Eiffel Tower Goes Dark in Tribute to Tehran Attacks Victims

Local Editor

The Wahhabi Daesh [Arabic acronym for "ISIS" / "ISIL"] militants martyred at least 17 people in suicide bombings and shootings in the Iranian capital, which targeted the national parliament building and Imam Khomeini mausoleum.

"Tonight [Thursday], at 11.45pm, I will turn my lights off to pay tribute to the victims of the Tehran attack," said a tweet from an account representing the Eiffel Tower.

Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris, wrote on Twitter that the French capital and its residents "stand in solidarity" with Iran.

The landmark had extinguished its lights as a mark of respect following terror attacks around the world, going dark as recently as Sunday night for the victims of the London Bridge attack.

The tribute was first made following the attacks on Charlie Hebdo and a Kosher supermarket in 2015, before the French flag was projected on to the Eiffel Tower that November after Daesh militants massacred 130 people in Paris.

It was subsequently lit up in the flags of countries including Belgium as an expression of solidarity for atrocities, but there was criticism when the same move was not taken after terror attacks in Asia and the Middle East.

Officials had since taken the decision to turn the Eiffel Tower's lights off for massacres including the recent bombings in Kabul and Baghdad.

The decision to extend the tribute to Iran was being seen by some as a signal to the American government, following a controversial statement from the White House.

"We grieve and pray for the innocent victims of the terrorist attacks in Iran, and for the Iranian people, who are going through such challenging times," a statement said.

"We underscore that states that sponsor terrorism risk falling victim to the evil they promote."

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team