CHABAHAR, Sistan-Baluchestan Province -- The 13th Scientific and Research Conference on Islamic Religious Sects, named Fajr, opened in this southeastern city of Iran Wednesday night.
The opening ceremony was held at Chabahar Cultural Center affiliated to the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, with participation of Shia and Sunni intellectuals and prominent clerics.
In his opening speech, the Deputy Head of Leader's Representative Office, Hojjatoleslam Hassan Akhtari, referred to the unification of Europe and said, unfortunately, the Muslims have still not reached consensus over many important matters.
He said, "The European nations have set aside their historic, racial, social and ethnic differences, moving towards total unification today."
Akhtari added, "Under such tough circumstances when the enemies of the world Muslims have obviously and openly lined up before the Islamic countries, and the unification of 1.3 billion world Muslims is a must, the Muslims, unfortunately, have a very weak stand on global developments."
He described as very disappointing the status of the world Muslims under the current world conditions, adding, "Today, when the enemies of Islam have lined up before the Muslims resorting to assets of some Islamic countries, it is more necessary for the world Muslims than ever in the past to unite."
He asked the intellectuals and religious authorities of the Islamic world to endeavor for emerging Islamic unity, aimed at saving the world Muslims from their current problems, through setting aside ethnic and sectarian differences.
Akhtari said, "The commonalities among Shia and Sunni Muslims are so numerous and all we need today is brave ulema and muftis to step forward into the scene and resort to the generating source of Qoran and the Holy Prophet's traditions, alter the minds of he world Muslims from the poisonous enmities, into the blessed solidarity."