Rafsanjani: Dialogue on religious discord can be constructive

‘If the dialogue focuses on human nature, religious differences will be constructive,’ Ayatollah Rafsanjani said.

He made the remarks in a meeting with Grand Mufti of Croatia Aziz Hassanovic and a group of Croatian religious leaders.

Ayatollah Rafsanjani said that regretfully the religious conflicts are usually long.

‘Compromise on religious ideology and the religious critaria is somewhat difficult.’

He said that Holy Quran advised leaders of religions to come together and come to terms with each other. ‘It is an instance of a divine invitation.’

Ayatollah Rafsanjani said God Almighty has repeatedly invited human beings to unity and dialogue.

‘If such orders are taken seriously, no conflict would have been taken place among human beings. Unfortunately, history has been witnessing many wars on religious grounds. Sometimes the conflicts were crusades lasted for several centuries. Reliance on injunctions of divine religions is a relying point for cooperation and solidarity among followers of all religions.’

Ayatollah Rafsanjani said that he was pleased with the meeting with dignitaries of various religions of Croatia accompanying grand Mufti of Muslims to Iran and said had such an instance and solidarity was observed by the religious leaders, no such extent bloodshed and injustice would have taken place in Beit-ul-Moqaddas.

‘Mankind approaches rationality. Solidarity among followers of divine religions is helpful. New generation of community of human beings, who are educated, tend to religious beliefs observing co-existence of religious leaders.’

Ayatollah Rafsanjani cited report of new ambassador of Iran in Croatia on solidarity of religions in Croatia, saying, ‘What he said about followers of different religions in Croatia is now evident in the composition of delegation of Croatian religious dignitaries visiting Iran.’

He said that various religions have representatives in Iranian Parliament indicating respect for their legal rights just like other MPs.

‘Our job is based on divine injunctions, especially guidelines of Islam and Quran.’

Hassanovic for his part said he and his entourage are visiting Iran to promote religion advocating international peace and prohibiting conflict and bloodshed.

He welcomed certain measures presented by Ayatollah Rafsanjani and the Islamic Republic of Iran in favor of the followers of Islam and Christianity during the Croatia conflict in 1990s.

‘We do know what troubles did you take during your presidency to bring people of the region out of the crises created by Serb hardliners for followers of religions to the extent that they (extremists) failed to achieve their goal.’