Iran Majlis speaker lauds Syria efforts to secure Iranian pilgrims release

Iran’s Majlis (parliament) Speaker Ali Larijani has praised efforts by Syria to secure the release of 48 Iranian pilgrims abducted by foreign-backed militants in the Arab country.

Larijani extended gratitude to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in a message on Thursday. He said that pursuing the matter by the Iranian Foreign Ministry and other relevant bodies as well as efforts of the Syrian government led to the release of the pilgrims, who had been detained by militants for six months.

Larijani also expressed hope that security and stability will be fully restored and violence and conflicts will be halted immediately in Syria. He also expressed optimism that the ongoing unrest in the country will come to an end through the peace plan offered by Syrian president.

On August 4, 2012, the 48 Iranian pilgrims, who were traveling on a bus from Damascus International Airport to the shrine of Hazrat Zainab (AS) on the outskirts of the Syrian capital were abducted by the militants.

They were freed in a prisoner swap on Wednesday and returned home on Thursday. An undisclosed number of Turkish nationals arrested by Syria’s security forces in the recent months were also among those released by Damascus in the swap deal.

In a separate message to his Syrian counterpart Mohammad Jihad al-Laham, Larijani once again hailed Syria’s efforts to secure the release of the Iranian pilgrims.

He said that full security and stability will be established in Syria and the unrest will be settled through the resolve of the government, people and parliament, adding that the Syrian nation will surely emerge victorious from the ordeal.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011. Many people, including large numbers of army and security personnel, have been killed in the turmoil.

In a key speech on January 6, Assad called for an end to the terrorist operations inside Syria and urged “concerned states and parties” to stop funding, arming and harboring militants.

He said his government is always ready to hold talks with the opposition and political parties and will call for a “comprehensive national dialog” after foreign parties end their support for the militants and the terrorist activities cease in the country.