Salehi: ‘Retired' Revolutionary Guards among 48 Syria Hostages
"Retired" members of Iran's Revolutionary Guards and army are among the 48 Iranians taken hostage in Syria by rebels, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said on Wednesday, the ISNA news agency reported.
But he said those former military personnel were exclusively on a religious pilgrimage to Damascus when they were seized on Saturday.
"A number of the (hostages) are retired members of the Guards and the army. Some others were from other ministries," Salehi was quoted as telling reporters as he flew back from Turkey, which he asked for help in freeing the Iranians.
On Tuesday, the foreign minister sought help from the United Nations to free dozens of Iranians captured in Syria and Libya.
Salehi stressed his government's "deep concern" at the fate of the 48 Iranians seized in Syria and another seven Iranian Red Crescent workers held in Libya, in a letter to U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon.
The letter highlighted reported comments by Syrian rebels that three of the Iranians had been killed in government shelling.
"According to the same sources, the hostage takers have threatened to kill the remaining captives in the coming hours," it said.
Salehi's letter was released by Iran's U.N. mission. The United Nations confirmed that the Secretary General has received the letter.
"I would like to seek the cooperation and the good offices of your excellency for securing the release of these hostages," Salehi wrote.
"The kind cooperation of the relevant United Nations offices in responding to this request of government and the families of the hostages will be highly appreciated," he added.
A Syrian rebel group, al-Baraa Brigade of the Free Syrian Army, claimed on its Facebook page that "three of the Iranian prisoners were killed in fierce shelling" by the army on Monday.
The group said the 48 are members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard and would be executed if the government shelling continued.
The seven members of the Iranian Red Crescent were kidnapped by gunmen in the Libyan city of Benghazi on July 31.
"Iran holds the hostage takers responsible for any loss of lives or injury to the hostages," Salehi wrote. Iran's foreign ministry has also said it holds the United States responsible for the lives of the hostages in Syria.
Iran "calls for the immediate release of its abducted nationals and is of the view that using the hostages as human shields violates the international law and human rights of these innocent civilians," the letter said.
over 11 years
In our country the Revolutionary gaurd members do retired at age 30 to 35 because they recruite when they are yet in their mother,s wombs! Such a miracles are usual in Iran! So! Believe on what Mr, Salehi did said.He don,t lie!Nobody Lie in our govenment! spcialy Seyed Ali Khamaneee!
I am an iranian.
over 11 years
They must have a fantastic wellfare system that lets them retire at such an early age
over 11 years
All independent men together on a pilgrimage. Nobody of them is with their family (wife, son, brother, whatever). Are you kidding me? of course they are on a military mission.
over 11 years
Looking at the picture showing these guys, the only thing that I can say is :
I wish I could have "retired" at their age.
Remember the famous saying, "You can fool some of the people most of the time, most of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time"
over 11 years
Dear Nahar net!
I put a elike coment as phlllipo in a sarcastcal way,but you dident put it in . why?
So much for emphatic denials of being only pilgrims...