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11 Iranian nationals released in Syria

After a series of kidnappings Iranian authorities banned Iranian citizens to go for pilgrimages to Syria using ground transportation

TEHRAN, Feb. 7. (ITAR-TASS). In Syria 11 Iranian citizens were released that were seized a few days ago by armed men. This was announced today at a press briefing in Tehran by Ramin Mehmanparast, the spokesman of the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

According to the Iranian TV, in December - January there were 29 Iranians kidnapped in Syria - 22 of them were pilgrims and seven experts in the field of energy, which provided technical assistance to Syria in construction of "Jandar" power plants. "The movement against the spread of Shiism in Syria" took the responsibility for abductions.

In late January, two buses with Iranian pilgrims were stopped on the road to Damascus by armed men. They took away all valuable belongings and took 22 men away in an unknown direction. They did not not touch women, children and elderly pilgrims. These two incidents occurredwithin a couple of days.

After a series of kidnappings, Iranian authorities banned the Iranian citizens to go for pilgrimage to Syria using the ground transportation.

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