Ahl-ul-Bayt (AS) World Assembly to Actively Participate in Najaf Plan

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - This is according to Hojat-ol-Islam Mohammad Hassan Akhtari, secretary general of the assembly, who also told IQNA that among other programs, it would cooperate in organization of the Ghadir International Conference in Najaf.He said since a few years ago, the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) selects three cities every year as the cultural capitals of the Islamic world in different regions (Africa, Arab world and Asia). “The holy city of Najaf was selected to be the Cultural Capital of the Islamic World in 2012 during a 2008 session of Culture Ministers of ISESCO member states.”He said the holy city fully deserved the title because it has had a high status in the Islamic world since the early years of Islamic history, adding that it was the city where Imam Ali (AS) ruled and later on Imam Sadeq (AS) taught students, issued Fatwas and narrated Hadith.“A seminary was established in Najaf over 1000 years ago when Sheikh Tousi moved to the city from Baghdad. Ever since, it was a hub of Islamic sciences s and many prominent scholars rose in the city. Therefore, Najaf fully deserves the title.”Hojat-ol-Islam Akhtari stressed that the assembly would actively take part in the programs celebrating the selection of the city as the cultural capital of Muslim world.“During the Fast of Ghadir last year, the Ahl-ul-Bayt (AS) World Assembly organized a special conference on Ghadir and it will hold another such conference in Najaf this year, too. It will be held as part of the Najaf Plan.”Elsewhere in his remarks, he urged for inviting followers of different faiths and Islamic schools of thought to attend the programs marking Najaf as the cultural capital of Islamic world. /129