AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): With the presence of Ayatollah Ramazani, the local AhlulBayt (a.s.) Assembly of Bangladesh began its operations during a ceremony attended by various segments of the country’s Shiite community. During the event, the election for the board members of this assembly was also held.
Ayatollah Reza Ramazani, the Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, who attended the ceremony as a guest, emphasized the importance of organizational structures, stating, “All groups must focus on creating organizations. Today, professional associations are well-defined worldwide, and each profession forms its own organization to advance its affairs. Sixty years ago, Imam Musa Sadr said in Qom that Christianity ranks first in the world regarding religious and spiritual organizational structures. In a region in southern Lebanon, where only one or two Christian families reside, a Christian scholar is dispatched every Sunday to perform religious ceremonies for them. Furthermore, according to Imam Musa Sadr, Egypt’s Al-Azhar University and Sunni seminaries are organizationally robust, while Shiites suffer from weaknesses in this regard.”
He continued, “In Shiite culture, it is essential to establish organizations in every city and country. All Shiites within a city must be connected, and at the national level, representatives of Shiites from various cities must communicate with one another. This approach fosters authority and strengthens communities.”
Speaking about the AhlulBayt (a.s.) Assembly of Bangladesh, the Secretary-General remarked, “This assembly provides an opportunity for all mosques, Husseiniyahs, and Shiite centers in this country to come together and work toward promoting the AhlulBayt (a.s.) teachings. The AhlulBayt (a.s.) Assembly of Bangladesh calls people to God and the AhlulBayt (a.s.). When the AhlulBayt (a.s.) serve as the axis and foundation, there will no longer be any basis for discord.”
He added, “The AhlulBayt (a.s.) Assembly of Bangladesh can include various sections, such as a youth division. The youth division can organize educational camps for young people in different cities across Bangladesh, where they can learn about various topics. Additionally, a women’s association or committee could be established under the AhlulBayt (a.s.) Assembly of Bangladesh, given the presence of many active women in various cities of the country.”
Ayatollah Ramazani continued, “Westerners claim to have elevated the status of women, yet instead of uplifting them, they degraded their position. However, religion safeguards the dignity of women, and Islam is the staunchest defender of women’s rights and status. Westerners have inflicted the worst forms of violence against women, and it is this very violence that gave rise to the feminist movement.”
At the end of his speech, he stated, “Those who claim to advocate for human rights should attend the ethics class of Imam Sajjad (a.s.) to understand what human rights truly are. The strongest texts defending human rights are found in the Quran and the words of the AhlulBayt (a.s.).”
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