The Imam Hussain Cultural Center in Istanbul, affiliated with the Media Department of the Imam Hussain Holy Shrine, has held discussions with several Turkish religious and cultural institutions to enhance mutual cooperation.

Director of the Center, Sabah Al-Taliqani, stated, “We are currently conducting a series of meetings with officials from institutions whose work aligns with ours. Today, we met with Hajj Ismail Aslan, head of the Ahlulbayt Association in Avcılar, and Sheikh Ahad Solhan, Director of the Imam Al-Muntadar Foundation. We discussed ways to improve the organization of Turkish pilgrim delegations to the holy shrines throughout the year. This includes exploring how the Imam Hussain Holy Shrine can support these efforts by facilitating visa issuance and offering services and accommodations in the shrine-affiliated pilgrim cities.”

He added, “We are working on developing a unified action plan with several Istanbul-based institutions to organize religious events marking the anniversaries of the Imams (peace be upon them). This initiative aims to strengthen cooperation, foster brotherhood, and promote intellectual and humanitarian awareness.”

For his part, His Eminence Sheikh Ahad expressed his strong support for the initiative, saying, “We warmly welcome the establishment of the Imam Hussain Cultural Center in Turkey. It plays a vital role in maintaining ties with Turkish society—particularly with the followers of the Ahlulbayt (peace be upon them). The need for such cooperation and engagement is urgent, especially in light of the growing interest among Turkish citizens in visiting the holy shrines.”

He added, “We regard the Imam Hussain Holy Shrine as a universal sanctuary that embraces all people, regardless of background or religious affiliation. Its mission is fundamentally humanitarian, even before being religious, educational, or service-oriented.”

Abbas Al-Taee