Tehran, Iran, March 12
By Khalid Kazimov –- Trend:
Iran created citizenship for Afghans it enrolling for fight in Syria, says the country’s head of Veterans Organization Mohammad Ali Shahidi Mahallati.
“The [Leader] told us to create citizenship for the Fatemiyoun Brigade [members],” Mahallati said, Tasnim news agency reported March 12.
The Fatemiyoun Brigade is an Iranian-made force that helps the Syrian government against armed opposition groups. Iran also calls the forces “defendants of shrine”, saying they defend a holy Shia sanctity in Damascus, Syria.
“Within the past year two thousand defendants of shrine were killed and were given [insurance] coverage by the Veterans Organization. Adding to them their family members, they make some 10 thousand people that were put under our coverage in the meantime,” Mahallati stated.