Najaf Plan, Opportunity for Enhancing Islamic Awakening

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - The “Najaf, Cultural Capital of the Islamic world in 2012” plan is a precious opportunity for enhancing Islamic awakening among the region’s Muslims.  This is according to Ayatollah Seyyed Javad Al-Izari, Iraqi scholar and researcher, who also told that those charged with executing the plan should organize programs, conferences and festivals with the participation of revolutionary personalities of the region.  He added that the Iranian nation, with their Islamic Revolution, are the pioneers of Islamic awakening in the region and that the Islamic Republic of Iran can greatly contribute to the success of the plan.  “In order for such a great plan to succeed, there needs to be extensive planning and the organizers should pay special attention to Quranic programs, competitions and festivals because the holy city of Najaf is a cradle of Quranic and religious sciences.”  He also said that the plan is an opportunity to defend the Quran and introduce the Quranic teachings to the world in response to the sacrilegious acts against the Book of God.  Ayatollah Al-Izari said religious and cultural institutes and organizations have been very active in recent years but in Iraq, these institutes have not developed because of the country was under the Ba’thist regime of Saddam Hussein.  Elsewhere in his remarks, the Iraqi scholar noted that the plan’s organizers have formed a network called “university nucleus” in which a number of Iraqi scholars discuss ways for developing scientific, educational and cultural exchanges./129