Hoj Ahmad Marvi, the custodian of Imam Reza shrine, met with Sheikh Zakzaky, the leader of Islamic Movement in Nigeria, on 16 October.

In the meeting, which took place in the northeastern Iranian city of Mashhad, Hoj Marvi praised Sheikh Zakzaky’s role in “guiding the African people to spirituality, and divine and human values as brilliant”.

Calling the Sheikh’s motivation, struggle, fortitude and resistance a paragon for all religious preachers, the head of shrine noted: “You’ve raised the flag of Jihad, Islam and Muslims’ unity in Africa”.

Hoj Marvi further pointed to the recent events in Palestine, stating: “The humanitarian disaster in Gaza against the oppressed Palestinian nation at the hands of the usurping Israeli regime is a crime against humanity in literal sense, which is heart-wrenching for any person regardless of nationality, ethnicity and faith”.

Asserting that the Israeli atrocities against Palestinians are supported by the US and the European countries, the custodian continued: “The silence toward the genocide of the Palestinians, and the illegal blockade of the Gaza Strip are so heinous as if the human conscience is dead”.

Hoj Marvi concluded his remarks by quoting a Quranic verse, saying: “We are hopeful that the righteous movement of pure Islam will prevail. The insane crimes of Israel against the defenseless Palestinians signals their despair and fear as they see themselves on the verge of annihilation”.

Sheikh Zakzaky, for his part, thanked the warm welcome by Imam Reza shrine, stating: “Thank God, I’ve been blessed with the pilgrimage to the shrine, which is a peaceful haven for everyone”.