Hawzah News Agency (Tehran, Iran) – Ayatollah Mohsen Araki received a Nigerian Muslim scholar Sheikh Ebrahim Taher Bachi in Tehran on Wednesday, January 4.

During the meeting, Chairman of the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought urged African scholars' participation in the International Islamic Unity conference and asked them to hold such conference on Islamic Unity in Africa in which Muslim scholars from across the continent could take part.

Ayatollah Araki further highlighted the significance of unity and solidarity within Muslim community asserting, "Creating unity within Islam is a religious obligation."

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Iranian cleric Ayatollah Araki suggested establishing a branch for the University of Islamic Sects in Africa; "Establishing this university will have influential results in familiarizing African students with different Islamic sects."

It must be noted that the meeting was held in the headquarters of the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought in Tehran. Mr Mortadha Kadhimi, the Iranian ambassador to Nigeria as well as Muhammad Ali Azarshab, secretary of Africa and Arab affairs in the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought were also present at the meeting.