Islamic unity is key to achieving regional security
The Secretary General of the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought (WFPIST) has stressed that Islamic unity and cooperation among regional countries are essential to achieving lasting security, saying Iran’s experience demonstrates that regional security can be ensured by relying on domestic capacities rather than foreign powers.
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Hujjat-ul-Islam Hamid Shahriari made the remarks at the international conference commemorating Sheikh Seyyed Yahya Bakouei in Baku, Azerbaijan, criticizing Western double standards on war and human rights.
Referring to the recent US-Israeli imposed war against Iran, Shahriari described it as a test of the Islamic Republic’s independence and capabilities, saying a strong Iran could serve as a model for Muslim countries and oppressed nations seeking to rely on their own capacities and on God rather than foreign powers.
He said efforts by Iran’s adversaries to weaken the country had failed, stressing that the Iranian people maintained their internal cohesion, the armed forces remained active on the battlefield, and officials pursued diplomatic efforts to confront the pressure.
The senior cleric also emphasized the importance of regional independence, calling on Muslim countries to rely more heavily on their own regional capacities to ensure security and prevent regional security from becoming a tool for advancing the interests of foreign powers.
He described growing relations among regional countries as a sign of increasing cooperation and solidarity in the Muslim world, saying the need for Islamic unity has become more evident than ever in practice.
“Regional countries have reached the conclusion that sustainable security can be achieved through cooperation among the countries of the region themselves,” Shahriari said, adding that closer relations could help reduce crises and strengthen regional stability.
Turning to Palestine and Gaza, he said the Muslim world had faced the occupation of Palestine and the displacement of its people for more than seven decades, while Western support for Israel had contributed to prolonging the situation.
Shahriari criticized the ‘Western double standards’ toward war and human rights, saying that if killing and displacement are condemned, they must be condemned everywhere.
“The time has come for Muslim countries, freedom-loving people and international organizations to unite in practical support for the Palestinian people and place the Palestinian cause among their priorities,” he said.
Referring to the various editions of the International Islamic Unity Conference, Shahriari said Iran had sought to ensure that the discourse of Islamic proximity and unity prevails over sectarianism and division.
He said there is now an opportunity for friendly countries to cooperate in promoting multiculturalism, countering unilateralism and focusing on shared human values.
The WFPIST chief also highlighted the principles of human dignity and justice, saying human dignity is a God-given right shared by all people regardless of religion or belief, while justice is among the highest social values emphasized in the Qur’an.
He stressed that fundamental human rights, including the rights to life, freedom, housing, food and homeland, must be respected for all people without discrimination, lamenting widespread violations of these rights, particularly against the Palestinian people.
At the end of his speech, Shahriari also paid tribute to the personality and status of Sheikh Seyyed Yahya Bakouei and recited a poem by the renowned mystic and scholar.
