Iran's Ahmadinejad to reward local reporters with pilgrimage trip

Aug 9, 2008, 13:54 GMT

Tehran - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is to finance a pilgrimage trip inside the country as a reward for selected local reporters, a deputy of the president said Saturday.

Mohammad-Jafar Mohammadzadeh, the president's deputy for communications and press affairs, told official news agency IRNA that on the occasion of 'Reporter's Day' in Iran, the president will grant reporters a gift in the form of cash to travel to the religious city of Mashad.

The shrine of the eighth Shiite Imam Reza is located in Mashad in north-eastern Iran, a popular pilgrimage venue for Iranians the vast majority of whom follow the Shiite sect of Islam.

According to the deputy, 3 million Rials (316 dollars) are to be paid to unmarried journalists and 4 million Rials (421 dollars) to married reporters in order to cover travelling costs.

The Ministry of Islamic Guidance and Culture, in charge of press affairs in Iran, has requested chief editors to nominate suitable reporters.

'Reporter's Day' in Iran is an occasion for Ahmadinejad and his government to reconcile with the press, in recent months critical of the president especially regarding economic issues.

It is expected that press sources linked to the Ahmadinejad opposition would also be able to avail of the cash gift.