.jpg "Fans mourn for Morteza Pashaii in front of Tehran’s Bahman Hospital, where the pop singer was hospitalized, on November 14, 2014. (Mehr/Mahsa Ahrabifard)")
TEHRAN -- Fans of Morteza Pashaii took to the streets in Iranian cities on Friday night to mourn for the 30-year-old Iranian pop star, who died of gastric cancer on Friday morning.
Hundreds of his fans gathered in front of Tehran’s Bahman Hospital, where Pashaii was hospitalized, after his death was announced by Iranian news agencies.
In addition, hundreds, many of them holding candles in their hands, came to Tehran’s main public parks, including Aab-o-Aatash Park and Laleh Park, to mourn for Pashaii. Some were listening to his songs through their mobile phones, while others were crying.
Similar gatherings were also held on main streets and in parks in Shiraz, Mashhad, Qom, Ahvaz, Kermanshah and several other cities.
Mourning for Pashaii in Qom took a slightly different form. Over 100 cars bearing Pashaii’s pictures with his songs blaring from them proceeded from the Pardisan neighborhood and gathered in Alavi Park in the city. They were served tea and dates.
Pashaii had been battling with cancer since December 2013. Wearing a fedora and yellow sunglass became his trademark after he lost his hair from radiotherapy.
The illness could never thwart his will to perform concerts. The last time he appeared on stage was at a charity concert, which was held at the Grand Hall of the Interior Ministry in Tehran on October 7.
Pashaii was to give a concert at the John Bassett Theatre in Toronto on November 29.
He made his debut album “There Is Someone” in 2010. Shortly afterward, his song of the same title became a hit.
During his short career in music, he also created three more albums entitled “One-Way Road”, “Breathe” and “Worship”.
His funeral procession is scheduled to begin at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall today and he will be buried in the Artists Section of the Behesht Zahra Cemetery.
MMS/YAW
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