Friday, May 25, 2012


News / From Our Bureaus

Iran-Iraq War Dead Buried At Tehran University

Students at Sharif University in 2006 protest the burial of war dead on campus.
x
Students at Sharif University in 2006 protest the burial of war dead on campus.
TEXT SIZE - +
TEHRAN -- The bodies of five unknown soldiers killed in the Iran-Iraq War have been buried on the campus of Tehran University, Radio Farda reported.

The burial took place during the Ashura religious holiday, when classes are not held.

The ceremony was led by members of the Basij, the official Islamic militia supervised by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Student activists criticized the act at Tehran University by distributing a symbolic protest letter addressed to the unknown soldier.

The first such martyrs' burial took place in March 2007 at Tehran's prestigious Sharif Technical University and sparked large student protests.

Critics say President Mahmud Ahmadinejad and the supreme leader take ideological advantage of such burials to promote the interests of ultraconservatives at the expense of those who were killed in the 1980-88 war.

Most Popular

               
 
 
 
 
Being Discussed Now

Ashton's Wardrobe Diplomacy With Iran Gets Noticed

Latest Comment (3 total)

Jay: Very interesting. It shows the length the clerical establishment can go to claim ... More

Iraq Releases Russian Bikers

Latest Comment (1 total)

Mamuka: I think these explorers should get together with the adventurers who hiked into ... More

Serbia President-Elect To Visit Brussels

Latest Comment (1 total)

Mamuka: So that's one vote for first trip to Moscow and one vote for ... More