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Iran to grant citizenship to families of Pakistani 'martyrs' fighting in Syria and Iraq
By AFP
Published: May 2, 2016
PHOTO: REUTERS
TEHRAN: Iran has passed a law allowing the government to grant citizenship to the families of foreigners killed while fighting for the Islamic republic, the official IRNA news agency reported Monday.
“Members of the parliament authorised the government to grant Iranian citizenship to the wife, children and parents of foreign martyrs who died on a mission… during the Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988) and afterwards,” it said.
Special report: The future of Pakistan-Iran relations
Citizenship must be awarded “within a maximum period of one year after the request”, IRNA added.
Iran’s outgoing conservative-dominated parliament will serve until late May.
No figures are available on the number of foreign fighters killed during the Iran-Iraq war, but Afghans, and even a group of Iraqis, fought alongside Iranian forces against the regime of Saddam Hussein.
The law could apply to “volunteers” from Afghanistan and Pakistan who are fighting in Syria and Iraq against militants including the Islamic State group and al-Nusra Front.
Shia Iran is a staunch supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and provides financial and military support to his regime.
India, Iran discuss undersea gas pipeline bypassing Pakistan
Tehran says its Fatemiyoun Brigade, comprised of Afghan recruits, are volunteers defending sacred Shia sites in Syria and Iraq against Sunni extremists like those of IS.
The Islamic republic denies having any boots on the ground and insists its commanders and generals act as “military advisers” in Syria and Iraq.
Iranian media regularly report on the death of Afghan and Pakistani volunteers in Syria and Iraq, whose bodies are buried in Iran. More than three million Afghans live in Iran, one million as legal migrants.
By AFP
Published: May 2, 2016
PHOTO: REUTERS
TEHRAN: Iran has passed a law allowing the government to grant citizenship to the families of foreigners killed while fighting for the Islamic republic, the official IRNA news agency reported Monday.
“Members of the parliament authorised the government to grant Iranian citizenship to the wife, children and parents of foreign martyrs who died on a mission… during the Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988) and afterwards,” it said.
Special report: The future of Pakistan-Iran relations
Citizenship must be awarded “within a maximum period of one year after the request”, IRNA added.
Iran’s outgoing conservative-dominated parliament will serve until late May.
No figures are available on the number of foreign fighters killed during the Iran-Iraq war, but Afghans, and even a group of Iraqis, fought alongside Iranian forces against the regime of Saddam Hussein.
The law could apply to “volunteers” from Afghanistan and Pakistan who are fighting in Syria and Iraq against militants including the Islamic State group and al-Nusra Front.
Shia Iran is a staunch supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and provides financial and military support to his regime.
India, Iran discuss undersea gas pipeline bypassing Pakistan
Tehran says its Fatemiyoun Brigade, comprised of Afghan recruits, are volunteers defending sacred Shia sites in Syria and Iraq against Sunni extremists like those of IS.
The Islamic republic denies having any boots on the ground and insists its commanders and generals act as “military advisers” in Syria and Iraq.
Iranian media regularly report on the death of Afghan and Pakistani volunteers in Syria and Iraq, whose bodies are buried in Iran. More than three million Afghans live in Iran, one million as legal migrants.