The Fourth International Conference of Shi’a Platform Elites will be held in the holy city of Karbala.
The “Ship of Salvation” docks in Karbala; the commencement of the global mission of Imam Husayn’s (peace be upon him) shirt.
Davood Manafipoor, Secretary of the Global Assembly of Hazrat Ali Asghar (peace be upon him), during a press conference regarding the conclusion of the first international mourning ceremony “Safinat al-Najat” in Karbala, stated: “The oppressors of the world have subjugated humanity under their control and aim to lead all humans into modern servitude. Global Zionism commits atrocities that leave humanity astonished and speechless; these actions are part of a global plan orchestrated by the hands of the Jews.”
He added, “The only school of thought and nation that has resolutely stood against this movement is the Islamic Revolution of Iran, and the sole foundation of this global outcry is none other than Seyyed al-Shuhada (peace be upon him).”
Manafipoor continued: “Today, two factions have emerged in the world, and if we wish to stand in the camp of truth and reason, we must recognize that a great war is approaching; a war that the absolutists are striving to ignite.”
Referring to the saying of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him): “A person like me does not pledge allegiance to a person like Yazid,” he stated: “This statement marks the beginning of the path we have chosen—a path under the banner of truth, symbolized by Seyyed al-Shuhada (peace be upon him), a symbol that transcends religious boundaries, is universal, and serves as a source of inspiration. He entered the battlefield to expose Yazid, and today, we stand on the same path, resisting oppression.”
Warning Against the Danger of Neo-Ottomanism
Manafipoor emphasized: “One of the primary schemes of Zionism in the contemporary era is to sow discord among Islamic sects. The Syrian conflict is part of a project aimed at reviving the Umayyad dynasty under the banner of opposing Shia Islam.”
He added: “At the holy shrine of Imam Reza (peace be upon him), I warned that this movement seeks to initiate Neo-Ottomanism and a future world war.”
The Role of Women in Shaping Civilizations and the Root of Global Movements
The Secretary of the Global Assembly of Hazrat Ali Asghar (peace be upon him) continued: “23 years ago, with a civilizational perspective and placing women at the center, we initiated the global movement of Hussaini infants. In the end times, it is women who delineate the boundary between good and evil—a being in whom God has embedded the manifest power of divine lordship.”
He said: “The shirt, as a symbol of Ashura, was introduced through women, and for the first time, Lady Fatimah al-Zahra (peace be upon her) will present it in the Great Resurrection. Both Shia and Sunni sources affirm this event. Furthermore, according to narrations, on the night of the reappearance, Imam Mahdi (may Allah hasten his reappearance) will announce his uprising with the bloody surge from this very shirt.”
The Shirt of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him): The Identity of Ashura.
He further stated during the press conference: “At the first assembly of Shia pulpit elites, the question was raised: ‘What is the definitive symbol of Ashura?’ This shirt was presented as an authentic symbol. Since then, more than 1,600 elites have been involved in the process of these investigations at the holy shrine of Imam Reza (peace be upon him), in Qom, and in Karbala.”
Manafipoor pointed out that the fourth assembly will also center around the “magnificent shirt of Seyyed al-Shuhada (peace be upon him)” as the symbol of Shia Islam. He added: “A school of thought without a symbol remains passive on the global stage, while this symbol grants us identity and representation. Meanwhile, enemies have fabricated symbols based on falsehoods, such as the cross, the dragon, etc., whereas we have neglected the true symbol.”
He referred to a statement issued by Ayatollah Arafi, the director of the country’s seminaries, on this matter and added: “When I had the honor of meeting him, I presented the research concerning the shirt of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him). He emphasized the necessity of creating a symbol from this event.”
Two-Day Assembly and Closing Ceremony of the Mourning Event
The Secretary of the Global Assembly of Hazrat Ali Asghar (peace be upon him) highlighted the organization of the first international mourning ceremony, Safinat al-Najat, which witnessed extensive participation from elites and intellectuals of various nationalities. He stated: “In this ceremony, 2,500 individuals participated, contributing approximately 1,200 poems, 40 articles, and dozens of outstanding works across diverse fields, including short and long stories, eulogies, passion plays, podcasts, posters, and more. Furthermore, two books focusing on poetry and passion plays related to this theme have been published so far.”
He added: “The International Assembly of Shia Pulpit Elites and the closing ceremony of the Safinat al-Najat mourning event will be held consecutively on the 5th and 6th of Ordibehesht.”
Manafipoor further stated: “The first day is dedicated to presenting scientific research to the elites, while the second day will feature a grand closing ceremony with 550 invitees from 20 nationalities, held near the shrine of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him). All the winners of this mourning ceremony have been invited to this assembly in Karbala, where they will receive their awards.”
The Ceremony of Recitation of the Shirt on the Eve of the First Night of Muharram
Manafipoor, in another part of this meeting, referred to the future programs of this assembly and said: “Among the significant upcoming programs is the organization of the ‘Ceremony of Recitation of the Shirt’ on the eve of the first night of Muharram. This ceremony will be held simultaneously in various locations with the participation of the officials of the Global Assembly of Hazrat Ali Asghar (peace be upon him), and the symbol of the shirt of Seyyed al-Shuhada (peace be upon him) will be hoisted on the same evening.”
He further added: “On the 30th of Ordibehesht, the annual assembly of one thousand officials of the Global Assembly of Hazrat Ali Asghar (peace be upon him) will be held at the holy shrine of Imam Reza (peace be upon him).”
The Establishment of the Global Assembly of Qamees al-Hussein (peace be upon him).
He announced: “Today, the Global Assembly of Qamees al-Hussein (peace be upon him) was officially established, tasked with introducing the banner of the savior of humanity’s uprising to the world, supported by scientific research, and globalizing the cry of the oppressed Seyyed al-Shuhada (peace be upon him) through this symbol.”
Manafipoor stated: “We have analyzed the map of the global Zionist movement using the tableau of the Umayyads and added: ‘The Comprehensive Strategic Plan of Shia in the Contemporary Era’ is among the most significant topics to be discussed at this assembly.”
He concluded by mentioning that one of the forthcoming initiatives of this assembly is the organization of the international conference titled “Distinguished Women of Shia Pulpits,” involving participants from various nations. The conference aims to elaborate on the civilization-building role of women within the discourse of Ashura, with more detailed information to be provided in the future.
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