Iran Naming Street After American Activist

Posted August 11th, 2011 at 9:55 am (UTC-5)
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Iran is naming a street in Tehran after an American activist who was killed during a 2003 protest against Israel's destruction of Palestinian homes.

State-run news reports say the Tehran city council ratified a proposal this week to name a street in memory of Rachel Aliene Corrie.

The news reports say Corrie is viewed by many in Iran as a symbol of resistance against Israel. Iran considers Israel a major enemy.

In 2003, Corrie was run over by a bulldozer when she and a group of pro-Palestinian activists tried to stop Israeli soldiers from tearing down Palestinian homes in the Gaza Strip near the border with Egypt. Activists with Corrie at the time say she was run over deliberately, but Israeli authorities say it was an accident.

About a year ago, Israeli forces peacefully seized control of an aid ship that was named after Corrie. Activists on the Rachel Corrie were trying to break Israel's partial blockade of Gaza to deliver aid directly to Palestinians.