Dissidents declare national day of mourning for quake victims

GVF — Close to 300 Iranian activists, journalists and dissidents have set the 16th of August as a national day of mourning for the victims of the deadly twin earthquakes that hit northwestern Iran last weekend.

Two 6.4 and 6.3 magnitude quakes struck the towns of Ahar, Haris and Varzaqan in the country’s East Azerbaijan Province. More than 300 Iranians have thus far perished as a result of the tremors and more than 3,000 have been injured.

The Iranian government has come under fire for its poor handling of the relief efforts. Many are also criticising state-run television for its inadequate coverage of the earthquake aftermath and even airing the satirical television show Khande Bazar, at a time of grief.

The authorities’ inaction in providing relief means that many ordinary Iranians are stepping in to send humanitarian aid to the quake victims and to search for survivors trapped under the rubble.

On Tuesday, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has yet to pay a visit to the stricken areas or to issue a statement regarding the devastating quake, found time to offer his condolences to the Sierra Leonean president Ernest Bai Koroma for the passing of his mother a month ago.

According to the country’s semi-official Fars news agency, in a message to the West African president, Ahmadinejad extended his condolences for the death of Mammy Alice Koroma who passed away in early July.

The beleaguered head of cabinet arrived on Monday in Saudi Arabia ahead of the summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, which is to take place on Tuesday and Wednesday in the holy city of Mecca.