On Thursday, March 17, 2022, in an intimate meeting with the officials of the jihadi groups (volunteers) of Astara in the holy shrine of Imamzadeh Ghasem and Imamzadeh Ibrahim (a.s.) of the city, Ayatollah Reza Ramazani stated, “Jihadi groups play a key role in the city’s cultural activities.”
“Reports of jihadi activities (volunteer activities) in Astara promise good action in this sphere,” the Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly stated, “Distributing food packages, grouping the donors, eradicating poverty, and visiting the needy are among the practical life of the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h).”
Pointing out that services to the needy are effective in the society, he added, “These services reflect the religious authority’s commitment to poverty eradication.”
Poverty eradication is one of the important teachings of Islam
Considering poverty eradicating as one of the important teachings of Islam, Ayatollah Ramazani stated, “In terms of eradicating poverty, Islam does not differentiate even between Muslims and non-Muslims.”
“Jihadi (voluntary) activities and poverty eradication are among the actions that not everyone is willing to do because they have no financial benefit. Young people working in these areas should be encouraged and supported because they work without expectation,” pointed out the representative of the people of Gilan in the Assembly of Leadership Experts.
Referring to the unemployment of half of the young members of jihadi groups in Astara, he said, “These motivated young people who provide livelihood packages to those in need in remote areas, should be supported.”
Necessity of studying, needs assessment and redefining the capacities of Gilan cities
“I ask the governor of Gilan and his management team to study all the cities of the province with no discrimination and to assess the needs of each of them. The capacities of the cities of Gilan should be redefined and the youth who are present in different areas of the society should be used in this sector,” Ayatollah Ramazani added.
“Working for God is a transcendent value,” the representative of the people of Gilan in the Assembly of Leadership Experts stated, “These are the jihadi activities that have preserved the Islamic Republic and have made us reach self-reliance. The strengthening of jihadi (volunteer) groups has led to the victory of Islamic Iran in all areas.”
“Gilan province has many capacities. For the development of Astara, the city’s governor can provide a team for the jihadi youth,” he clarified.
“Measures to eradicate poverty and donate livelihood packages must be developed. For the growth of each province and city in terms of intellectual, cultural and livelihood, we need a cultural document,” Ayatollah Ramazani emphasized.
The need for serious attention to Astara
The representative of the people of Gilan in the Assembly of Experts pointed out, “The capital of the province should have a serious concern for the city of Astara.”
“Fortunately, those who believe in the discourse of the Islamic Republic became managers and officials in the city of Astara. It is haram to appoint someone who does not believe in the discourse of the Islamic Republic,” he stated.
“Demanding is the right of every citizen and every revolutionary, and it must be wise, prudent, realistic, compassionate, and accompanied by moral and spiritual etiquette,” Ayatollah Ramazani added.
“If we want to offer a solution, it must be based on ethical principles,” the Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly stated, “Islamic society must be ethics-oriented, and the Prophet (p.b.u.h) was sent for ethics.”
“The Holy Quran is the book of law, life and man. This heavenly book introduces man correctly and in the most comprehensive way,” he said.
“The Public Culture Council is a powerful arm of the cities. This council should be program-oriented, and any cultural budget should be approved in that council,” Ayatollah Ramazani said in the end.