-- Creation of the Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought (FPIST) at the order of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei has been the most significant step taken by the Islamic Republic of Iran to strengthen Islamic unity and solidarity, deputy of Syria’s grand Mufti told IQNA.

Sheikh Dr Allaudeen Zatari said that Ayatollah Khamenei has placed a high priority on the promotion of unity in the Islamic Ummah. “It was in line with this priority that Ayatollah Khamenei ordered the establishment of the FPIST in 1990.

He added that the Islamic world needs influential leaders who can unite Muslims against the plots of the enemies, especially the global arrogance.

Deputy of Syria’s Mufti referred to Ayatollah Khamenei’s support for the people of Palestine and said, “Ayatollah Khamenei has always stressed the need for solidarity and a unified stance among Islamic countries with regard to the issue of Palestine as it is related not to the people of Palestine per se, but to all Arabs and Muslims.”

Sheikh Zatari said that the global arrogance seeks to sow discord among Muslims in order to dominate the Islamic world. “Today, the alliance of Iran, Syria and Turkey is an axis of goodness which is standing against the global arrogance and world’s oppressors.”

Elsewhere in his remarks, Dr Zatari praised Ayatollah Khamenei’s attention to sciences and the role of scientists and researchers, saying “Islamic Republic of Iran’s advancements in various scientific fields have been made possible because of Ayatollah Khamenei’s support for scientific movements.

Sheikh Dr. Allaudeen Zatari is the deputy of Syria's grand Mufti Sheikh Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun. He is a lecturer at Sheikh Ahmad Kuftaro University in Damascus and also teaches Quranic sciences at a number of Lebanese universities.

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