(AhlulBayt News Agency) - Teaching of “Shia studies” at MA level began in cooperation with the three departments of Religious Sciences, Social Sciences and History at Esfahan University.
A ceremony held yesterday, October 24, on the opening of the classes at the Hall of the Religious Sciences Department of the university with the presence of the dean and deputies of the Faculty of Literature as well as the heads of the departments of Theology, Social Sciences and History and a number of university lecturers.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Asghar Montazer-ol-Qaem, dean of the Faculty of Literature and Humanities stressed the oppressions of Shia Muslims and their massacre during the history and referred to the Wahhabi-led attacks to the holy cities of Karbala and Najaf in 1206 and 1216.
He further regarded the problems faced by Shias before and after the Islamic revolution and said: “by recognizing the problems, both internal and external, we can find solutions for the consequences of most of the problems.”
The dean of the faculty also referred to courses on Shia studies in the world saying that: “about 140 books have been published on the issue from the year 2000 and researches on Shia studies have been conducted in many universities throughout the world.”
Also addressing the ceremony, Dr. Azizi head of the Department of Religious Sciences explained the status of Shias in the world following the Islamic revolution and stressed that the conditions caused as a result of the revolution make us increase our knowledge about Shiism.
He regarded Shiism as the most important principle of Iranian identity and stated that: “being aware of this identity, Iranians will take presence in the political interactions and challenges more self- confident and more powerful in scientific fields.”
