TEHRAN -- The Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance announced its support for Behruz Gharibpur’s plan to produce an opera puppet show for Ashura.

Iran’s Deputy Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance for Artistic Affairs said that Gharibpur had discussed the idea with Mohammad-Hossein Saffar-Harrandi during the Minister’s attendance at a performance of the opera puppet show “Rustam and Sohrab” last year. Mohammad-Hossein Imani-Khoshkhu emphasized the importance of the events of Ashura both from the point of view of the part they played in Islamic history and the consequences for all Shia people. He added that a puppet show is a multifaceted art form which can be used to excellent effect in portraying the various aspects of the tragedy of Ashura, the tenth of the month of Muharram, which marks the anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS) and a number of his followers