Iranian Speaker Urges Vigilance after Stabbing Attack at Imam Reza (AS) Shrine
At an open session of the parliament on Wednesday, he condemned the Tuesday attack in the holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS) in Mashhad that left one cleric dead and two others injured.
Qalibaf also expressed condolences to the family of Hojat-ol-Islam Aslani, who was killed in the attack, and to the people of Mashhad.
He said opportunists should not be allowed to misuse the incident to foment discord and undermine fraternity and friendship among nations.
Qalibaf said everyone should remain vigilant so that the enemies could not exploit it for their wicked purposes.
The parliament speaker also called on related officials to find the root cause of the incident.
Three Shia Muslim clerics were targeted in the stabbing attack on Tuesday afternoon.
The attack was made in Payambar Azam [Great Prophet] Courtyard of the shrine and the assailant was arrested immediately by pilgrims and security forces of the shrine.
One of the clerics, Hojat-ol-Islam Aslani, succumbed to his severe injuries and two others were dispatched to a hospital. Unconfirmed reports also indicate that one of the injured is in critical condition.
An investigation is going on in the case. Security officials said that five individuals have also been arrested on Tuesday.
According to security bodies, the assailant was not Iranian and had been under the influence of Takfirism.
The attack, which is considered a desecration of Imam Reza (AS) shrine, has sparked a wave of condemnation from across Iran.
Hojat-ol-Islam Ahmad Marvi, Custodian of Imam Reza holy shrine, strongly condemned the attack, expressing condolences to the people and the family of the victims.
“This crime in the safe environment of Imam Reza (AS) shrine, which is respected by all Islamic Madhhabs, in the blessed month of Ramadan is a condemned act,” he said, adding, “The pious people will not forgive this desecration and crime.”
He also promised that Astan Quds Razavi will follow up on the case to find the perpetrators behind the crime and bring them to justice.
In a statement, a host of Sunni Muslim scholars of North Khorasan Province stressed that desecrating the holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS) cannot happen due to personal reasons and that attacking three Shia clerics show that the attacker was supported by Takfiri groups and global Arrogance.
