World Mosque Day confab opens in Tehran

The conference entitled “World Mosque Day” was opened in Iranian Capital of Tehran with President Hassan Rouhani and some featured clerics in attendance, reported Taqrib News Agency (TNA).

The event was also attended by Friday-prayer leaders, foreign ambassadors to Tehran, and a number of the Iranian lawmakers.

August 21 marks the anniversary of the 1969 al-Aqsa Mosque fire, the origins of which are still being disputed over 40 years after the incident occurred. The day is named World Mosque Day in remembrance of the event.

Al-Aqsa Mosque, also known as Al-Aqsa and Bayt al-Muqaddas, is the third holiest site in Islam and is located in the Old City of Jerusalem. In Islam, the term “al-Aqsa Mosque” refers to the entire Noble Sanctuary. The mosque is believed to be the second house of prayer constructed after the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca.