Iran Has No Clue to Assume Imam Musa Sadr Dead

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - There is no credible and convincing clue or information proving that the Iran-born Lebanese Shiite Leader, Imam Musa al-Sadr, is dead, an Iranian deputy foreign minister said.     
 
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian said that Iran has taken serious steps in pursuing the fate of the kidnapped cleric in Libya.

"The information and clues collected so far indicate that there is no firm and convincing proof on Imam Musa's martyrdom," Adollahian stated.

"In fact there is not sign to show that he is not alive," the official stated.

"Rather, the possibility is high for his being alive and kept somewhere in Libya," the deputy foreign minister said.

The Iranian diplomat further said that the case is a priority of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, and "I hope to discover the realities in connection with his case in near future."

While Sadr's family said that he was still alive and remained a prisoner in Libya, Qaddafi's former associate Abdel-Monem Houni claimed in February that Sadr had been killed and buried shortly after he was kidnapped.

Al-Sadr an Iranian-born Lebanese philosopher spent many years of his life in Lebanon as a religious and political leader, before he went missing during a trip to Libya at the invitation of Muammar al-Qaddafi.

In August 1978, al-Sadr departed for Libya with two companions to meet officials of Libyan leader Muammar al-Qaddafi's government. They were never heard from again, and many believe they met with foul play at the hands of Qaddafi.

The Qaddafi-ruled Libya consistently denied responsibility, claiming that al-Sadr and his companions left Libya for Italy in 1978. However, others claimed that al-Sadr was still alive and being kept in a secret jail in Libya.

Rome has persistently said that Sadr never arrived in Italy on the alleged flight.

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