MEA Asks Indians to Avoid Non-Essential Travel
The advisory was issued amid violent protests against Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei over a sharp depreciation of the Iranian currency, with reports of clashes and killings in several parts of the country.
Hyderabad: In the wake of ongoing unrest in Iran, the ministry of external affairs on Wednesday urged Indian nationals to avoid non-essential travel to the country until further notice.
The advisory was issued amid violent protests against Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei over a sharp depreciation of the Iranian currency, with reports of clashes and killings in several parts of the country. On Monday, India urged its citizens to exercise caution while travelling to Iran and advised those already there to remain vigilant.
Members of the Shia community from the city traditionally travel to Iran and Iraq during the Islamic months of Rajjab, Shaban and Muharram. Rajjab is currently underway, and many pilgrims have already made travel arrangements.
The travel advisory is likely to impact thousands of pilgrims from Hyderabad who travel to Iran every year for religious purposes. Community leaders said the decision has created uncertainty for those who had already planned their pilgrimage. Many faithful, however, remained determined to travel if visas are issued.
Mir Hyder Ali Jaffery, a city-based Muslim leader, said pilgrims would continue to place their faith in God. “These are sacred pilgrimage sites. As long as visas are issued, devotees would want to visit the shrines, even in difficult circumstances. During the conflict in Syria, many faithful still visited the shrine of Janabe Zainab, the sister of Imam Hussain,” he said.
The primary Shia pilgrimage centres in Iran include the shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad, the Fatima Masumeh shrine in Qom, the Shah Cheragh shrine in Shiraz and the Shah Abdol Azim shrine near Tehran.
Echoing similar sentiments, Mirza Riyaz Ul Hassan Effendi, MLC from the AIMIM and a Shia leader, said most pilgrims had already booked tickets and made arrangements. “The majority of pilgrims travel during these three Islamic months. It is unfortunate that violence has erupted in the country at this time,” he said.
Officials said several Indians, mostly working as doctors, engineers and teachers, are currently residing in Tehran and other cities. The MEA has urged Indian nationals living in Iran on resident visas to register with the Indian Embassy if they have not already done so.