The Chairman of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization, Mr. Abuzar Ebrahimi Turkaman, who is visiting Turkey at the head of a religious delegation, on Thursday December 26 met and held talks with the President of the Turkish Diyanet Organization, Mr. Ali Arbash.

 According to Public Relations Department of Islamic Culture and Relations Organization (ICRO), Dr. Arbash while welcoming the Iranian religious delegation said this meeting is a prelude to expansion of religious ties between the two countries adding that signing of the cooperation agreement between Islamic Culture and Relations Organization and Turkish Diyanet organization is a practical step in direction of increased bilateral ties.

Commonalities of the World of Islam makes expansion of cooperation evermore necessary

Arbash said meetings in recent years between Iranian and Turkish religious authorities have made great contribution to promotion of cultural and religious interactions among officials of the two countries at the highest level adding that Iran and Turkey because of their extensive cultural and religious commonalities can have widespread cooperation in various areas.

Talking about the current problems in the Islamic world, Dr. Arbash said bilateral relations between Iran and Turkey can help to find solutions to some of the problems faced by the Muslim community.

 Referring to the colonial nature of the western governments and their interference in affairs of the Muslims, the President of the Turkish Diyanet Organization said such governments have not abandoned their past policies but only have changed their tactics to achieve their long time objectives.

He called for brotherly relation between Iran and Turkey as advised by the holy Quran and promotion of their relations in various sectors.

Responding to points made by the top Turkish religious official, Mr. Ebrahimi Turkaman thanked Dr. Ali Arbash for hosting the Iranian religious delegation as well as the Turkish government for facilitating the meeting and said presence of Iranian religious delegation in Turkey is an important step in strengthening of ties between Tehran and Ankara.   

 Signing of cooperation agreement will pave the way for boosting international cooperation in the Islamic World

The Chairman of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization talking about the letter of cooperation between his organization and Turkish Diyanet Organization said signing of this document can pave the way for expansion of international relations within the Islamic world.

Mr. Turkaman talking about the existing potentials in the shared culture and religion, called for joint international cooperation between Islamic Republic of Iran and Turkey.

He said because of the need of the Iranian government to religious jurisprudence, considerable studies have been carried out and measures have been taken in this area which are unprecedented adding that we are willing to present findings of our studies to Turkish religious scholars.

Mr. Turkaman talking about the geographical position of Iran in the region and its access to the central Asia, said Iran enjoys a unique geographical location and is neighbor with 15 countries and such privilege creates an opportunity for cooperation with Turkey in religious and cultural areas as well as Central Asia and Caucasus.

Referring to guidelines provided by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution about the youth, Turkaman said some 25 years ago Ayatollah Khamenei warned about the plot by the west penetrate culturally among the country"s youth.  

Cultural onslaught and cultural invasion are among the leverages used by the colonialist and enemies of Islam   

He went on saying that waring about the cultural onslaught and invasion were among other guidelines given by the Supreme Leader and today we are witness to such penetration among our young generation.

Turkaman said when the Supreme Leader warned about such dangers we didn"t realize the importance of such threat but today we are witness to penetration and influence of the western culture in the Muslim countries and this phenomenon is a great threat against Muslim communities. He called for joint efforts by Iran and Turkey to safeguard the young generation against such threats.

Changing the Islamic life style to western one is a great threat

Chairman of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization said nowadays we see that the cultural invasion has changed the life style of Muslims communities to western life style and such transformation is a great threat against Islamic world.

Both parties also talked about the content of the agreement signed by them to promote cultural and religious cooperation. The document calls for cooperation of Turkey and Islamic Republic of Iran on areas such as science, education and academic, Hajj pilgrimage, religious publications, art and cultural activities on Quranic issues, holding of Quranic exhibition, Quranic studies and cyber space, promotion of Islamic unity, countering Islamophobia, religious convergence and annual meeting among religious scholars of the two countries.

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