Culture Min: Iran's Support For World Muslims, Religious Duty

Sarajevo, Jan 15, IRNA – Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance said here Monday that Iran based on genuine Islamic teachings considers supporting world Muslims and oppressed nations a religious duty; such as Lebanese, Palestinians, and Bosnians in line with that policy. According to IRNA, Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini made the comment in a meeting with a group of Bosnian veteran soldiers. Referring to the efforts made by the west aimed at elimination and even annihilation of the Muslims, he said that the main objective behind the brutal war launched against the Bosnian Muslims some two decades ago was eliminating the Muslims from Europe. He added, 'Fortunately, thanks to the strong will of the Bosnian Muslims and the contributions of the Islamic Ummah that plot faced defeat and today the Balkans region minus Muslims cannot be even imagined.' Hosseini pointed out that the Muslims beyond doubt comprise section of the identity of the Balkans region, arguing, 'Today the West is after implementing its notorious plan in the region and achieving its objectives through a soft war.' The culture and Islamic guidance minister noted that in order to reach its goals the West resorts to all cultural, political and economic means, adding, 'The was is still going on and it is only its nature that has got more complicated.' Hosseini emphasized the need for maintaining alert of the Bosnian Muslims, arguing, 'You should realize the nature of the new war and to act more alertly than you did in the past.' He emphasized, 'Just as we were by your side during the war, today too, we are ready to share our experience with you for preservation and safeguarding of the memories and values of the Bosnia war, as we have done in case of the Iraqi imposed war against Iran.' The meeting continued with some Bosnian commander and veteran soldiers' narrations of their memories and their appreciation for the Islamic Republic of Iran's benevolent supports for the Muslims during the Bosnian war. A Bosnian veteran soldier, Mustafa Pulatak, said, 'The Islamic Republic of Iran's contributions were unconditional and limitless and you country rushed to assist the people of Bosnia expecting absolutely nothing back in return.' He emphasized, 'We would never forget Iran's supports and we would transfer this matter to the future generations.' He also referred to a special war quarterly, called 'Kurak' in Bosnia, adding, 'This quarterly takes advantage of Iran's experience for preserving the memories and values of war and also some articles written by Iranians are published in it.' The Editor in Chief of the Kurak quarterly, Shevko Hucic, too, narrating his memories about the war era said, 'The Bosnian Muslims have thus far been faced with 11 rounds of genocide, but this time, by grace of Almighty Allah, the Islamic Ummah managed to survive.' He added, 'As the late Imam Khomeini said after the liberation of Khorramshahr, 'God liberated Khorramshahr', we, too, during the Balkans war felt God's supports and backing several times.' The Bosnian War or the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina was an international armed conflict that took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina between 1 March 1992 and 14 December 1995. The war involved several factions. The main belligerents were the forces of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and those of the self-proclaimed Bosnian Serb and Bosnian Croat entities within Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska and Herzeg-Bosnia, who were led and supplied by Serbia and Croatia respectively./end