‘Saudi Arabia should play role of elder brother to end fight in Yemen’
Rizwan Haider
ISLAMABAD: Agreement between Iran and the G5+1 to put an end to the 13-year diplomatic conflict over Iranian nuclear issue and lifting international sanctions is the success of the ideology of Imam Khomeini and Iranian revolution.
It was stated by Iranian Cultural Counselor in Islamabad, Shahabuddin Darai in an exclusive interview with The Patriot, he said that Iran survived during the hard times of international sanctions. He said that Iran took it as a challenge and in result country became self sufficient in number of commodities.
While talking on cultural similarities of Iran and Pakistan he said that Jashn-e-Noroz which is celebrated in Iran and other central Asian countries including Afghanistan is almost similar to Jashn-e-Baharan of Pakistan. He said that meeting with relatives, family friends and inviting each other on family gatherings is the essential part of Jashn-e-Noroz. He also said that UNESCO has already included this festival into the category of international festivals. Every year on 21st March this festival is celebrated in headquarters of United Nations where ambassadors of various countries participate with their families and only halal edible items are presented.
While answering a question he said that after Iranian revolution special focus was given to enhance the literacy rate of the country, “Literacy rate of Iran is one of the highest of the world, currently over 96% population of Iran is literate”. He said that although government has built number of universities and colleges all over the country but a concept of turning every house into an educational institution did wonders. He said that in every house literate ones tried to teach the illiterate members of the family and if they could pass specific government test stipend paid to the teachers. In this way literate father, mother, siblings, son and daughter passed their knowledge ahead and all the society is now has become an educational institution.
Talking about the Iranian cultural festival in Islamabad he said that government of both the neighbouring, brotherly countries have agreement and similarly Pakistan Cultural week is celebrated in Tehran every year.
While talking on 35th anniversary of Iranian revolution he said that despite of the cruel and unjustified sanctions of Western countries Iran has developed in multiple fields and is in the list of developed countries of the world. He said that it is in the manifesto of Iran to keep raising voice in favour of suppressed countries by oppression and brutality of major powers. He said that last Friday of every Ramazan ul Mubarik is being celebrated all over the world to raise voice against unjustified occupation of Israel over Palestinian territory. This idea was presented by Imam Khomeini. He also said that Saudi Arabia should play role of elder brother to end the fight in Yemen and solve the issues with negotiations because number of innocent Muslims are suffering.
