Iran hosts intl. Conference on Islamic Unity

The 31 International Islamic Unity Conference begins in the Iranian capital, Tehran, with 520 dignitaries, ministers, scholars, university professors, and representatives from scientific as well as cultural associations in attendance.

The event is held annually on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) in an effort to lay the ground for stronger unity and solidarity among Muslims and provide appropriate solutions for their problems.

The three-day summit opened on Tuesday with a keynote address by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

Also among the key speakers addressing the event was Syria’s Grand Mufti Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun.

He acknowledged Iran’s critical role in Syria’s fight against the plague of terrorism, noting that the Arab country owed its victory over terror outfits to the spirit of unity created and encouraged by the Islamic Republic of Iran.

He also said that those who orchestrated the war against Syria tried – contrary to reality – to portray it as an ethnic conflict, a confrontation between Shia and Sunni Muslims.

Additionally, Sheikh Naim Qassem, the deputy secretary general of Lebanon’s Hezbollah resistance movement, took to the podium to say that with the defeat of the Daesh terrorist group in the battlefield, the fight against Takfirism had now entered the cultural phase.

In other remarks, he denounced efforts by certain Arab countries directed toward normalization of ties with Israel.

He voiced support for the Palestinians’ resistance against the occupying regime as well as their right to return to their homeland.

Also the International Union of Muslim Women as well as the International Union of Resistance Scholars will convene on the sidelines of the conference.

The participants are scheduled to meet Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Wednesday.