VIENNA, Austria: Twenty-fifth anniversary of martyrdom of great Iraqi scholar, philosopher and intellectual Ayatullah Sayyed Muhammad Baqer As-Sadr and his sister Amenah As-Sadr (Bintol Hoda) at the hands of ousted tyrant Saddam, was observed in Iraq, Denmark and Austria.

Ad-Da’wa Al-Islamia party organized a conference at Husseiniyah Khadma-tol Hussein (AS) in Denmark on April 10 to mark the occasion. Speakers threw light on the life and achievements of the Ayatullah who enjoyed great respect in the Muslim world right from Morocco to Indonesia, and his sister Bintol Hoda who stood by the side of her brother for the cause of Islam.

In Austrian city of Vienna, a literary and cultural program was held at Ahl-ol Beyt (AS) Center Pezzlgasse on April 10 under arrangements of Ad-Da’wa Al-Islamia party and Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq paying rich tributes to Ayatullah Baqir As-Sadr and Bintol Hoda who were martyred very cruelly by Saddam regime on April 9, 1980. Political and scholarly personalities besides Iraqis residing in Austria attended the program.

Ayatullah Muhammad Baqir As-Sadr was from a family, which has been the cradle of learning for about a century. One of the Ayatullah's Ancestors, Sayyid Abdulhussain Sharfeddin took part in the war of Independence of Jabl al-Aamul against France.

Ayatullah Baqir lost his father at the tender age of 4 years and his mother and elder brother Ismail As-Sadr then brought him up. From his very childhood he showed signs of extra-ordinary intelligence and aptitude for learning. When he was only 10 years he spoke on doctrinal matters and Islamic History with such confidence as if he had spent decades mastering these subjects. When he was 11 years old he wrote a book on logic and also began delivering lectures on this subject.

He wrote 26 books on various subjects including Fundamental of Jurisprudence, Jurisprudence, Economics, Philosophy, Inductive Logic, Social Problems and Public administration. Some of these books have been translated into Persian, English, Urdu and Turkish and every one of them is a masterpiece in its own line.

Large number of people attended a seminar held in Baghdad University under the auspices of Al-Wast As-Thaqafiyah Al-Amah magazine. During the seminar, a film, prepared by the magazine, was screened. It focused on different aspects of the life of the grand Ayatullah As-Sadr who was born in the holy city of Kazemiyah in a religious poor family but rich of knowledge.

Al-Ostaz Jawad Taleb, Dr. Abduljabbar, Dr Amer Hasan Fayaz and many others spoke on the occasion.

Iraq Cultural Ministry organized a cultural symposium to mark the occasion. The program was aired live by Iraqi TV channels.