(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Some days ago, according to Al-Furat, the Iraqi Sat-ehannel some internal news agencies and others, Austrian-Shia attempt has been fruitful and Shia has been recognized. This news is not correct. To Correct and Complete This news, we interviewed "Hujjat al-Islam wa al-Muslimin Muhammad Arisch Waldmann", the caretaker at the Ahl ul-Bayt (a) World Assembly in Austria.
“Austria is the First country in Eurozone that has recognized Islam in 1912. Attending a significant ceremony, Shia activists marked this important event,” in regard to records at Islam and Shiism in this country, he said.
“Austria established an organization entitled Austria Islamic community in 1979 to attend to requirements and Muslin affairs, namely, schools, mosques, hijab, passport hajj (pilgrimage), etc. Explicitly, all official Islamic sects, that is, for main Sunni and Shia sects are recognized in the Organization's articles – association,” he added.
“In connection with holding citizenship, followers to the Ahl ul_Bayt (a) in austria have no difference with followers to other religions and sects,” Mr. Waldmann told in an interview with Ahl ul-Bayt News Agency – ABNA.
Touching also on examples to these citizenship rights, caretaker to the Ahl ul-Bayt (a) World Assemloly said: “For example, the first Shia Muslim primary school was approved and founded by Austria Muslim community in which Shia lessons are taught to students.”
Referring to Muslims and Shia students who have their own teachers, this Austrian clergy added: Shia jurisprudence and teachings have been teaching at Muslim Teachers Training Center for years. Even Austrian Sunni teachers take advantage at the lessons to know the teachings at Ahl ul-Bayt (a).
Mr. Waldmann stated: The Austria Muslim Community has established provincial councils in each at these provinces. The latter chooses board at chairmanship from which it introduces them to the General Assembly at Austria Muslim Community. Now Shia scholars have both members at Vienna provincial Council and at the General Assembly at Austria Muslim Community. Also Shia have representatives at Austria Muslims Fatwas Council Founded.
Having announced Austrian Shia population ranging 70000 - 100000, this Austrian member at the General Assembly at Ahl al-Bayt (a), he said: “Many centers Like Wien Imam Ali Center, Shia Turks Ahl al-Bayt (a) mosque, Shia Pakistani Al - Asr center, Al - Zahra' (a) Cultural Center affiliated with Shia Afghans, Shia Iraqis and Lebanese Ahl al - Bayt (a) Cultural center, Shia Austrians Cultural Center, Salzburg ahl al _ Bayt mosque affiliated with Imam Ali Islamic Center are carrying out religious and cultural affairs and Austria Ahl al - Bayt (a) Assembly is Shia official representative in this country.”
It should be noted that in recent years not only the population al - gatherings and Shia cultural ceremonies with different nationals has increased remarkably, but also Shia have wholeheartedly and close cooperation with other Sunni Muslim Centers in particular Austrian Sunni Muslim Scholars Community.
And any extreme and discriminating behavior leads to honoring Muslims both Shia and Sunni by particularly Austrian statesmen, namely, president, chancellor and other official authorities at this country.
Considering a lot at sensitivities towards rights at Shia minority in other countries, media and news agencies must pay attention more than ever to report news and must refer as possible as to professional news agencies and organizations.
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S-Baqer