TEHRAN - Ali Akbar Salehi has announced that the Foreign Ministry has been assigned to pursue the case of Imam Musa al-Sadr, an Iranian-born Shia cleric who vanished without a trace in Libya in 1978.

Foreign Minister Salehi made the announcement during a meeting with the relatives of al-Sadr in Tehran on Sunday.
“Given the recent developments (in the Arab world), the Foreign Ministry has been tasked with pursuing the case of Imam Musa al-Sadr through international human rights institutions,” Salehi explained.
In addition, MP Zohreh Elahian told the Fars News Agency on Sunday that the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee will examine the case of al-Sadr on Tuesday.
“A number of officials from the Foreign Ministry and the Intelligence Ministry have been invited to present the latest news and information in this regard,” added Elahian, who is the chairperson of the Majlis Human Rights Committee.
In August 1978, al-Sadr departed for Libya with two companions to meet officials of Qadhafi’s government. They were never heard from again, and many believe they met with foul play at the hands of Qadhafi.
In August 2008, Lebanon issued an arrest warrant for Qadhafi and 11 other Libyan officials, charging them with kidnapping al-Sadr. Qadhafi was also indicted for “inciting the abduction” of the senior cleric.
Libya has denied responsibility, claiming that al-Sadr and his companions left Libya for Italy in 1978. However, many believe that al-Sadr is still alive and is being held in a secret jail in Libya.
Hezbollah has also said Libya is first and foremost responsible for al-Sadr’s disappearance