JPG

This is Urumiyeh once one of the most beautiful provinces of Iran. Located in the Northern West it has been silently fading between the rubles of the past war and the ignorance of the city leaders now.

This mosque once had [a year or two ago] a huge hole in the top of it. The hole was from an Iraqi tank bullet which had hit it while people were in it. Last year we noticed they had restored it.

The clerk is named "Hassani" - he is famous for his outrageous speeches - ones that would make even Ahmadinejad blush, like;
"Freedom does not make any sense, Animal!".. I actually have a book with quotes from him,
It was a twice best seller.

Despite his awkward way of speech he was a brave man.. During the invasion of this city - he rode on a tank top with a automatic rifle - and as people recall - scared the last of the Iraqi troops out of this city.

No one touches him after that, they respect him no matter what.

There is also a quote from him:
"In the time of the Shah (our late king), Savak (secret service) asked me if i believed in democracy.. I said "No" ... and I still say "No"
... a man's word does not change!"

You can see why the people like him, most importantly for me though .. is that he never takes an active part in politics.