400 'martyrs' gather in Iran
2005-04-20 20:20
Tehran - About 400 Iranian men and women met in Tehran on Wednesday to declare their readiness to carry out suicide operations against Israel.
Some 250 men and 150 women, all members of Islamist militias, responded to an appeal by two non-governmental organisations urging them to support Palestinian suicide bombers and declare their own readiness to become "martyrs".
Grouped together in a hall in the centre of Tehran, women in chadors and men wearing headbands with the inscription "There is no God but Allah" heard the organisers read out a religious decree legitimising suicide attacks.
Such actions are "permitted and considered relevant in the holy war for the good of Allah when the difference between the military forces of the army of Islam and those of the enemy is too great and there is no other classical means to hurt the enemy at strategic points", according to the decree from Grand Ayatollah Hossein Nuri Hamedani
"I am ready to take up arms, travel to Palestine and fight against the Zionists," said Mansoureh Sadeghi, 31, a student.
"People die in any case so why not die for one's ideals?"
The Islamic republic has always made clear its refusal to recognise Israel and its support of the Palestinian cause.
However, it denies providing anything other than political support to militant Palestinian groups.
The authorities keep their distance from events gathering together would-be suicide bombers, saying they can do nothing to prevent such events taking place.