Two Released Iranian Pilgrims Depart Istanbul For Tehran

Ankara, May 16, IRNA – Two Iranian pilgrims, who had been kidnapped by Syrian opposition, were released and departed Istanbul for Tehran on Tuesday evening. Shaqoli Qalavand son of Abdol and Ali Razani son of Ali Abbas, who were handed over to Turkey’s Intelligence Organization officials on Monday in the border area of Turkey and Syria, departed Istanbul for Tehran by Turkish Airline. Two other Iranian pilgrims had already been released last Friday and had come back home. 22 Iranian pilgrims were kidnapped by armed persons in north Syria and on the route of Aleppo to Damascus in January and February. Currently, there are seven more Iranian engineers in the hands of Syria armed opposition groups./end