AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Ayatollah A'rafi, the Head of the Seminaries, issued a statement condemning the attacks by the United States and the Zionist regime on religious and historical sites.
In this statement addressed to the international community, followers of monotheistic religions, and especially esteemed religious leaders, he said, “Once again, the filthy hands of global arrogance, the criminal American-Zionist regime, have been stained with another crime against the body of sacred sites and the spiritual heritage of humanity. These attacks are not merely a military action; rather, they are a direct confrontation between 'the forces of evil' and 'the armies of God,' and a blatant insult to all shared human and religious values.”
A'rafi added, “Following the heinous attack on religious sites, shrines, mosques, and the Grand Hussainiya of Zanjan, a gathering place of the pure and the devotees of Imam Hussain (a.s.), on April 1, 2026, relentless terrorist missile attacks targeted the Orthodox St. Nicholas Cathedral in Tehran, causing severe damage to the complex of historical, religious, and sacred Christian sites. The shattering of windows and doors, the collapse of part of the roof of a nursing home, where innocent elderly residents still lived, and the desecration of a church during an unlawful aggression represent the peak of barbarism and enmity toward all divine religions.”
He continued, “As the Head of the Seminaries of Iran, which has always defended the oppressed and supported peaceful coexistence among followers of religions and rapprochement between denominations, I condemn this crime in the strongest terms and declare:
First: Religious sites (including mosques, hussainiyas, churches, synagogues, qiblas, and places of worship of monotheistic religions) are red lines. Any aggression or transgression against these sites, whether in Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Iran, or any other part of the world, constitutes 'war against God and the religion of God' and a crime against humanity and religious and cultural heritage.
Second: I call upon the United Nations, UNESCO, the Vatican, the World Council of Churches, and all religious leaders of the world not to remain silent in the face of these blatant desecrations and attacks on mosques, holy shrines, hussainiyas, places of worship, churches, and synagogues. If a mosque or church in Tehran is targeted today and goes unanswered, what catastrophes of this kind should we expect tomorrow in which countries, and who will be the guardian and protector of God’s secure sanctuaries across the world?
Third: I warn the followers of all heavenly religions that global arrogance and the Zionist regime are not only enemies of Muslims but enemies of all those who believe in God, the prophets, and the divine books. Today it is the turn of the Grand Hussainiya of Zanjan and the Orthodox Church in Tehran; tomorrow it may be the turn of any other place of worship. The unity of monotheistic religions against this religion-devouring monster is an undeniable necessity.
Fourth: I call upon the seminaries, universities of the Islamic world, and all free people of the world to issue decisive statements, hold protest gatherings, and take diplomatic actions to prevent the normalization of these crimes. The blood of every innocent person and the destruction of every site built in the name of God will awaken the awakened conscience of humanity.”
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