The meeting took place during a visit by Hojjat al-Islam Seyyed Hassan Khomeini to Cuba in early 1990s. This came after an Iranian delegation headed by Seyyed Hassan Khomeini visited Havana on invitation by Cuban leader Fidel Castro. The grandson of the Islamic Republic says Castro had great respect for Imam Khomeini and had visited Iran for twice. It is noteworthy that Castro had also performed a special pilgrimage to Imam Khomeinis mausoleum in Tehran following his heavenly departure.
Recalling his stay in Cuba, Seyyed Hassan Khomeini says he was warmly welcomed by Castro and Cuban leader and he also soon became aware of my special devotion to literature. Therefore, I was recommended by Castro to see Garcia Marquez. So I accepted the suggestion with open heart as I had recently became Marquez and read some of his works. Seyyed Hassan Khomeini said. Next day, Marquez while relying on walking stick came to our residence place and he seemed very friendly and polite, said Imams grandson.
The famous Latin writer told Imams grandson that he spend some months of years as a guest with the Cuban leader. Marquez also took some photos with Seyyed Hassan Khomeini and his accompanied delegation. The internationally-reputed writer also strongly condemned disgraced author Salman Rushdie for writing blasphemous book of Satanic Verses against Islam and Muslims. This came after a fatwa (Islamic decree) was issued by Imam Khomeini against the publication of the sacrilegious book of Satanic Verses , which supposedly insulted Islam and Muslims The Colombian Nobel literature laureate Gabriel Garcia Marquez passed away at the age of 87 at his home in Mexico City on April 17, 2014. Garcia Marquez, known by his nickname "Gabo" throughout Latin America, was a journalist, novelist, screenwriter, playwright and memoirist.
The author, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1982, is known for bringing Latin American literature to a global audience in the second half of the 20th century together with famed author Carlos Fuentes. The works of the founder of magical realism include his masterpiece One Hundred Years of Solitude as well as Love in the Time of Cholera and Chronicle of a Death Foretold. He was considered the finest writer of the Spanish language since Cervantes. Lived in Mexico City for more than three decades, Garcia Marquez was cremated at a private family ceremony in Mexico City last week. The family has not said where the author's final resting place will be but Colombia hopes that the family will divide Garcia Marquez's ashes between his homeland and Mexico.