AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Ayatollah Reza Ramazani, Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, who is visiting Senegal at the invitation of the country’s religious figures, met with Dr. Jim Drame, the President of Senegal’s representative for religious affairs.
Iran and Senegal: Shared Foundations in Religion, Culture, and Resistance
At the beginning of the meeting, Ayatollah Ramazani spoke about the ties and commonalities between Iran and Senegal, stating, “Senegal is one of the most important countries in West Africa. Iran and Senegal share longstanding relations, and Senegal’s active role in supporting Palestine has been influential. One of the key commonalities between the two countries lies in religious affairs, as both Senegal and the Islamic Republic of Iran are Muslim nations.”
Addressing the place of knowledge in Islam, he said, “There was a time when Muslims were the epicenter of science and the source of fundamental disciplines such as physics and chemistry. In fact, a portion of the sciences that currently exist in the West, including medicine, originated from the East and from Muslims. Avicenna’s Canon of Medicine encompasses four fields of medical science. He was one of the great Iranian mathematicians and philosophers. Even in Germany, clinics have been established under his name, and German scholars have written commentaries on his Canon. Therefore, Muslims have a long-standing history of scientific power.”
The Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly spoke about the foundations of a country’s progress, stating, “To move toward a new Islamic civilization, the first principle is faith and the promotion of human beliefs. In this regard, the Islamic Republic of Iran and Senegal share many common values. Another key principle is scientific advancement. Fundamentally, science brings sovereignty and power.”
He pointed to the Islamic Republic of Iran’s progress in various fields and noted, “Forty-seven years ago, Iran ranked 57th in the world, but today, the country’s average global rank is 15. In some scientific disciplines, such as nanotechnology, we are the fifth leading nation globally.”
A New Islamic Civilization through Science, Morality, and Justice
Ayatollah Ramazani added, “The Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran has made seven recommendations for the future of humanity. The first is scientific advancement; the second is ethics and spirituality; the third is the realization of justice in the world; and the fourth is the fight against corruption. The seventh recommendation is of particular importance: Islamic lifestyle must be introduced to the world, because lifestyle is the software of the new Islamic civilization. Thus, the Islamic Republic is capable of offering its science and knowledge to Senegal. The advancement of Senegal as a Muslim country contributes to the advancement of Muslims worldwide.”
He also referred to the emerging global opportunities to introduce Islam, noting, “Today, there are golden opportunities in the world, opportunities that have never existed before. Due to the transformations that have taken place over the past forty to fifty years, Islam has become present within the fabric of societies. Before the Islamic Revolution, the prevailing belief was that no religious revolution could occur in the world. Revolutions were assumed to be either secular or laic. But Imam Khomeini’s revolution was founded on religion. Of course, we should not limit religion to an individual matter; it can play a role in individual life, in society, and even in governance.”
The Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, spoke about different approaches to religion, stating, “Some intellectuals view religion through a minimalist lens, and as a result, consider its function and efficiency to be limited. However, Imam Khomeini (r.a.) taught us to adopt a maximalist view of religion, which in turn yields maximal effectiveness and impact. This is precisely why religion has stood against the global hegemony.”
He emphasized that Africa is a continent rich in resources, and these resources must be used within Africa for the benefit of its people. “Unfortunately, many African nations were colonized, particularly by France, whose colonial history in West Africa is extensive. Today, however, Senegal has achieved independence and is demonstrating its progress,” he remarked.
Ayatollah Ramazani highlighted the importance of unity and cohesion, saying, “For the officials of Islamic countries, including Senegal, it is crucial that our unity and solidarity continue to grow stronger. The Islamic Republic adopts this outlook toward the entire African continent. We are fully prepared to train Africa’s elite students across all fields in Iran.”
Senegal, a Pioneer in Supporting Palestine in Africa and the World
Dr. Jim Drame, the Senegalese President’s envoy for religious affairs, also spoke during the meeting, saying, “I am pleased by this meeting and appreciate your remarks.”
He emphasized the support of the Senegalese government and people for Palestine, stating, “Senegal is one of the few countries in Africa and the world that has supported Palestine and has never shied away from standing with it. Ever since the arson attack on Al-Aqsa Mosque in 1969, Senegal has remained committed to solidarity with the Palestinian people and the necessity of the Zionists’ withdrawal from Palestine. Senegal has chaired the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People since 1975. From the day of Senegal’s independence to the present, all governments have maintained this stance, especially the current administration, which is widely known for its support of Palestine.”
The envoy added, “For our new government, independence is paramount. Therefore, in every decision the government makes, it emphasizes that Senegal must remain independent in all domains. When the government agreed to host a Palestinian embassy on Senegalese soil, many other nations had not taken such a step. This demonstrates that Senegal recognizes justice, never supports oppression or injustice, and always defends the oppressed.”
Senegal Ready for Scientific and Cultural Exchange with Iran
Speaking on the historical roots of religion in Senegal, Dr. Drame noted, “Religion has a deep-rooted history in Senegal. According to research, Islam has been present in Senegal for at least a thousand years. When we speak of religion, we are also speaking of ethics. Islam has a long-standing presence in Senegal, and Islamic morals are visibly reflected in the character of Senegalese people; Islam lives in the heart of every Senegalese, and their morality embodies Islamic ethics. Even in 1603, Senegal was home to an Islamic university that attracted students from across West Africa, who studied there and then returned to their own countries. Because of this, there are deep connections and shared values between Senegal and other Islamic countries.”
He continued, “Today, Senegalese graduates are present in various Islamic countries from Africa to Asia, having traveled for studies. I am also very pleased by your offer to accept students, which opens the door for cooperation in scientific and especially academic exchange and trade. We can present Africa’s scientific output to you and benefit from your experiences as well.”
It is worth mentioning that also present at the meeting were Hassan Asgari, the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Senegal; Alireza Vazin, Iran’s Cultural Counselor in Senegal; Hojat al-Islam Hossein Asadi, the representative of Al-Mustafa International University in Senegal; and Dr. Kalantari, advisor to the Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly and a professor at the University of Tehran.
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