Saudi ambassador visits religious authority in Najaf
The Saudi ambassador to Iraq, Abdulaziz Al-Shammari, and religious scholar Sheikh Ishaq Al-Fayad.
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – In a special visit to the central Iraqi city of Najaf, the Saudi ambassador to Iraq, Abdulaziz Al-Shammari, met on Saturday with Sheikh Ishaq Al-Fayad and Sheikh Bashir Al-Najafi, two of Najaf’s senior religious scholars.
Al-Fayad and Al-Najafi are highly respected and prominent religious figures in both Iraq and in the Islamic world, where they have millions of followers.
Al-Shammari’s visit reflects a clear message of Saudi Arabia’s openness and respect for various moderate religious leaders far from violence and extremism.
Sources told Al-Arabiya News that the steps taken by the Saudi ambassador are appreciated by the religious authority in Najaf and have good repercussions among senior religious scholars.
The visit also expresses the eagerness of the Saudi leadership to reject fanaticism and sectarianism and will contribute to improving ties between the people of Iraq and Saudi Arabia and working toward eradicating the harmful influences spread by extremist and terrorist groups.
The Saudi ambassador’s visit to Najaf included the shrine of Imam Ali bin Abi Talib, where he met with Iraqi officials.
Additionally, in a ceremony held at Najaf International Airport, Al-Shammari received the first flight coming from the Saudi eastern city of Dammam to Najaf.
The Saudi ambassador said that the increased number of flights between both countries is a result of their solid diplomatic ties and is meant to make it easier for Saudi nationals to travel directly to Iraq.
Al-Shammari explained that the relations between Saudi Arabia and Iraq are witnessing developments in different fields, noting that flights departing from Dammam to Najaf are followed by flights from Najaf to the Saudi cities of Jeddah and Medina to make it easier for Iraqis to reach Saudi Arabia as quickly as possible.