We should propagate tradition of Imam Hussain (a.s.) for all, not just for Muslims: Ayatollah Akhtari
Stating that Ta’zieh is an artistic performance that can be better understood in other languages, the head of Ashura International Foundation stated, “Ta’zieh is the use of art. Considering the rituals and capacities of the country, we should use art in its comprehensive and real sense to introduce the AhlulBayt (a.s.) school.”
On Wednesday morning, July 20, 2022, the press conference of “The First International Ta’zieh Mourning Ceremony” was held at the Cultural & Art Organization of Tehran with the presence of Ayatollah Mohammed Hassan Akhtari, chairman of Ashura International Foundation.
At the beginning of the conference, while congratulating on the Eids of Velayat and Imamate, the Great Eid of Ghadir Khumm and Mubahela Day, Ayatollah Akhtari stated, “These days are very blessed. Also, we are on the eve of the Muharram, the month of mourning and grief of the AhlulBayt (a.s.).”
Referring to the activities of the Ashura International Foundation since its inception so far, he said, “The foundation is trying, God willing, to plan and follow up activities related to Ashura of Imam Hussain (a.s.), as one of the great rituals of the Shiite school, for the development and revival of Hosseini ceremonies and rituals in the world.”
Stating that the Ashura Foundation have been recently established, the chairman said, “During the last two years and the spread of the evil virus of Covid-19, the foundation was not able to plan its activities well, and to establish its relations with the followers and enthusiasts of AhlulBayt (a.s.). But it held many conferences and meetings online in the form of webinars.”
“Ashura International Foundation is a non-governmental organization, and its scope of work, activities and programs are international and outside of Iran,” Ayatollah Akhtari stated, “Holding “The First International Ta’zieh Mourning Ceremony”, “Ana Man Hussain Cultural and Artistic Festival”, plan for producing documentary films, short films and feature films are future programs of the International Ashura Foundation.”
“According to the emphasis of the Supreme Leader of the Revolution, we should take the dialogues beyond the Muslims and talk with the followers of other religions and non-Muslims of different nations and introduce them the Shia School of and Resistance,” said the chief organizer of the First International Ta’zieh Mourning Ceremony,
“The First International Ta’zieh Mourning Ceremony is the first step and provides the ground for holding the mourning ceremony of the month of Muharram. Ta’zieh is one of the traditional rituals for the AhlulBayt (a.s.) school, which has a long history throughout Iran,” added the Chairman of the Supreme Council of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly.
“In addition to Iran, Ta’zieh is performed in some other countries in a limited way. Therefore, considering the conditions, some foreign Ta’zieh performers are invited to participate in the First International Ta’zieh Mourning Ceremony,” he added.
“The Mourning Ceremony will be held in three days, and selected groups from Isfahan, Qom, Qazvin, Markazi, Tehran provinces and Tafresh city, as well as two foreign groups will perform their shows. Performances will be held on July 26 and 27 in Tehran Imam Hossein Square, City Theater, and Khavaran Cultural Center at 18:30 and 21:00, and on July 28, the closing ceremony will be held at Khavaran Cultural Center,” Ayatollah Akhtari explained.
He expressed his hope that the media, IRIB, and social networks will do their best to cover the news of “The First International Ta’zieh Mourning Ceremony” with their love for Imam Hussain (a.s.).
“In the last few years, Iranian Ta’zieh groups have performed in various European countries, and their programs have been enthusiastically received by Iranian residents, Muslims and even non-Muslims. This year as well, some Iranian Ta’zieh groups will perform in four European countries,” said the chief organizer of the First International Ta’zieh Mourning Ceremony.
“Ta’zieh is an artistic performance that can be better understood in other languages,” Ayatollah Akhtari stated, “It is the application of art. Considering the rituals and capacities of the country, we should use art in its comprehensive and real sense to introduce the AhlulBayt (a.s.) school.”
“In some Ta’zieh performances, materials are presented that lack reliable historical and narrative documents. One of our goals in holding Ta’zieh Mourning Ceremony is to deepen the contents which presented in Ta’ziyeh,” added the CEO of Ashura International Foundation.
“We are to refine and align Ta’zieh, and by using the accurate and authentic history of Ashura, introduce the logical, rational and strong content of the school of AhlulBayt (a.s.),” he said.
Mentioning the registration of Ta’zieh in UNESCO, Chairman of the Supreme Council of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly added, “We need to standardize the content so that it can be used in other countries, so that there is no difference in narratives and expressions.”
Referring to the call for “Ana Min Hussain” Cultural and Artistic Festival in the month of Shaban (March 2022), for writers and artists, he noted, “We are currently studying and researching, as well as collaborating with artists related to the Foundation, so that, God willing, we can produce a religious film on the subject of Imam Hussain (a.s.). Ashura International Foundation is a non-governmental organization and operates with the support of people and donors. Therefore, in this news conference, I invite donors, Mawkebs and institutions to support us to advance these programs.”
At the end of the meeting, Ayatollah Akhtari, Chairman of the Supreme Council of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly and the CEO of the Ashura International Foundation, unveiled the poster and logo of “The First International Ta’zieh Mourning Ceremony”.
“The First International Ta’zieh Mourning Ceremony” will held by Ashura International Foundation – one of the affiliated institutions of AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly – with the participation of Ta’zieh groups from Iraq, Nigeria, and the Islamic Republic of Iran on July 26-28, 2022, on the eve of the month of Muharram 1444 AH. Municipality of Tehran, Al-Mustafa (p.b.u.h) International University, and IRIB will cooperate in holding this international mourning ceremony, and the news coverage of the international event will be carried out by the Comprehensive Website of Islamic Art, ABNA News Agency, and Thaqalayn satellite TV.
