TEHRAN -- Iranian children’s book illustrator Ali Ammekan, who was one of the main founders of the Blue Book Group, died on Friday. He was 34.

He was suffering from cancer for months. His body was laid to rest at his hometown Astaneh-Ashrafieh in northern Iran.
In recent months, the artists held several exhibitions to raise fund for his treatment. Unfortunately, he did not benefit from complementary health insurance and his family could not afford the expenses.
Born in 1976, he took his B.A. in painting in 2000. Ali and his brother Hassan founded the Blue Book Group in 2007 in which thirty other Iranian and foreign illustrators are collaborating.
The foreign illustrators come from Italy, France, Spain, Japan, Portugal, Hungary and Mexico and selections from their works will be on display.
He has begun his work with illustration of children magazines 14 years ago and has illustrated many children book during his short life.
“Athletic Crow”, “The Most Beautiful Song”, “The Last Messenger: The Life of Prophet Mohammad (S)” and “On the Highest Point of Iran” are among his credits.
His commemoration ceremony will be held on Tuesday at the Shrine of Seyyed Jalaleddin Ashraf in his hometown, Astaneh.
The Children’s Book Illustrators Association announced that it would hold a commemoration ceremony for Ali Ammekan during the Iranian New Year (beginning on March 19). The exact time and place was not mentioned.