Director of a Tehran Hospital Targeted in Acid Attack

Dr. Siamand Anvari, the director of Ziaiian Hospital in Tehran, has been the victim of an acid attack and is currently hospitalized at Farabi Hospital. The motive behind the attack and the perpetrators have not yet been identified. The official news agency of the Islamic Republic, IRNA, quoted Hossein Sajjadi-Nia, the commander of Greater Tehran Police, stating that 'around 9 PM tonight (December 8), Dr. Anvari, the head of Ziaiian Hospital in Tehran, was attacked with acid by two passengers on a motorcycle while returning home.' This police official mentioned that a special police team has been formed to investigate the incident and identify the assailants. Initial reports indicate that the attack has caused damage to both of Dr. Anvari's eyes. Dr. Abbas Zarehnejad, head of the Public Relations and Information Center of the Iranian Ministry of Health, told Mehr News Agency that Mr. Anvari is being treated at Farabi Hospital. According to this government official, Dr. Anvari's right eye has sustained less damage, and doctors are currently treating his left eye. The Central News Unit, affiliated with Iran's state television, also quoted Dr. Iraj Harirchi, the Deputy Minister and Deputy of the Ministry of Health, stating that 'there are no serious concerns regarding Dr. Anvari's vision or skin.' The head of Farabi Hospital expressed hope regarding the treatment of Dr. Anvari's eye. The acid attack on the head of a hospital in Tehran comes at a time when news of acid attacks on women in Isfahan and similar incidents in other cities have been widely reported in recent weeks. Last week, the commander of Greater Tehran Police stated that the 'main perpetrator' of an acid attack on a young woman in eastern Tehran had been arrested. The Iranian Minister of Interior also reported at the end of November that 'clues' regarding the acid attacks in Isfahan had been found. The Iranian police commander stated that since the beginning of this year, as of mid-November, '318 cases of acid attacks' have occurred, most of the perpetrators have been arrested. In this context, a month has passed since the acid attacks in Isfahan, and the perpetrators have still not been apprehended. Ahmadinejad stated that since the beginning of this year, 318 cases of acid attacks have occurred. The Deputy Minister of Interior of Iran announced that details of the acid attacks will be announced soon.