Tourism chief: We should not be afraid of foreign tourists

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November 15, 2015

The director of the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization has said that Iran should turn into a hub of halal, religious, cultural and historical tourism in the world.

Masoud Soltanifar made the remark in an interview with Iran newspaper’s Zahra Keshvari and added that we should not be afraid of the arrival of foreign tourists in the country. Known as the calm man of the Cabinet, Soltanifar, also a vice-president, looks calmer than expected. To prove that, it is enough to say that since taking charge of the tourism organization, Soltanifar and his plans have not been under the media spotlight. The following is the translation of part of the interview – which mainly focused on post-sanctions tourism – Iran published on November 14:

Tsunami of tourism

[…] The political developments over the past two years have pulled the tourism sector – unlike other sectors in the country – out of recession. I think the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) will bring the foreign private sector on board as well. […]

The trend of foreign tourist arrival in Iran has changed remarkably over the past two years. Tourism posted a 4.6 percent growth in the world and five percent in Asia in the past two years, but the share of Iran was 12 percent, which is [almost] three times the global growth rate.

To achieve the objectives envisioned in the 20-year Outlook Plan for 2025, Iran needs to register an annual 12-14 percent growth over the next ten years.

Golden opportunity or threat

Iran’s tourism infrastructure, including hotels and roads, is not appropriate. […] Despite the shortcomings, the country has had good experiences. Tourism in Iran has grown three times that of the world. We have taken measures in the last two years to expedite the development of tourism. We need to remove the problems standing in the way. […]

Air fleet

Iranian airlines are operating with about 250 planes at their disposal, one-third of which are grounded on different grounds. […] Other airlines in regional countries have found a good market [in Iran] because we have to use their planes thanks to the existing limitations. […]

The stage is now set and the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development and private-owned airlines have entered into talks with the world’s top plane making companies.

Visa services

[…] The eleventh government has expanded its visa services. Iran issues visa on arrival for the nationals of 190 countries at seven airports across the country and has extended the previous 15-day visas to 30 days. A workgroup – comprising representatives from the Foreign Ministry, the Cultural Heritage Organization, and the ministries of Intelligence, the Interior, and Industries, Mines and Trade – is studying a plan to remove visa requirements, on a mutual basis, with a number of countries in line with diplomatic considerations.

The government has also given the go-ahead to e-visa, and the Foreign Ministry is expected to prepare the ground for issuing electronic visas in a year.

Reasons for traveling to Iran

[…] Religious tourists account for 50 percent of foreign arrivals in Iran. Muslims and people from neighboring countries come to Iran to pay pilgrimage visits to Imam Reza’s holy shrine in Mashhad, Hazrat Masoumeh in Qom and Hazrat Ahmad ibn Musa in Shiraz.

Iran’s nature also attracts tourists. Arabs who live in desert countries prefer Iran’s northern provinces, and cultural tourists from Europe, America, South and East Asia prefer to see Iran’s cultural attractions in historical cities. Europeans are very interested in Iran’s deserts. We are developing accommodation and eco-tourist centers, including makeshift structures in the desert, which are to be launched from between six months to one year from now.

Nationality of tourists

Iran has chosen 40 countries, including 15 neighbors, as its target market. […] Tourists from Iraq, a Shiite-dominated region in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman travel to Iran each year for pilgrimage and treatment purposes. Iran has launched direct flights between Kish and Muscat and is to establish direct flights from Muscat to other Iranian cities. […]

Europe has combination tours, for instance, the Italy-France tour. Iran is likely to organize a combination tour with Turkey. […]

Unlike the Saudis, Muslims in other countries such as Syria, Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Yemen, Bahrain, Oman, Egypt and Kuwait are very much interested in having interaction with Iran.

Halal, cultural, historic tourism

Our main approach is to turn Iran into the biggest hub of halal, cultural and historical tourism. […] We need to set a target of 30-32 million [tourists] so that we can achieve 20 million. The stage has been set for Iran to turn into the hub of halal tourism.

Malaysia where Muslims make up 58 percent of the population has just embarked on the halal tourism. Although it has achieved great successes in tourism, Malaysia has just started to promote halal tourism. China and India too have carried out plans on halal tourism trying to absorb Muslim tourists.

[…]

Tourism has become a specialty area today and the number of general tourists is dropping in the world by the day. Cultural and historic tourists first study tourist attractions and then pick Iran as their destination. They used to pick Iraq, Egypt and Syria, but they now prefer to come to Iran due to war and insecurity in those countries. […]

We should not be concerned that any foreign tourist carries a message from a special culture which is in contrast with our own culture. Iran’s approach is to develop halal, religious and cultural tourism. Tourists who are seeking other things in their trips will never head for Iran in the first place. We want to turn Iran into the hub of halal, religious, cultural and historical tourism in the world.

Investment opportunities

[…] We are trying to build the hotels the tourism sector needs as quickly as possible. We try to tap into the finances of the National Development Fund and other banking resources to complete hotel projects which have posted 40-50 percent physical progress. I hope we can add more four- or five-star hotels to the country’s hospitality industry during the Rouhani administration.

The development and renovation of air fleet will get underway in coming months after the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Currently more than 900 projects worth $ 10b which are being conducted by the private sector have registered 45 percent physical progress on average.

An investment package for the tourism sector which has been pieced together for the post-sanctions era has 1,500 projects ($ 30b). It will be awarded to domestic and foreign investors. Iran’s tourism sector is booming now. I think tourism is the driving force behind efforts to pull Iran’s economy out of recession.

Iran, a regional hub for long journeys

Geographically, Iran lies at the crossroads of three continents. It can turn into a regional hub. We need to carry out airport development projects. […] We need to gradually raise the capacity of the airports and transfer more passengers if we seek to turn the country into a regional center.

Because of sanctions and lack of investment in Iran’s airports, they do not offer the kind of services regional airports render to passengers. We need to have transit hotels for transit passengers.

Iranian VP decries double standards in dealing with terrorism

By

Emad Askarieh

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November 15, 2015

Disgusting developments are unfolding in different parts of the world these days and terrorist attacks which pose a serious threat to global peace and security are claiming innocent lives in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and France, First Vice-President Eshagh Jahangiri said at a ceremony Sunday to award the recipients of the Alameh Tabatabei Award.

He further said the war on terror requires serious international will and coordination as well as a non-selective approach.

The Iranian vice-president went on to say it is not right to remain silent in the face of terrorist incidents in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon and generate uproar when they happen somewhere else in the world. “Human conscience should react, wherever such incidents take place.”

Jahangiri said as part of a first phase of the overall fight against terrorism an intellectual front is being formed and scholars play an important role on that front.

In the next stage, those who coordinate the terrorist organizations and finance their operations should be targeted.

One cannot say IS has come into being spontaneously. Definitely, certain countries have played a role in its emergence and continued survival, the Iranian vice-president concluded.

Coverage of Paris terror attacks in the Iranian press

By

Golrokh Askarieh

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November 15, 2015

The coordinated terror attacks on Friday in Paris were the main story of Iranian newspapers on Sunday (November 15).

Note: IFP has decided not to include Kayhan and Vatan-e Emrooz in its review of the front pages of Iranian dailies today because of the headlines they ran on the terrorist attacks in Paris. Iran Front Page views their headlines as running counter to the esprit de corps of the Iranian nation. To us, this is not censorship.

Ettela’at: Paris experienced its bloodiest night since World War II.

A series of attacks by IS in Paris left 160 dead and 200 others injured [Authorities have now revised down the death toll to 129 and put the number of injured at 352.]

The IS terrorist grouping has claimed responsibility for the deadly attacks which prompted French authorities to declare three days of national mourning.

Abrar: France has put Schengen visa-free travel on hold.

Afarinesh: President Hollande has described Paris’ terrorist attacks as unprecedented in French history.

Afkar: The bloodiest night of Paris since World War II.

Aftab-e Yazd: A war theater in the heart of Paris.

The bloodiest terrorist attack in French history has left 160 dead and 200 others wounded.

Amin: Nightmare of death in Paris

Explosions, shootings and hostage-taking in Paris have left 153 dead and 200 others injured.

Arman-e Emrooz: Paris’ bloody night left 140 dead and 350 injured.

French authorities have declared a state of emergency; President Rouhani has called off his European tour.

Asr-e Eghtesad: Terrorist fireworks in Paris prompted French officials to put Schengen visa-free travel on hold.

Asr-e Iranian: France declares three days of national mourning.

IS says it is now time to take revenge on Washington, Rome and London.

Asrar: Bloody night in Paris

Europe in the grip of panic

Bahar: Tehran has sympathized with Paris.

