Iraqi Authorities Have Largely Neglected the “Najaf, Cultural Capital of Islamic World” Plan
Iraqi authorities are preoccupied with political and security issues, which are important priorities in the country today, and this has prevented them from paying enough attention to the “Najaf, Cultural Capital of Islamic World” Plan.
This is according to Hojat-ol-Islam Muhammad Al-Hassun Tabrizi director of the Center for Ideological Research affiliated to the office of grand Ayatollah Sistani. He told IQNA that a committee has been set up for supervising the plan’s implementation, whose members lack the needed experience and expertise.
“The plan is a cultural and international project whose implementation requires skilled experts who are experienced in organizing festival and conferences. Yet, the officials who have been given the task lack relevant experience.”
Referring to the selection of Najaf as the cultural capital of the Islamic world in 2012, Hojat-ol-Islam Tabrizi said the city owes its reputation to the numerous religious and historical sites, the most significant being the mausoleum of Imam Ali (AS).
“It was because of this mausoleum that Muslim scholars migrated to this city and founded a great Islamic seminary here,” he noted.
He referred to the Sahleh and Kufa mosques, religious schools, the Sheikh Tusi grave and the “Wadi Al-Salam” cemetery as other important historical sites in Najaf. The “Wadi Al-Salam” cemetery, which is said to be the largest in the world, was listed as a world heritage site last year by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
He also regarded Najf’s seminary as an important religious seat of learning. “Founded by Sheikh Tusi, the seminary has played an important role in developing Islamic sciences and teachings and training Shia scholars, thinkers, and sources of emulation.”
Director of the Center for Ideological Research stressed that the Najaf, Cultural Capital of Islamic World” Plan is not for Iraqis only but for the entire Islamic world. He suggested that the news of the activities carried out as part of the plan be disseminated in different languages in order to familiarize everyone interested in cultural-Islamic programs with the plan.
Hojat-ol-Islam Muhammad Al-Hassun Tabrizi was born in the holy city of Najaf in 1959. After finishing high school, he studied agricultural engineering. He also pursued his religious sciences studies in Najaf seminary and Iran. He is now director of the Center for Ideological Research affiliated to the office of grand Ayatollah Sistani.
Najaf was selected as the cultural capital of the Islamic world in a 2008 meeting of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) in Baku, the Republic of Azerbaijan.
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“The plan is a cultural and international project whose implementation requires skilled experts who are experienced in organizing festival and conferences. Yet, the officials who have been given the task lack relevant experience.”
Referring to the selection of Najaf as the cultural capital of the Islamic world in 2012, Hojat-ol-Islam Tabrizi said the city owes its reputation to the numerous religious and historical sites, the most significant being the mausoleum of Imam Ali (AS).
“It was because of this mausoleum that Muslim scholars migrated to this city and founded a great Islamic seminary here,” he noted.
He referred to the Sahleh and Kufa mosques, religious schools, the Sheikh Tusi grave and the “Wadi Al-Salam” cemetery as other important historical sites in Najaf. The “Wadi Al-Salam” cemetery, which is said to be the largest in the world, was listed as a world heritage site last year by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
He also regarded Najf’s seminary as an important religious seat of learning. “Founded by Sheikh Tusi, the seminary has played an important role in developing Islamic sciences and teachings and training Shia scholars, thinkers, and sources of emulation.”
Director of the Center for Ideological Research stressed that the Najaf, Cultural Capital of Islamic World” Plan is not for Iraqis only but for the entire Islamic world. He suggested that the news of the activities carried out as part of the plan be disseminated in different languages in order to familiarize everyone interested in cultural-Islamic programs with the plan.
Hojat-ol-Islam Muhammad Al-Hassun Tabrizi was born in the holy city of Najaf in 1959. After finishing high school, he studied agricultural engineering. He also pursued his religious sciences studies in Najaf seminary and Iran. He is now director of the Center for Ideological Research affiliated to the office of grand Ayatollah Sistani.
Najaf was selected as the cultural capital of the Islamic world in a 2008 meeting of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) in Baku, the Republic of Azerbaijan.
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