Victim of acid attack in Tehran says he’s much better; health chief visits him in hospital

There was an acid attack late Saturday on the administrator of the capital’s Ziaeian Hospital. On Sunday, Fars News Agency quoted Dr. Siamand Anvari, who had undergone eye surgery, as saying that he was better and that he was praying for those behind the attack to be led to the correct path.

Dr. Anvari’s comment came after Health Minister Seyyed Hassan Hashemi, a veteran ophthalmologist himself, paid a bedside visit to him in Tehran’s Farabi Hospital. In other news, Alireza Zali, the director of the Islamic Republic of Iran Medical Council, called on judicial officials and the police to seriously deal with those who staged the acid attack. The following is the translation of part of the agency’s report:

Doctor Anvari said Sunday, “I am much better. I underwent eye surgery last night. Doctors are satisfied with how the operation went. It could have been much worse.”

He went on to say that he believes those behind such attacks seek to disturb the peace and quiet of society. “Anytime people are happy, these microbes step in to create chaos. But they should know that our people won’t budge in the face of such trivial measures.”

At around 9 p.m. Saturday, when Dr. Anvari was on his way home, acid was thrown on him by two assailants on a motorbike.