Ayatollah Akhtari explained causes of recent riots, terrorist attack in Shiraz, appreciated Iranian people

News News of the Members of the Supreme Council Statements and Messages

Sunday, 30 October 2022

During the last half century, the noble nation of Iran has proved that by obeying the leadership and vigilant clerics, it stands up against all hardships in the way of the teachings of the Quran and AhlulBayt (a.s.), as well as raising the flag of monotheism, and with such humiliating and cowardly actions, they will not retreat from their revolutionary positions and patriotic duties.

In a statement, the Chairman of the Supreme Council of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly denounced the terrorist attack on the shrine of Ahmad Bin Musa (a.s.), known as Shah Cheragh in Shiraz, and appreciated people of Shiraz and Mashhad for their epic presence in the funeral procession and honoring ceremonies of the martyrs.

In this statement, Ayatollah Mohammad Hassan Akhtari condemned this cowardly bloodshed, as well as the comprehensive array of enemies of humanity against the Islamic Republic and the oppressed people of Iran.

The head of the Ashura International Foundation added, “These actions originally rooted in the liberation struggles of the Iranian people, who throughout history, following the example of Ashura culture, gave a negative answer to the owners of wealth and power in the world.”

The statement is as follows:

بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ ارْتَدُّوا عَلَىٰ أَدْبَارِهِمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الْهُدَى ۙ الشَّيْطَانُ سَوَّلَ لَهُمْ وَأَمْلَىٰ لَهُمْ (قرآن الکريم، سورة محمد، آية: 25)

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Indeed, those who turned their backs after the guidance had become clear to them, it was Satan who had seduced them, and he had given them [far-flung] hopes. (Holy Quran, Surah: Muhammad, Verse: 25)

The heartbreaking terrorist crime in the holy shrine of Ahmad bin Musa bin Jafar (a.s.), known as Shahcharagh, and the martyrdom and injury of a group of pilgrims and worshipers, caused great grief and sorrow.

Regarding this brutality and cowardly bloodshed, as well as the all-round array of the enemies of humanity against the Islamic Republic and the oppressed people of Iran in the last 40 days, and the deception of a group of our dear young people, I feel it necessary to remind some points:

1. These actions originally rooted in the liberation struggles of the Iranian people, who throughout history, following the example of Ashura culture, gave a negative answer to the owners of wealth and power in the world.

The apex of these struggles was the movement of Imam Khomeini (r.a.), which led to the establishment of the holy system of the Islamic Republic, a government that is now the place of hope for all the oppressed and mujahid people of the world.

2. During the last 44 years, the global arrogance and the domineering and evil powers stood against this government with all their strength and capacity. But they could not achieve their sinister goals and divert that revolution.

Therefore, this time, with ethnic, religious and gender pretexts, they have launched a hybrid and complex war to harm this pure and robust tree in false imagination.

3. It is very important to know that all the recent conspiracies against the Iranian people came from the same think tank, and its content and logistics source is the sinister alliance of US imperialism, international Zionism and Arab reactionary - from the economic sanctions that do not even spare children and the sick, to the media bombardment that is deceiving the public opinion with all kinds of lies and deceptions, to indiscriminate terrorist attacks and direct shooting of defenseless and religious people.

4. As a cleric who has been familiar with religious sciences and concepts for more than sixty years and has been in close contact with scholars of various Islamic denominations for several decades, I clearly declare that terrorist groups that pretend to be Muslim - such as anti-people hypocrites of MKO, ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Al-Nusra, Boko Haram and Jaish al-Zolm - are neither Sunni nor Shiite, but they are outside the Islam and are complete examples of apostates from the path of God and the Messenger (p.b.u.h).

5. The tragic terrorist attack in Shiraz, in addition to the fact that it should be an end of unrest and mischief in the streets, was also the last ultimatum to all those who are in the inside camp, but by keeping silent or casting doubts and ambiguity, unwittingly confirm the actions of the enemies of the religion, Iran and the people.

The people of Iran and the families of the martyrs expect from these elites is to come to the field with their pen, actions and words, and as the supreme leader of the Islamic Revolution Imam Khamenei said, like a “united hand” and a firm mountain, confront the incendiary of the enemy and its traitor, ignorant or careless agents.

6. During the last half century, the noble nation of Iran has proved that by obeying the leadership and vigilant clerics, it stands up against all hardships in the way of the teachings of the Quran and AhlulBayt (a.s.), as well as raising the flag of monotheism, and with such humiliating and cowardly actions, they will not retreat from their revolutionary positions and patriotic duties.

7. We, the authorities are the ones who should be grateful to such a nation that is always on the scene and making sacrifices, and we, the authorities are the ones who, with effective measures, must foil the plans of the cowardly enemy in the political, economic, cultural and security invasion of Islamic Iran.

In the end, for the loss of women, men, and children in this tragic attack, as well as the martyrdom of a number of security defenders and sincere Basij members in recent riots, I express my condolences to Imam Mahdi (a.s.), the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, the brave nation of Iran, the Welayi people of Shiraz and the families of martyrs.

I would like to express my gratitude to all sections revolutionary people who renewed their allegiance to the ideals of the Imam Khomeini (r.a.) and the Supreme Leader with their large presence in more than 1000 places in Islamic Iran, and also the people of Shiraz and Mashhad, who had perfect presence yesterday in the magnificent and unique funeral procession of the martyrs of Shah Cheragh incident.

From the Almighty God, I pray for mercy and grace for the souls of the martyrs, patience and peace for the survivors, and healing for the injured.

الَّذِينَ قَالَ لَهُمُ النَّاسُ إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ جَمَعُوا لَكُمْ فَاخْشَوْهُمْ فَزَادَهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَقَالُوا حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ * فَانْقَلَبُوا بِنِعْمَةٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَفَضْلٍ لَمْ يَمْسَسْهُمْ سُوءٌ وَاتَّبَعُوا رِضْوَانَ اللَّهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ ذُو فَضْلٍ عَظِيمٍ (قرآن الکريم، سورة آل عمران، آيات: 172 و 173)

Those to whom the people said: Surely men have gathered against you, therefore fear them, but this increased their faith, and they said: Allah is sufficient for us and most excellent is the Protector. * So they returned with favor from Allah and (His) grace, no evil touched them and they followed the pleasure of Allah; and Allah is the Lord of mighty grace. (Holy Quran, Surah: Al Imran, Verses: 172, 173)

Mohammad Hassan Akhtari

Chairman of the Supreme Council of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly and

Head of the Ashura International Foundation

October 7, 2022

AhlulBayt (a_s_) World Assembly Ashura International Foundation Ayatollah Akhtari Shiraz Supreme Council terrorist attack