In an exclusive interview with IRNA, Raza Khan said that "it's a hard time for the Muslim world. There is a need for having unity among Shia majority countries like Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, Republic of Azerbaijan, and the rest of Sunni majority countries, adding that we cannot let the enemies of Islam divide the Islamic world into sectarian lines, and holy prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) also stressed on unity. So we must not let the enemies of Islam divide us into sectarian and ethnic, religious lines. We need to focus on the unity of the Islamic world".
Referring to Iran's role in the unity among Muslim countries by holding such conferences in Tehran, he noted that Iran has a pivotal role in filling the communication gap among the Islamic countries and its media people and publics.
He further recalled Iran's former president Mohammad Khatami who has a famous phrase of dialogue of civilization, saying that he talked about why we should follow the clash of civilizations. So he gave an idea of a dialogue of civilization that has been followed up by other presidents of Iran".
The International Islamic Unity Conference which is held in Tehran delivers a message of hope, peace and it gives the message of improving connectivity and improving communications among different countries and Islamic worlds.
Pointing to the foreigner's interference in the region and their negative influence on the unity among Muslim countries, the Pakistani analyst highlighted that western countries especially the US have played a negative role in the region, adding that western countries, especially the US, follow a formula called dividing rule. So that formula let the chaos, destruction, and instability in the Middle East, the region, and the Islamic world have suffered like what was happened in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Somalia, and Afghanistan.
Referring to the importance of unity among Shia and Sunni, he underscored that "it is the time that Shia and Sunni of the Islamic world should come together. The divisions between them sometimes get exacerbated by extremists. They must end accusing and abusing each other. They should respect each other's beliefs and go for peace. We must not let western countries and the US rule and divide us. We must follow peace, cooperation, and harmony. For this reason, Shia and Sunni must come together and that should be a message for everyone."
Elsewhere in his remarks, he emphasized the importance of Iran-Pakistan cooperation as neighbors in the region for the promotion of peace, adding that Iran has a precious history with a great civilization that has stood against the sanctions for 40 years and Pakistan can learn a lot from Iran, especially with regard to Iran self-reliance. Iran has improved its industry, military, and capability by itself without getting any help from the west.
The 35th International Islamic Unity Conference kicked off in Tehran on Tuesday morning, with the Islamic Republic of Iran President Ebrahim Raisi delivering the opening speech.
War and peace, Islamic brotherhood and fight against terrorism, religious free thought, Ijtihad and confronting extremism, Islamic solidarity, avoiding conflicts in the Muslim world, mutual respect among Islamic denominations, Palestine, and the Islamic resistance are among the issues to be covered.
514 speeches were delivered at the conference and streamed online on the official website of the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought.
The organizers have gathered together thinkers from all geographical regions of the world, including South America, Africa, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and the Caucasus.
The speeches delivered at the conference will be uploaded on the Internet in Farsi, Arabic, and English languages.
The conference marks the Islamic Unity Week which was raised first by the late Imam Khomeini. The week begins on the Prophet’s birthday as narrated in the Sunni tradition and ends on the same occasion as narrated in the Shia tradition.
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