Cultural Works Needed to Confront Takfirism: Webinar
A webinar was held at IQNA on Tuesday with the title “role of deep ties between Iran and Afghanistan in the fight against Takfiri thoughts”.
Mohammad Ebrahim Shariati, a publisher from Afghanistan, Mohsen Pakaeen, former head of the Afghanistan committee in the Iranian Foreign Ministry, and Abdolshahid Sagheb, an Afghan researcher and journalist addressed the event which was held one week after a stabbing attack at Imam Reza (AS) Holy Shrine that claimed two lives and left one injured.
Talking about the roots of Takfirism, Shariati noted that one of the reasons for the emergence of such extremist groups is the propaganda waged by some Islamic groups against each other.
Some so-called Islamic groups are now even cooperating with Jews to undermine other Muslims, he said, adding, “We should find a solution for this and our think tanks in seminaries, universities, and media should address the issue.”
He also pointed to the need for Muslim scholars to explain and manifest the merciful aspect of Islam to the world.
Pointing to the long history of relations between the people of Iran and Afghanistan, Pakaeen said that some players are seeking to sow discord between the two countries.
The recent stabbing attack shrine is not related to the Afghan nation but to those that have Takfiri thoughts as they are neither Shia nor Sunni. “These currents have predefined political goals and are supported by intelligence services of countries that do not want good relations between Iran and Afghanistan.”
The most important solution to confront Takfirism, he continued, is through cultural works. Using powerful diplomacy, governments should highlight commonalities and undermine the effect of Takfirism’s propaganda through cultural and educational programs.
The attack by a deceived person on three clerics at Imam Reza (AS) Holy Shrine does not mean confrontation between the two nations of Iran and Afghanistan, he said.
One of the measures that the US implemented before leaving Afghanistan was transferring Daesh (ISIS or ISIL) to the north of the country and this is one of the most important problems for the country in the future, Parkaeen said.
For his part, Sagheb said that the recent stabbing attack showed that some hidden players seek to turn Afghanistan into new territory for Daesh and Takfiri groups and a center for exporting such thoughts.
He named the army’s dismantlement, poverty, failure to establish an inclusive government, religious and ethnic hatred, and foreign supporters as the needed principles for the growth of extremist groups.
