A group of 35 young Turkish pilgrims returning from the holy city of Mashhad have been reportedly subjected to illegal interrogations upon arrival in Turkey.The vehicle carrying the pilgrims from the shrine of Imam Reza (PBUH), the eighth Shia Imam, was twice stopped last week for a security check on the way to Turkeys eastern town of Dogubayazit, Rast Khabar news website reported Saturday.
According to the report, the pilgrims ID cards were controlled by Turkish gendarmes, who first stopped their vehicle near the border.
They were allowed to continue their way before being stopped by plainclothes police for the second time. The pilgrims were then told that they would be transferred to Dogubayazits security department.
The pilgrims, aged between 14 and 20, were photographed individually and collectively. The plainclothes officers also interrogated them and thoroughly searched their luggage, the report said.
The pilgrims, who were kept at the security department for about nine hours, were grilled about their trip to neighboring Iran.
The father of one of the pilgrims told the Iranian news website that authorities in Turkey do not want Turkish Shia Muslims to travel to holy cities in Iran.
A media worker, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the negative effects of the campaign and propaganda launched by pro-government media against Alawites and Shia Muslims can be felt everywhere. The treatment of these young pilgrims serves as an example of this campaign.
Every year, thousands of Shia Muslims from across Iran and many other parts of the world, particularly from neighboring countries, travel to Mashhad to visit the holy shrine of Imam Reza (PBUH).
By Press TV
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