Senior Iranian cleric condemns massacre of innocent people by Takfiri groups

Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi, a senior Iranian religious leader, deplored the massacre of innocent people by Takfiri terrorists in the Muslim states, particularly in crisis-hit Syria. “Unfortunately the… murder of Muslims… and the flames raging in Muslim countries are due to the presence of these Takfiri currents,” Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi said. The cleric described the extremists as a tool in the hands of colonial powers that save them the trouble of direct military intervention in Muslim countries. “When the enemies find Islam against their illegitimate interests, they pitch Muslims against each other through these Takfiri groups to undermine and uproot Islam,” he stated. The cleric further called on all Muslim leaders to join hands to shed light on the nature of Takfiri extremism and inform the public that the militants are a small population with an incorrect interpretation of the Holy Quran. Late in September, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani lashed out at the western countries for supporting the Salafi and Takfiri militants in Syria, and reiterated the need for a political solution to the crisis in the Muslim country. “I am concerned that certain parts of Syria have turned into a breeding ground for extremist ideologies and a suitable place for terrorists’ gathering, which is reminiscent of the situation in certain regions neighboring our Eastern borders in the 1990s,” President Rouhani said, addressing a gathering organized by Asia Society and the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. The Iranian president pointed to the current situation in Syria, and said, “The settlement of this problem requires collective cooperation to find a lasting political solution to Syria’s domestic issues.” The conflict in Syria started in March 2011, when sporadic pro-reform protests turned into a massive insurgency following the intervention of western and regional states. The unrest, which took in terrorist groups from across Europe, the Middle-East and North Africa, has transpired as one of the bloodiest conflicts in recent history. As the foreign-backed insurgency in Syria continues without an end in sight, the US government has boosted its political and military support to Takfiri extremists. Washington has remained indifferent to warnings by Russia and other world powers about the consequences of arming militant groups.