RNA – Hujjat al-Islam Sayyed Ebrahim Raeisi, the Custodian of Mashhad’s Astan Quds Razavi condemned the terrorist blast in the Holy Shrine of Imamzadeh Sayyed Muhammad ibn Hadi, in the Iraqi city of Balad.
At least 40 people lost their lives and 75 others sustained injuries when ISIL militants carried out a bombing and shooting attack near the Holy Shrine of Sayyid Muhammad ibn Ali al-Hadi, a Shi’a Muslim mausoleum north of the Iraqi capital.
Security sources said a militant blew himself up at the external gate of the mausoleum in the city of Balad, situated 80 kilometres (50 miles) north of Baghdad, late on Thursday, July 7.
The message text of Hujjat al-Islam Raeisi is as follows:
In the Name of God, the Most Benificent, the Most Merciful
The terrorist attacks on the Holy Shrine of Imamzadeh Sayyed Muhammad ibn Hadi, which martyred dozens of innocent people has caused great grief, especially since the Holy Shrine of Abu Ja’far Muhammad ibn Ali al-Hadi is respected and loved by all Shi’as and Sunnis in all Muslim lands, and any desecration will be confronted by a decisive answer by the zealous brothers all over the world.
Such a traumatic event, which killed innocent people after repeated failed attempts to attack the Holy Shrine, and threatening the pure culture of pilgrimage, once again revealed the face of the hated oppressors of the world, and the leader of these oppressors, the repressive regime of House of Saud, who for years has incited schism between the unified Muslim nations.
Of course, committing such cowardly suicide attacks that are intended to divide Sunni and Shi’a brothers will cause the great Muslim nations to be more determined in the long fight against terrorist groups.
From the vicinity of Illuminated Grave of Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha, I ask the highest ranks from God Almighty for the martyrs of this terrorist attack, and I wish for the bereaved families of the loved ones, patience and great reward.
And soon will the unjust assailants know what vicissitudes their affairs will take.
Custodian of Astan Quds Razavi,
Sayyed Ebrahim Raeisi
R11/112/E