The president’s European tour has been postponed following terrorist attacks in France.

Donyay-e Eghtesad: France in a state of war

Ebtekar: Paris in shock

Terrorist attacks in the French capital left at least 128 dead and 200 others injured.

Etemad: Horror, bloody terrorist attacks in Paris

President of the Islamic Republic of Iran has sympathized with the French People.

[The daily has reprinted a foreign daily’s front page in French]

Etemad: On behalf of the Iranian nation, I condemn [the terrorist attacks in Paris], President Rouhani said in a message to his French counterpart.

Etemad: This time around the world took fright.

From silence in the face of the Beirut incident to uproar over the Paris carnage

Farhikhtegan: Iran is on the frontline of the fight against terrorism.

Iranian officials have extended condolences to those who lost loved ones on Paris’ Black Friday.

Financial Tribune: Europe on high alert

Rouhani cancels Europe trip over “inhuman” Paris attacks.

Forsat-e Emrooz: The sickle of violence in sleepless streets

Ghanoon: IS has caused a bloodbath in France; reactions to Paris’ Black Friday pour in.

Haft-e Sobh: Beirut, Baghdad and Paris

More than 200 were killed at the hands of IS in three historic cities in 48 hours.

Hambastegi: The French version of 9/11.

Armed terror attacks in Paris left 153 killed and 200 others injured.

Hamdeli: France’s September 11

How the world media covered Friday’s terrorist attacks in Paris

Hamshahri: IS has declared war on Europe

The Vienna talks on Syria were held in the shadows of the Paris attacks.

Hemayat: Terrorism comes back to haunt its backers.

Iran: A nightmarish night in Paris

Unprecedented, coordinated attacks by IS terrorists in Europe have killed more than 120 and injured 200 others.

The symphony of death in Paris

Major cities across the world on alert

Iran Daily: At least 127 killed in Paris terrorist attacks

Rouhani condemns attacks, cancels Europe trip.

Assad: Attacks not isolated from bombings in Lebanon, Syria

Jahan-e Eghtesad: Paris in the night of horror

Jahan-e Sanat: IS declares war on France by staging six terrorist attacks on the French capital.

Jamejam: A bloody night in Paris

Javan: The return home

A thunderous night in Paris left 350 dead or injured.

Jomhouri Islami: Terrorists turned Paris into a bloodbath.

The French tasted the bitter taste of support for terrorists.

Kaenat: Terrorism goes global

Kar va Kargar: Terror attacks in Paris left 160 dead.

What happened in Paris showed that terrorism poses an international threat, said Foreign Minister Zarif.

Kasbokar: Horror in Paris; terror attacks in Paris have left more than 350 people killed or injured

Kayhan International: War in Central Paris

Khorasan: The IS boomerang

Massacre in Paris, panic in Europe

President Hollande has denounced the attacks as an act of war.

Mardomsalari: The bride of the world is butchered.

November 13 became a match for September 11.

Noavaran: Paris shed tears of blood.

Cracks have appeared in the glass security wall of the West.

Payam-e Zaman: The bloodiest night in Paris since the Second World War

Qods: IS returns home

IS there another 9/11 around the corner?

Rah-e Mardom: France declares three days of national mourning.

IS has vowed to stage attacks on Rome, London and Washington.

Resalat: The deadliest night in Paris leaves 380 dead or injured.

Europe is in a state of emergency.

Roozan: France in grief, Europe in panic

From the Charlie Hebdo shooting to the Paris catastrophe

Saheb Ghalam: The bloody night of Paris

Sayeh: The bride of Europe is draped in black in grief

Sepid: What happened in Paris hospitals in the bloody night of the French capital?

Setareh Sobh: September 11 repeated itself on November 13 in Paris.

Security is tightened around the world.

Shahrvand: Paris fell victim [to terror attacks].

Sharq: Horror in the heart of Paris

In the bloodiest offensive against a Western country since 9/11, IS terrorists stage attacks at six spots in Paris.

Iranians sympathize with Parisians affected by the terrorist bombings.

Shorou: Another September 11, this time in Paris

Iran has condemned the terror attacks in France and Lebanon.

SMT: Europe’s economy in shock

Taadol: A catastrophic year for Paris

Ten months after the shooting at Charlie Hebdo, there was a second terrorist massacre in Paris.

