In a message, Ayatollah Dori Najafabadi, the Vice President of the Supreme Council of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, denounced the screening of the film “Holy Spider” at the Cannes Film Festival, and the desecrating the beliefs of Shiites and Imam Reza (a.s.).
The message of Ayatollah Ghorban Ali Dori Najafabadi reads, “For centuries, the holy shrine of Imam Reza (a.s.) has been a meeting place for the lovers of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) and has been and will be the axis of unity and solidarity of the Iranian nation. Such conspiracies cannot extinguish the love and devotion of the Iranian people to the AhlulBayt (a.s.), especially Imam Reza (a.s.).”
“The Shiites of the world, especially the faithful nation of Islamic Iran, consider Imam Reza (a.s.) as a refuge and shelter for the helpless. Every year, millions of people, with loving hearts, come to visit the holy shrine of that Imam, and express all their wishes and needs to his holiness,” another part of his message reads.
“The anti-Islamic content and inhuman depiction of the Iranian Muslim people, and the insult to the holy shrine of Imam Reza (a.s.) in the film “Holy Spider”, is another conspiracy of the enemies of Islam and the holy Shia in the form of the seventh art. However, they should know that the endless love for the AhlulBayt (a.s.) is rooted in the depths of Iranian society, and all Muslims and Shiites in the world. This love is deeply ingrained in the beliefs of millions of people,” said the representative of the Supreme Leader in Markazi province.
“Those who work as Iranian artists for the benefit of foreigners and enemies of Islam and the Revolution and violate all the high Islamic and human values for an award, should be aware that they have no place among the Iranian people. They should know that the honorable Iranian nation is the supporter of artists who respect their beliefs and sanctities in any position, and work to promote the Islamic Republic,” Ayatollah Dori Najafabadi said.
“While condemning this biased and cowardly act, we expect all activists in the cultural fields, especially theater, cinema, and television, to use all their power and talent to artistically defend the sanctity of the AhlulBayt (a.s.), especially the holy shrine of Imam Reza (a.s.), and sincerely strive to promote Islamic teachings, ethics, and spirituality,” he added.
It should be said that the movie “Holy Spider” is an unrealistic and exaggerated story of a serial killer named “Saeed Hanaei” who killed 16 streetwalker women in the late 1990s. Hanaei was convicted in court and executed in 2002. But under this pretext, the creators of this heinous film have insulted Iran, Iranians, and the holy city of Mashhad.