Thieves target statues of national heroes, other secular artworks in Iran

[Elmore Furth]

Iranian religious vigilantes have gone after symbols of secularism.

Over the past few weeks, nearly a dozen bronze busts and abstract sculptures have been taken from their pedestals in parks and squares across Tehran, apparently with the use of heavy lifting equipment and trucks.

It would be an unusual but not necessarily buzz-worthy series of heists -- but for one thing: The thieves are targeting artworks that explicitly depict national, as opposed to Islamist, heroes. An abstract work representing a mother and daughter and another of a man's bare chest also have gone missing.

Here in the Islamic Republic of Iran, the meaning is not lost.

"Some groups and individuals who believe that statues are against faith and cultural principles are involved," said Morteza Talaee, a former Tehran police commander who is a member of the city council, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency.



Thieves target statues of national heroes, other secular artworks in Iran