Tehran Times: France declares a state of emergency

We are at war with ISIL not with Islam: Dutch PM

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on Nov. 15

By

Golrokh Askarieh

-

November 15, 2015

The gruesome images of multiple terror attacks in Paris and global condemnation of the horrible attacks dominated the front pages of Iranian newspapers on Sunday. The cover of the dailies also featured the Vienna talks on Syria which wrapped up on Saturday without releasing a statement.

Note: IFP has decided not to include Kayhan and Vatan-e Emrooz in its review of the front pages of Iranian dailies today because of the headlines they ran on the terrorist attacks in Paris. Iran Front Page views their headlines as running counter to the esprit de corps of the Iranian nation. To us, this is not censorship.

Ettela’at: Paris experienced its bloodiest night since World War II.

A series of attacks by IS in Paris left 160 dead and 200 others injured [Authorities have now revised down the death toll to 129 and put the number of injured at 352.]

The IS terrorist grouping has claimed responsibility for the deadly attacks which prompted French authorities to declare three days of national mourning.

Highlights of Ettela’at newspaper on Nov. 15

A look at Iranian newspaper front pages on Nov. 15

Abrar: The interior minister has said that part of the country’s problems will remain unresolved despite elections.

Afkar: Elections should not be a venue for confrontation and dispute among people, said the interior minister.

Aftab-e Yazd: A war theater in the heart of Paris.

The bloodiest terrorist attack in French history has left 160 dead and 200 others wounded.

Aftab-e Yazd: The Paris incident bolstered Iran’s stance in Vienna [talks over Syria], Fereydoun Majlesi, a political analyst, said in an interview with the daily.

Arman-e Emrooz: Mohsen Rafighdoost [a member of the team that helped found the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps] has said that [Chairman of the Expediency Council] Ayatollah Hashemi should run [for the Assembly of Experts elections] and be elected.

Asrar: A historic record for the female Iranian archer

Zahra Nemati, Iran’s gold medalist of the 2012 London Paralympic Games, wins a berth in the Rio 2016 Paralympics [in addition to the place she has already booked at the Rio Olympics].

Asrar: The health minister has criticized the behavior of insurance companies as unethical.

Ebtekar: Reformists are to form an alliance to counter hardliners in the elections, said Ebrahim Asgharzadeh, a reformist political activist, in an interview with Ebtekar.

Etemad: This time around the world took fright.

From silence in the face of the Beirut incident to uproar over Paris carnage

Etemad: On behalf of the Iranian nation, I condemn [the terrorist attacks in Paris], President Rouhani said in a message to his French counterpart.

Hambastegi: “The trend established in the 2013 [presidential] elections should be consolidated in 2016 [parliamentary] elections,” said Mohammad Reza Aref, a reformist leader.

Hemayat: Terrorism comes back to haunt its backers.

Javan: Despite obstructionist efforts by Saudi Arabia, as many as 400 movie theaters in Turkey will screen Muhammad, the Messenger of God.

Jomhouri Islami: The president’s Europe trip was postponed to another time.

Jomhouri Islami: Vienna talks on the Syrian crisis came to an end without releasing a statement.

Resalat: Foreign Minister Zarif has said that the Vienna conference [over Syria] is unlikely to produce serious results.

Resalat: “We will have good news on meetings between the principlists,” said Gholamali Haddad Adel.

Roozan: Boycott and tension; the strategy of the Worriers in the press exhibition

Ali Motahari, a Tehran MP, has said that [decisions by certain principlist dailies and news agencies] to boycott the press exhibition was an auspicious happening.

Saheb Ghalam: The world will see Iran as a stable region for investment.

Saheb Ghalam: Iran has earned $ 113m in carpet export revenues in the March-September period.

Shahrvand: Paris fell victim [to terror attacks].

Shahrvand: A deputy health minister has said as many as 4.5 million Iranians are suffering from diabetes.

His comments came at a ceremony to mark World Diabetes Day (November 14).

Sharq: A six-month prescription for Syria

The Vienna talks were held with FM Zarif in attendance.

SMT: The volume of trade between Iran and China is expected to hit the $ 70b mark.

Highlights of Ettela’at newspaper on Nov. 15

By

Golrokh Askarieh

-

November 15, 2015

♦ Paris experienced its bloodiest night since World War II.

A series of attacks by IS in Paris left 160 dead and 200 others injured [Authorities have now revised down the death toll to 129 and put the number of injured at 352.]

