AN Anglican bishop who left Iran to find sanctuary in Hampshire was buried at Winchester Cathedral today (May 14).
The Rt. Rev. Hassan Dehqani-Tafti, 87, was Bishop of Iran from 1961-90 and an assistant bishop in Winchester from 1982-1990. He settled in Basingstoke.
He had to flee Iran in 1979 after the Islamic revolution and an assassination attempt on him. His son was murdered by the regime there.
The church was packed today with friends, family and fellow churchmen.
The Bishop of Winchester, the Rt Rev Michael Scott-Joynt gave the blessing.
The burial in the grounds of the cathedral is quite unusual.
The Dean, the Very Rev James Atwell said: "It is quite a tribute. It shows the esteem which the community held him."
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