Iran Press/ Iran news: Saba Babaei, also called Koniko Yamamura by her Japanese name, was the mother of Mohammad Babaei who was martyred during the Ba'athist Iraq-imposed war in the 1980s.
Ebrahim Raisi said in a message, "The death of Seba Babaei (Koniko Yamamura), the mother of the only Japanese martyr during the holy defense period, is unpleasant and heart-rending."
"This devoted mother, after accepting the religion of Islam and devotion to the school of Shia and Ahl al-Bayt (PBUH), started a new chapter of her life by immigrating to Iran," the message added.
Raisi stated, "This immigrant of the Land of Sun, Nippon, by raising his brave son, the precious martyr 'Mohammed Babaei', kept his name and his son's name in the golden book of sacrifice and martyrdom forever."
"I offer my condolences to the beloved family of Babaei on the passing away of this faithful lady, and I pray for God's grace for the deceased and companionship with her martyred son, and patience and health for the honorable family," the president wrote.
Yamamura chose the name Saba after she converted to Islam following her marriage to an Iranian Muslim in Japan.
She later moved to Iran where her 19-year-old son Mohammad was martyred during the Ba'athist Iraq-imposed war.
Her memoirs have been compiled in a book named “The Immigrant of the Land of Sun” written by Hamid Hesam and Massoud Amirkhani.
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