Memorial Service In Tehran For Mandela

Tehran, Dec 9, IRNA – The Iranian capital will host a memorial service on Tuesday to honor the former president of South Africa Nelson Mandela who died at 95 on December 6. A number of Iranian officials, foreign diplomats to Tehran as well as a large number of Iranians who respect the father of modern South Africa are to take part in the event which is to be held in the Embassy of South Africa in Tehran. Head of the Islamic Center for South Africa Abdollah Hosseini told IRNA that Mandela’s memorial service will start at 19:00 hours local time on Tuesday (15:30 GMT). Mandela became the symbol of the fight against racial discrimination in South Africa and served 27 years behind bars for defying the apartheid government. He died Thursday at age 95. His funeral procession is planned to be held in South Africa with the participation of a large number of world leaders on December 15./end