Hawzah News Agency (Qom, Iran) – Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, head of Iranian Seminaries, issued a message to Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, a Shia source of emulation in Iraq, to congratulate him on the recent recapture of Mosul from ISIS takfiri terrorists by Iraqi forces.

The text of his statement is as follows:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful

To his eminence Grand Ayatollah Sistani

Today, the Islamic world, especially the resistant Iraqi Muslims, took great steps towards demolishing Takfiri terrorists who are serving as the puppets of arrogant powers and the Zionist regime in the region; the brave Iraqi forces liberated the historic city of Mosul through resistance in yet another triumph over the enemies of Islam.

It is hoped that by removing internal enemies within the Muslim community through maintaining our unity according to divine teachings, the main focus of Islamic community return to eradication of the Zionist regime and fighting the arrogant powers as a top priority. Now, the liberation of holy al-Aqsa and the Occupied Palestine must serve as a unifying factor throughout the Islamic world.

The Islamic seminaries including the seminary of Qom congratulate all those involved in the operation of Mosul liberation and urge the continuation of this path in order to fight all plots created by Israel and imperialist powers aimed at sowing division and discord within the Islamic world.

I congratulate this great victory to Imam al-Asr (aj), your Excellency and the victorious Islamic community; I also pray to Allah almighty for your success and prosperity as well as the victory of brave Muslim soldiers in their fight against the enemies.

Alireza Arafi

Head of Iranian Seminaries