UNITED NATIONS: Iran protests to un at Iraq's alleged "kidnapping" of Moslem scholar
Record ID:
862846
UNITED NATIONS: Iran protests to un at Iraq's alleged "kidnapping" of Moslem scholar
- Title: UNITED NATIONS: Iran protests to un at Iraq's alleged "kidnapping" of Moslem scholar
- Date: 21st March 1991
- Summary: UNITED NATIONS (MARCH 21, 1991) (VISNEWS) IRAN'S AMBASSADOR KHARRAZI ISSUING PROTEST (ENGLISH)
- Embargoed: 5th April 1991 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: UNITED NATIONS
- City:
- Country: USA
- Topics: Crime,Conflict,International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVAB6KY9YKXOT5H98PMOYFF5Z61
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: Iran's Ambassador to the United Nations, Kamal Kharrazi, on Thursday (March 21) issued a strong protest to Iraq for what he said was the "kidnapping" of the Grand Ayatollah Abolqassem al-Khoei, the world's highest Shi'ite Moslem scholar.
He said that Khoei was seized in Najaf by Iraqi special forces and taken to Baghdad.
The official Iraqi News Agency had reported on Wednesday (March 20) that Khoei had travelled to Baghdad, met with Saddam and expressed his support for the government's drive to crush dissent.
Khoei appeared with Saddam in a televsion broadcast on Thursday.
Iran, which regards itself as the defender of the world's 100 million Shi'ites, has strongly condemned the action. Shi'ites make up 55 percent of Iraq's 17 million population. President Saddam Hussein and his top aides are members of the minority Sunni Moslem sect. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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