The IS terrorist grouping has claimed responsibility for the deadly attacks which prompted French authorities to declare three days of national mourning.

♦ The chairman of the Expediency Council has said police and public vigilance is imperative in the fight against terrorism.

Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani further said the fight against terror requires international resolve and that if Iran’s principled stand had been heeded, the scourge of terrorism might have been less pervasive today.

♦ The Iranian foreign minister has said that the region is facing grave threats.

Mohammad Javad Zarif further said that some regional countries are unable to appreciate the gravity of the dangers that threaten the entire region.

He also said the Americans are not serious in the fight against terror and simply support Israel.

♦ The collective will of nations will overwhelm terrorists, President Hassan Rouhani told Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi over the phone.

The president described expansion of ties between the two countries as being in the best interest of the two nations and the region.

♦ Pocketbook issues are not the only thing that matters; let’s think about books and studying too, said deputy culture minister Seyyed Abbas Salehi.

♦ Iran, the US and the European Union have held a meeting to draw up a formula on termination of sanctions.

A panel of Iranian Foreign Ministry’s legal experts and a representative of the Central Bank attended the 9-hour meeting.

Zarif, Kerry discuss hold meeting on JCPOA in Vienna

By

Golrokh Askarieh

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November 15, 2015

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has said the manner of removing sanctions and the implementation of the United States’ commitments have been discussed during a meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry.

Zarif said after the Saturday meeting that the “axis of talks over the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was based on the guidelines of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.”

He added that the meeting also focused on the execution of an official document to redesign Arak’s heavy-water nuclear reactor.

The two counterparts met following a Syria peace conference in Vienna.

Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that the signing of the official document to redesign the reactor is currently being done by Iran and the world powers and “will be completed by Monday.”

Araghchi made the comments following a meeting with EU Deputy Foreign Policy Chief Helga Schmid in Vienna.

[…]

Iranians express solidarity with France over Paris attacks

By

Golrokh Askarieh

-

November 15, 2015

The Iranians have expressed solidarity with the French people following the deadly terror attacks in Paris carried out by the IS militant group.

The Iranians on Saturday paid tribute to those killed or injured in the attacks and extended their condolences to the families and friends of the victims of the attacks by gathering in front of the French embassy in Tehran.

They laid down flowers and placards which read: “We stand by you” and “We are united” in Farsi, in French and English in front of the building.

The IS terror group claimed responsibility for assaults, which were carried out by gunmen and suicide bombers in several venues, including a concert hall, restaurants and the national stadium in Paris.

French President Francois Hollande denounced the assault, which killed nearly 130 people, as an “act of war.”

President Rouhani sent a message to his French counterpart, condemning the attacks.

“In the name of the Iranian nation, itself a victim of the evil scourge of terrorism, I strongly condemn these inhumane crimes and condole with the bereaved French nation and government,” President Rouhani said in his message.

Other countries, including the United States, Russia, Britain, Germany, Spain, India, Australia, and Turkey, as well as the European Union (EU) have voiced their condemnation of the attacks.

According to the latest details provided by Francois Molins, the Paris prosecutor, 129 people were killed in the Paris terror attacks while 352 others suffered injuries. He added that at least 99 people are still in critical condition and that seven terrorists had died.

The French capital was targeted in another series of terrorist attacks as recently as January 7, when gunmen attacked the Paris offices of French magazine Charlie Hebdo, killing 12 people and wounding 11 others.

The incident was followed by a series of sieges and shootings across Paris, resulting in the killing of more people and an extensive sense of insecurity in the country.

Iran’s president, Italian PM urge joint efforts against terrorism

By

Golrokh Askarieh

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November 15, 2015

President Rouhani made a phone call to Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi to discuss a range of issues, including the postponement of his planned trip to Italy and Friday’s terrorist attacks in Paris.

In the telephone conversation on Saturday, Rouhani pointed to the coordination between the Iranian and Italian foreign ministers over his state visit to Rome, expressing hope that the trip will be made in “a more appropriate time” in the future.

He further pointed to the terrorist attacks in Paris and called for concerted efforts to fight terrorism in the world.

Renzi, for his part, emphasized that Italy is looking forward to the Iranian president’s trip, expressing hope that the visit would be made as soon as possible. He also stressed the need for a joint fight against terrorism.

Rouhani postponed his scheduled official visits to France and Italy a day after a string of terrorist attacks swept through the French capital.

