A main square in the capital was renamed after an Armenian war martyr at a ceremony on Saturday. A first of its kind, the event was attended by representatives of the Armenian community in Tehran as well as municipal and city council officials.
Shoa’ Square on Qaem Magham Farhani St. in central Tehran, literally meaning “radius,” has now been renamed after Gagik Toumanian, martyred in the 1980-1988 Iraqi-imposed war on Iran. The neighborhood has a large Armenian presence.
Morteza Talaei, deputy chairman of Tehran City Council told reporters that the TCC had been pondering over a council motion to name one city square after a martyr belonging to the minority community and “it had finally materialized today.” The council also intends to name another city square after an Armenian martyr.
The Armenians had the largest number of martyrs among the religious minority in Iran, with 89 lives laid down during the war. Last year, an Armenian war veteran, a victim of chemical attacks, joined his fellow martyrs after 27 years of suffering.
Azim Babaei, District 6 Mayor said the unprecedented motion was carried out in line with the slogan for the current Iranian Year (started March 21) designated as ‘People-Government Harmony and Unanimity.’
“In fact, this is the first square named after a religious-minority war hero in the capital,” Babaei told the Financial Tribune.
Sentimental
In a brief talk with Financial Tribune, Hasmik Toumanian, the martyred soldier’s mother said she was “at a loss for words” to describe her feelings.
“I haven’t seen my son for 28 years and all the while a voice was speaking to me saying ‘you are not alone,’” she said choking back her tears.
“I am very grateful for this day; I just want to thank the officials who made this happen,” she said. “I never really expected to see this day.”
She said the recognition given to her martyred son is a panacea for her anguished soul since his loss.
Tehran is home to the biggest Armenian community in Iran. Karen Khanlari, representative of Armenians in the Majlis, says there are 60,000 to 70,000 Armenians living in Iran. Their number has seen a decline in recent years due to migration to Armenia and the United States.