Stating that Ta’zieh is an artistic performance that can be better understood in other languages, the head of Ashura International Foundation stated, “Ta’zieh is the use of art. Considering the rituals and capacities of the country, we should use art in its comprehensive and real sense to introduce the AhlulBayt (a.s.) school.”
On Wednesday morning, July 20, 2022, the press conference of “The First International Ta’zieh Mourning Ceremony” was held at the Cultural & Art Organization of Tehran with the presence of Ayatollah Mohammed Hassan Akhtari, chairman of Ashura International Foundation.
At the beginning of the conference, while congratulating on the Eids of Velayat and Imamate, the Great Eid of Ghadir Khumm and Mubahela Day, Ayatollah Akhtari stated, “These days are very blessed. Also, we are on the eve of the Muharram, the month of mourning and grief of the AhlulBayt (a.s.).”
Referring to the activities of the Ashura International Foundation since its inception so far, he said, “The foundation is trying, God willing, to plan and follow up activities related to Ashura of Imam Hussain (a.s.), as one of the great rituals of the Shiite school, for the development and revival of Hosseini ceremonies and rituals in the world.”
Stating that the Ashura Foundation have been recently established, the chairman said, “During the last two years and the spread of the evil virus of Covid-19, the foundation was not able to plan its activities well, and to establish its relations with the followers and enthusiasts of AhlulBayt (a.s.). But it held many conferences and meetings online in the form of webinars.”
“Ashura International Foundation is a non-governmental organization, and its scope of work, activities and programs are international and outside of Iran,” Ayatollah Akhtari stated, “Holding “The First International Ta’zieh Mourning Ceremony”, “Ana Man Hussain Cultural and Artistic Festival”, plan for producing documentary films, short films and feature films are future programs of the International Ashura Foundation.”
“According to the emphasis of the Supreme Leader of the Revolution, we should take the dialogues beyond the Muslims and talk with the followers of other religions and non-Muslims of different nations and introduce them the Shia School of and Resistance,” said the chief organizer of the First International Ta’zieh Mourning Ceremony,
“The First International Ta’zieh Mourning Ceremony is the first step and provides the ground for holding the mourning ceremony of the month of Muharram. Ta’zieh is one of the traditional rituals for the AhlulBayt (a.s.) school, which has a long history throughout Iran,” added the Chairman of the Supreme Council of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly.
“In addition to Iran, Ta’zieh is performed in some other countries in a limited way. Therefore, considering the conditions, some foreign Ta’zieh performers are invited to participate in the First International Ta’zieh Mourning Ceremony,” he added.
“The Mourning Ceremony will be held in three days, and selected groups from Isfahan, Qom, Qazvin, Markazi, Tehran provinces and Tafresh city, as well as two foreign groups will perform their shows. Performances will be held on July 26 and 27 in Tehran Imam Hossein Square, City Theater, and Khavaran Cultural Center at 18:30 and 21:00, and on July 28, the closing ceremony will be held at Khavaran Cultural Center,” Ayatollah Akhtari explained.
He expressed his hope that the media, IRIB, and social networks will do their best to cover the news of “The First International Ta’zieh Mourning Ceremony” with their love for Imam Hussain (a.s.).
“In the last few years, Iranian Ta’zieh groups have performed in various European countries, and their programs have been enthusiastically received by Iranian residents, Muslims and even non-Muslims. This year as well, some Iranian Ta’zieh groups will perform in four European countries,” said the chief organizer of the First International Ta’zieh Mourning Ceremony.
“Ta’zieh is an artistic performance that can be better understood in other languages,” Ayatollah Akhtari stated, “It is the application of art. Considering the rituals and capacities of the country, we should use art in its comprehensive and real sense to introduce the AhlulBayt (a.s.) school.”
“In some Ta’zieh performances, materials are presented that lack reliable historical and narrative documents. One of our goals in holding Ta’zieh Mourning Ceremony is to deepen the contents which presented in Ta’ziyeh,” added the CEO of Ashura International Foundation.
“We are to refine and align Ta’zieh, and by using the accurate and authentic history of Ashura, introduce the logical, rational and strong content of the school of AhlulBayt (a.s.),” he said.
Mentioning the registration of Ta’zieh in UNESCO, Chairman of the Supreme Council of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly added, “We need to standardize the content so that it can be used in other countries, so that there is no difference in narratives and expressions.”
Referring to the call for “Ana Min Hussain” Cultural and Artistic Festival in the month of Shaban (March 2022), for writers and artists, he noted, “We are currently studying and researching, as well as collaborating with artists related to the Foundation, so that, God willing, we can produce a religious film on the subject of Imam Hussain (a.s.). Ashura International Foundation is a non-governmental organization and operates with the support of people and donors. Therefore, in this news conference, I invite donors, Mawkebs and institutions to support us to advance these programs.”
At the end of the meeting, Ayatollah Akhtari, Chairman of the Supreme Council of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly and the CEO of the Ashura International Foundation, unveiled the poster and logo of “The First International Ta’zieh Mourning Ceremony”.
“The First International Ta’zieh Mourning Ceremony” will held by Ashura International Foundation – one of the affiliated institutions of AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly – with the participation of Ta’zieh groups from Iraq, Nigeria, and the Islamic Republic of Iran on July 26-28, 2022, on the eve of the month of Muharram 1444 AH. Municipality of Tehran, Al-Mustafa (p.b.u.h) International University, and IRIB will cooperate in holding this international mourning ceremony, and the news coverage of the international event will be carried out by the Comprehensive Website of Islamic Art, ABNA News Agency, and Thaqalayn satellite TV.