[…]

The insane genius

By

Emad Askarieh

-

November 15, 2015

It took forensic experts nine months to establish that Siamak, an astronomy genius, has killed his mother by reason of insanity. As a result, the killer who was taking drugs for mental illness was able to win the forgiveness of his sisters.

In early November Entekhab.ir released a report on the killing of an old woman at the hands of his genius son. The following is the translation of part of that report:

The murder

January 19, 2015: It was 8:00 p.m. A young man calls a police station in Shahr-e Ziba, a neighborhood in northwest Tehran, to report that the man who lived in the apartment next door was not in a normal condition and had been fighting his mother. The young caller urged officers to go to the scene, arguing that a bad incident was waiting to happen.

I killed my mom

Following the phone call, officers showed up at the address they had been given. […] Officers knocked on the door of the apartment, but nobody answered. They found no suspicious thing. As they were about to leave, the young man [the young caller] who was very much concerned phoned the Emergency Medical Service and the Fire Department [Organization of Tehran Municipality’s Fire and Safety Services].

Firefighters rushed to the scene and knocked on the same door. A man, who was calmly drinking fruit juice, opened the door and told the firefighters, “I have killed my mom and her body is inside.”

Hearing this, officers cautiously entered the apartment. A deafening silence prevailed; the smell of smoke was in the air. The officers conducted a search and found a horrible [crime] scene. A 70-year-old woman had been killed. Further investigation by Judge Hosseinpour revealed that the man had killed his mother, calmly eaten dinner, reviewed the crime scenario and incessantly pulled on his cigarette before deciding to surrender himself when the police showed up at his doorstep.

Murder after returning from Ukraine

The neighbor who had called in the crime told officers, “Siamak and I were classmates in high school. Later we became neighbors in this building. Sometimes Siamak’s behavior was far from normal.

“That night he had just returned home from Ukraine. His mom called me and asked for help. She said that Siamak was behaving abnormally and asked me to go to her place and calm him down. I went there to see what was going on. When I got there, Siamak was not in a normal condition. He was talking about strange things, saying that his mom had hatched a plot to kill him and that while on the airliners he learned that his mom had sent two fighter jets to blow up his plane.

“His words were strange and frightening. They sent chills down my spine. When I was leaving their apartment, his mom was begging me, but he angrily told me to go away and leave them alone. That’s why I called the police. Because of Siamak’s abnormal behavior, I knew something bad was up and my worst fears realized.”

Confession by the genius

The investigation that followed showed that Siamak, a 50-year-old physics and math genius, killed his mom on a strange motive. An educated man, Siamak married an American woman, but they got separated a few years later. That was why he was living with his mom. He was a genius in math, astronomy and computer and his room was full of Russian and English books to the brim.

[…] After being taken to custody, Siamak said during the interrogation, “My mom was devilish. It was just a few hours ago that she scrambled two fighter jets to explode the plane I had boarded to come back to Iran from Ukraine.

“Tonight I got involved in physical confrontation with her. The more I beat her, the stronger she grew. So I put my hand on her mouth and eventually she stopped breathing.”

Siamak later reconstructed the crime scene. He was acting strangely and showed abnormal behavior. […] Nothing other than anti-depression medication was retrieved at the crime scene to suggest that he had hallucinations due to illicit drugs.

The killer’s insanity was confirmed

After Siamak’s hallucinated confessions, the judge in the murder case referred him to the medical commission at the Legal Medicine Organization for mental evaluations.

At this time the killer’s two sisters who were living in Germany and the US came to Iran and forgave their brother. They told the inspector, “Our brother was not in a normal condition and was on medication. Whenever he didn’t take these drugs, he would feel bad. That’s why we are sure he was not in a normal state of mind when he killed our mom.”

Nine months after the crime in early November, the medical commission did confirm the insanity plea of the defendant and declared him insane. Afterwards, Siamak was admitted to a mental hospital. He will be kept there under medical care until his sanity is established.

Iranians show solidarity with French (PHOTOS)

By

Golrokh Askarieh

-

November 15, 2015

A group of Iranians gathered outside the French embassy in Tehran Saturday and lit candles to show solidarity with the families of those killed in Paris terror attacks a day earlier.

The crowd carried placards which read “We Are United” in Farsi, English and French and laid flowers at the entrance to the embassy in honor of the victims.

The following are images of the candle-lit vigil the Iranian Students’ News Agency has published: