Latest Religions and Faiths News in Iran – Iran is a predominantly Shiite Muslim country, with significant minorities of many other faiths. News and opinions related to religious issues can be found here.
Reports show that a significant portion of the capacity of flights from Iran to Iraq has been sold out in the days leading to the Arba’een ceremony, the world’s largest religious gathering which marks the fortieth day after the martyrdom of the third Shiite Imam Hussein ibn Ali (AS).
Mehregan or Mehr is one of the most glorious Iranian festivals annually held from October 8 to 14. It is the biggest Iranian festival after the Persian New Year or Nowruz.
The “Rawda Khani” or public lamentation is among historical ceremonies annually held in the old part of the city of Abarkuh in Yazd Province, central Iran, during the lunar month of Muharram when Imam Hussein was martyred some 14 centuries ago.
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says the annual Hajj pilgrimage demonstrates the power of the Islamic Ummah and boosts contacts among Muslims.
A Zoroastrian cleric from the city of Yazd says the Iranian followers of Prophet Zoroaster highly respect the third Shiite Imam, Hussein Ibn Ali, because of his historic defence of the oppressed and the truth.
Hesar Kharvan village in Qazvin province is among the places where Ta’zieh, the Iranian-Islamic passion play, has always been an integral part of mourning ceremonies held for the martyrdom of third Shiite Imam, Hussein ibn Ali, during the lunar month of Muharram.
The Finnish capital of Helsinki recently hosted an art exhibition with the main theme of mourning for the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein, the third Shiite Imam.
Millions of mournful Shiite Muslims have taken to the streets and mosques across Iran and other parts of the world to mark Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein, a grandson of Prophet Muhammad, who was martyred along with his family and companions some 14 centuries ago.
Islamic passion plays, known as Ta'zieh in Iran, are dramatic performances which depict battles between good and evil characters, who are clearly distinguished by wearing costumes with distinct, and meaningful, colours.
The rituals practiced in the lunar months of Muharram and Safar are not just basic traditions to Shiite Muslims. They rather impact all cultural and social dimensions of their lives, and their lessons can help believers solve many social and political problems.
A former Iranian diplomat says Riyadh is intensifying its crackdown on Shiite Muslims both in Saudi Arabia and in Bahrain as they have started mourning the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein, a grandson of Prophet Muhammad.
A huge flag bearing the name of the third Shiite Imam, Hussein ibn Ali (AS), has been hoisted on a 1,000-metre-high pole in Tehran to mark the anniversary of his martyrdom.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says the nation will resist against the bullying US in the same way as Imam Hussein, the third Shiite Imam, resisted against tyrant ruler of time Yazid, and they won’t cave into escalating pressure by Washington.
Tents have been set up in almost all Iranian cities, particularly those in southern Iran, commemorating the advent of the lunar month of Muharram, when the third Shiite Imam, Hussein ibn Ali, was martyred.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has congratulated Jewish people across the world, particularly those living in Iran, on the occasion of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.
Iran’s Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli has arrived in Baghdad to discuss bilateral border issues and this year’s Arba’een ceremony, the world’s largest religious pilgrimage, in meetings with Iraqi officials.
A representative of Iran’s Leader says this year’s successful hajj pilgrimage can pave the way for fence-mending talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia, easing disputes between the two regional powers.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has felicitated Muslim people across the world on Eid al-Adha (Islamic Feast of Sacrifice), calling on them to unite against those who are trying to divide the Muslim world.
A seminar on Iranian mysticism and Sufism was recently held by the Beijing University and the Iranian embassy’s cultural attaché in the Chinese capital Beijing.
Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says the United States is trying to pit Islamic nations against each other, so that Muslim people are killed by fellow Muslims.
A host of Muslim Iraqi clerics from both Shiite and Sunni denominations have issued a public call to counter sanctions slapped on Iran by US President Donald Trump.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi says the country has lodged its strong protest with Georgia over the problems which some Iranian passengers faced at Tbilisi airport.
Iran’s Assyro-Chaldean churches have censured US officials’ “interventionist” claims about the situation of religious minorities in the Islamic Republic, calling on Washington to be concerned about its own poor human rights record at home and abroad instead of shedding “crocodile tears” for others.
