TEHRAN The Iran-e Farda Association has asked the Interior Ministry for permission to stage a protest rally against the Islamic Propagation Organization on July 31.

In a statement to the Interior Ministry, the association wrote that the Art Bureau of the Islamic Propagation Organization plans to sign an agreement to sell cigarettes with the Tobacco Products Company. This anti-cultural action could encourage other organizations to do the same.

They added that this immoral action is beneath the dignity of the government and that they are opposed to the agreement.

The statement said that they plan to set at least ten cartons of cigarettes on fire at the protest rally.