“Muslim clerics should be warned against Wahhabi objectives”

Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Taskhiri, senior advisor of the Leader of Islamic Ummah and Oppressed People Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei in Muslim world affairs, has met with a board of Indonesian thinkers and highlighted the stress Islam puts on commonalities of different denominations, reported Taqrib News Agency (TNA).

He noted,” Differences among Islamic denominations are trivial and Islamic Republic of Iran stresses importance of interfaith dialogue among all Islamic schools of thought.”

He called Indonesia as the owner of great Islamic source and vowed great promotions for the Indonesian nation.

President of the Supreme Council of the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought said,” According to the constitution of Islamic Republic of Iran, all Islamic denominations are equal and brothers and free to practice their religious rites” adding,” Courts in any region with a majority of a certain denomination issue statements based on their particular religious principles.”

The cleric hailed cooperation of Shia and Sunni and also Christian Iranians in the war against former Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein, and their defense for Iranian territory.

According to the cleric almost 200’000 Christians and a lower number of Jews live in Iran and all these religions as well as different Islamic denominations have their representative in the Parliament where they freely discuss their issues and express their views.

When asked on the background and objectives behind foundation of the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought, Ayatollah Taskhiri referred to boosting unity and closeness of Muslim hearts to each other as the strategic objectives of the Islamic Republic to launch the center.

He also referred to the importance of Islamic solidarity for the late founder of Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (RA), and efforts of the Supreme Leader to launch the center in the first year after his leadership so that the center maintains the path of Dar al-Taqrib in Egypt.

Iranian religious figure said,” We believe that Islam is a moderate and anti-extremism religion though there are groups of clerics, provoked by the UK, who follow extremism.

“Islam is an anti-Takfir religion where Islamic sources criticize he who excommunicates his brother as a collaborator in his death” said the cleric and added,” Terrorist groups like Al Qaeda and ISIL are all brainchildren of Wahhabism though a minor number of Wahhabi members in Iran are not able to hatch plots due to the increasing fraternity of Shia and Sunni community in Iran.”

Answering a question on British-style Shia and ways to prevent their promotion in Iran, Ayatollah Taskhiri said,” We reject British-style Shia and American-style Sunni (Wahhabis) and announce our disavowal of both sects since they are both extremist and deviate.”

Top Shia cleric highlighted informing the Muslim scholars as the best way to prevent Wahhabi activities and said,” We should warn Muslim scholars against heinous objectives of the arrogant group and voice our support for unity.”

Grand Ayatollah Taskhiri expressed hope that the visiting board from Indonesia extends the ambiance of Shia Sunni affection in Iran for the religious leaders in Indonesia particularly Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, Minister of Religion Affairs.