AhlulBayt News Agency: Hojatoleslam Hamid Shahriari, Secretary-General of the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought (WFPIST), has met with the Speaker of Malaysia’s House of Representatives in Kuala Lumpur to discuss Islamic unity and inter-sectarian cooperation.
The meeting, held on Thursday, brought together Hojatoleslam Shahriari and a delegation of Iranian scholars with Johari bin Abdul, Speaker of the Malaysian Parliament. Talks focused on promoting dialogue among Islamic schools of thought and enhancing cooperation between religious and parliamentary institutions.
Welcoming the Iranian delegation, Johari bin Abdul praised the joint presence of Shia and Sunni scholars from Iran, describing it as a clear and practical example of peaceful coexistence in the Islamic Republic. He said such engagement helps present an accurate image of harmony between Islamic denominations to the Malaysian people and the wider Muslim world.
The Malaysian parliament speaker also briefed the delegation on Malaysia’s political structure, parliamentary system, and governance framework.
For his part, Hojatoleslam Shahriari outlined the background and objectives of the WFPIST, highlighting its mission to promote proximity and unity among Islamic schools of thought. He expressed appreciation for the active participation of Malaysian institutions and organizations in the Conference on the Unity of the Islamic Ummah and Palestine, which was organized by the WFPIST in Kuala Lumpur a day earlier.
Members of the Iranian Sunni scholarly delegation also addressed the meeting, pointing to what they described as the favorable conditions for Sunnis in Iran. They noted that Sunni communities in the Islamic Republic operate around 18,000 mosques and approximately 600 religious schools, figures they said reflect notable growth in Sunni religious activities since the victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The scholars emphasized that Sunni Friday prayer leaders and preachers in Iran enjoy full freedom to express their views and opinions, adding that there are no restrictions on their religious activities. They also highlighted the special attention paid by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution to Sunni affairs and urged Malaysian officials not to be influenced by negative propaganda and media campaigns against Iran.
The meeting concluded with the presentation of a commemorative Taqrib (Islamic proximity) plaque to the Speaker of the Malaysian House of Representatives, symbolizing continued commitment to Islamic unity and dialogue.
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