Foreign tourists harassed in Iran -newspaper
TEHRAN, Aug 12 (Reuters) - A group of Islamic vigilantes harassed foreign
tourists who were in the central city of Isfahan to view the last total
solar eclipse of the 20th century, the official newspaper Iran reported
on Thursday.
The paper, published by the state news agency IRNA, described the vigilantes
as ``thugs.''
It said tourists were harassed by hardline ``hezbollah'' vigilantes
while visiting historic sites on Wednesday.
``A group of about 30 hezbollahis gathered and chanted 'Death to America'
and other slogans against the style of dress of the female tourists,''
it said.
Under Iran's interpretation of Islamic dress codes, women must cover
the hair and disguise the shape of their bodies when in public.
Thousands of foreign tourists descended on Isfahan, which was said by
experts from the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
to offer the best view of the eclipse on Wednesday.
The attack took place amid the efforts by Iran's reformist government
to attract foreign tourists to the country's numerous historic sites and
ancient cities.
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