'Mashad 2017' ceremonies start

Mashad, Khorasan Razavi Prov, Jan 2, IRNA – Ceremonies on Mashad 2017, the Cultural Capital of the Islamic world in 2017, started in this northeastern Iranian province on Monday. Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Reza Salehi-Amiri and officials in this province attended this cultural event underway at the Shrine of Imam Reza (AS) the eighth Imam of Shia Muslims. Mashad has been elected as Asia’s Cultural Capital of the Islamic World in 2017 by the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO). 'Today, not only Iranians and the region but also the entire world received the message that Mashad is the capital city of wisdom and ethics,' the culture minister said at the ceremony. 'From here, the whole world will hear the message of peace, friendship and brotherhood,' he added. After addressing the opening ceremony, the culture minister unveiled the symbol of the Mashad 2017. 1378/IRNA