ME sees unprecedented political tremor’

26 February, 2011 07:08

A senior Shia cleric in Iran has highlighted an unprecedented “political tremor” in the region and warned of enemy attempts to create diversions and doubts among Muslims.

“A great storm has arisen in the region and a political quake that is unique in the history of Islam,” Â Grand Â Ayatollah Nasser Makarem-Shirazi as saying on Thursday.

Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi warned against the spread of deviatory beliefs. “Doubts and problems must be discussed in religious schools and young clerics need to be able to logically handle opponents [in debates].”

“We must do something to maintain faith to remain strong in the heart of our youths, to avoid being affected by materialism and warn others against it,” the cleric addressed Muslim clergy.

He further warned against increasing divorce and decreasing marriage rates as well as the growing number of drug addicts, saying ethical deviations are more likely to cause political challenges in comparison with economic problems.

Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi called for the independence of Muslim clergy and urged them to awareness and vigilance.