1st Ghadir Festival Held in Canada

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Concurrent with Eid AL-Ghadir, the 1st Ghadir festival was held with participation of about 1000 Shia Muslims in Ottawa, Canada. The festival was held by Islamic Assembly of Ottawa Shia Muslims on November 13 at Iranians Cultural Center in the capital city.  Poetry reading sessions, eulogies performance, speeches, contests, Islamic art exhibitions, and special programs for children were parts of the festival.  A number of poets also recited their verses praising Imam Ali (AS) in Arabic, English and Urdu languages at the festival.  Addressing the program, Yaser Naqavi, Parliament member of Ontario State in Canada, congratulated the Eid to the Shia Muslims Society in the country and said that the assembly can play an important role in showing the real picture of Islam and called upon Muslims particularly Shia to more seriously cooperate in social activities.  Vinay Khatiya a Muslim activist in Toronto also talked about the history and philosophy of Ghadir and clarified the righteousness of Ghadir and the unique status of Imam Ali (AS) based on Sunni sources.  Kambiz Sheikh Hassani, in charge of Iranian representative office in Canada was the other speaker at the program, who regarded the first gathering of Shia Muslims of the region as the beginning point of unity among Shia Muslims in Canada.  Also speaking at the program, Hojat-ol-Islam Sheikh Abdullah Abid, head of Imam Reza (AS) Islamic Center in Montreal talked about Imam Ali’s (AS) letter to Malek Ashtar.  Hojat-ol-Islam Sheikh Momtaz, Imam of Abuzar Ghefari’s Mosque and one of the founders of the assembly called for unity of Shia Muslims in Canada through avoiding national and ethnical prejudice./129