struggle. One who is fighting the enemy never asks any favor from his enemy. I will not ask for his release even if they kill him.” This was at a time when one week had passed since the late Hajj Aqa Mustafa was sent to Baghdad's prison and nobody had any news of his fate.
Narrated by: Hujjat al Islam wal Muslimeen Sayyid Ali Akbar Mohtashami
Taken from: Neda Journal, p. 47