RAWALPINDI, Pakistan: The “Universal Inter-Religion Day of Solidarity” was observed throughout the country on Friday to condemn the insulting statement of Pope Benedict against Islam on the call of Quaid-i-Millat-i-Jafariya Agha Syed Hamid Ali Shah Moosavi.

The day began with recitation from Holy Quran in mosques and Imambargahs and special prays at places of worship belonging to other religions while peaceful and united rallies were organized by the TNFJ and its subordinate organizations to promote inter-religion unity.

A’imma Masajid and khutaba addressing the Friday congregations declared that inter-religion unity was need of the hour and all patriotic powers should get ready to thwart the international conspiracy of pitching different religions and cultures against each other and utilize all their resources to stop miscreant elements from spreading anarchy, hatred and biases.

In Rawalpindi, main gathering of the day was reported at Jamia Masjid Kazmia under the auspices of TNFJ Regional Council. Allama Syed Abul Hassan Taqi addressing the gathering said, Islam is the most liked religion of Allah which gives commandment to ensure dignity of animals also. He said the Pope’s remarks against Islam have opened a new chapter against Islam which needs to be corrected because international colonial powers were using new tactics to fulfill her expansionist designs and to gain supremacy over the whole world.

He said after Russian breakage, the elder Satan America tore the international peace apart putting the United Nations’ objectives behind. They not only destructed Afghanistan and carried out aggression and massacre in Iraq but also turned Lebanon into a pile of debris but they had to face humiliated defeat at the hands of Hezbullah there, he added. He said this serious situation has created permanent concern in the ranks of Islamic World.

He said America was carrying out her oppressive activities in the garb of fake suppositions, and Guantanamo bay and Abu Gharaib are the self-speaking instances of their immoral activities. The so-called torch-bearers of anti-terrorism Bush has himself become an international terrorist and has kept Muslims on his target. Blasphemous images were published in newspapers of Denmark and other States, and now statements against Islam have been issued by Pope Benedict and Australian Father which unveiled the real spirits of the international terrorist against Islam.

He said the insulting statement of Pope Benedict is indicating towards a new direction and suggests that the Pope is unaware of the religious history. He asked the Pope that what for, according to his own belief, Eisa (the Christ) was hanged to the gallows? Was he not doing jihad (struggle) for preaching the Message of Allah to people? He said it has become crystal clear from the Pope’s statement that he is totally unaware of the Quranic teachings and through such statements the Western world desires to see how much power is left with Muslims.

He said protest and rallies against the Pope Benedict’s statement are the standards to gauge our religious honour and dignity. There is need for the United Nations to play her role in this connection while immediate steps should be taken to remove Pope Benedict from his office because posting of such ineligible person to this high and holy office is an insult to Christianity.

Allama Taqi declaring the Quaid-i-Millat-i-Jafariya Agha Hamid Moosavi’s point of view that there is no religious, Maktabi or sectarian conflict in any part of the world rather human beings all over the world are the offspring of one Adam (A.S.) as correct, said that all human beings would have to carry out practical struggle for the respect of mankind. He expressed his commitment to utilize all his energy to promote inter-religion unity and solidarity and their practical struggle for this cause would continue.

Later, Mukhtar Generation Rawalpindi Cantt. staged a peaceful demonstration for inter-religion unity. Allama Abul Hassan Taqi, Maulana Malik Ijlal Haider Al-Haideri, Deputy Convener Universal Inter-Religion Day of Solidarity Committee TNFJ Dr. S. Zaman, Mukhtar Generation leader Aun Abbas Kazmi, Malik Fayyaz Awan, Basharat Illahi Bhatti, Iqrar Hussain Kazmi, Syed Ameer Ali Kazmi and others led the rally.

They were carrying placards and banners inscribed with different slogans and also adopted various resolutions condemning the statement of Pope Benedict and heinous murder of elderly religious leader from Sargodha Syed Bashir Hussain Bokhari.

They also expressed their commitment to present any sacrifice on the call of Quaid-i-Millat-i-Jafariya Agha Moosavi for his mission of ‘Wila’ and ‘Aza’.

Allama Syed Saqlain Ali Bokhari at Shia Jamia Masjid Darbar Shah Chan Chiragh, Hojjatul Islam Syed Hussain Muqaddasi at Masjid-e-Ahle Bait Wah Cantt., Allama Syed Mohsin Ali Hamdani at Jamia Masjid Qasr-e-Abu Talib Rawalpindi, Hojjatul Islam Allama Hussain Sadiqi at Jamia Masjid Jafariya Islamabad, Allama Tanvir Kazmi at Masjid Qasr-e-Shabbir, Allam Fakhar Abbas Abidi at Masjid Isna Ashary Dehlyla, and Allama Basharat Hussain Imami at Jamia Masjid Khadijatul Kubra addressed Universal Inter-Religion Day of Solidarity gatherings.