Five of the veterans of Nigeria's Zaria incident, coming to Mashhad and enjoying the favors of the pilgrimage of Imam Reza (A.S.), were welcomed by officials at the International Affairs Center of Astan Quds Razavi.
"We Iranians believe that Imam Reza (A.S.) summons his pilgrims and you have been chosen to attend the Heavenly Court of this magnanimous Imam," said Seyyed Jawad Jafari, deputy director of International Affairs Center of Astan Quds Razavi in a meeting with the veterans of the Nigeria’s Zaria incident.
Referring to the words of the Prophet (S.A.W.) for hospitality toward guest, he pointed to the hospitality of Iranian and stated, “We revere you greatly and we celebrate your presence in Islamic Iran and at the Razavi Holy Shrine.”
Deputy director of International Affairs Center of Astan Quds Razavi, saying that the veterans of Nigeria inspired by the path of Qamar Bani Hashem (Abbas ibn Ali) (A.S.) have achieved the highest status of a veteran expressed, “You are a veteran of truth and resistance, do not let in any sorrow because the veteran position is very high for God Almighty.”
Also in the meeting, Hujjat al-Islam wa al-Muslimin Seyyed Hamed Malakutitabar; the director of the secretary's office of the blessed graves of the Muslim world at Astan Quds Razavi’s International Affairs Center, highlighting the words of Imam Khomeini (R.A.) who says: “We cannot be indifferent to the affairs of other Muslims in the international arena” stated, “Islamic Revolution of Iran is actively engaged in several aspects in the international arena, the first and most important of which is the unity within the Islamic nation.”
“On this basis, Muslims in the international arena should avoid the opposition as Imam Khomeini (R.A.) has emphasized this important issue since the beginning of the Revolution. Although the meaning of unity is not just that all Muslims have a Shi’ite belief, they must be united in the circle of Islam with every belief” he commented.
Expressing regret over Muslims possessing the most abundant God-given resources and wealth, however, still being oppressed he said, “Today, we Muslims have a common enemy like the Zionist regime and the United States, and the leaders of oppression in the world are conspiring against the Muslims.”
Hujjat al-Islam Malakutitbar, mentioned one of the accomplishments of the Islamic Revolution of Iran as helping the oppressed in the world and said, “We support the Palestinian people against the Zionist regime based on this viewpoint and on that basis have been backing all the oppressed people of Africa and we stand alongside them.”
"We are proud of the people of Nigeria, who stand under the banner of righteousness with their lives and property, our support for the people of Nigeria and the resistance front will continue” he said, stating that the fronts of right and wrong have historically been facing each other.
“Today, the international arena is in a special situation, despite the growing expansion of the realms of Islam, our enemies have precise plans” he also stated.
“Our enemies know that the Muslim population of the Islamic world is increasing and this demographic expansion and spiritual development of Islam have caused our enemies to worry” Gholamreza Kolhaki said.
“The Zionists are always trying to separate Muslims from one another, the result of which is the West Asia burning down, as well as the brutal treatment of African Muslims and other Muslims in most parts of the Muslim world. Of course, the Muslims would not be silent and they resist the enemies of Islam” he added.
It is worth mentioning that veterans of the Nigeria's Zaria incident, while visiting Imam Reza’s (A.S.) Holy Shrine, got familiar with Astan Quds Razavi’s services to pilgrims and enjoyed the munificent banquet of Imam Reza (A.S.).