Senior Iranian cleric Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi has welcomed a call by the Grand Imam of the al-Azhar Mosque, Egypt�s top Muslim authority, for a unity meeting of leading Sunni and Shia scholars.

Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi has sent a letter to al-Azhar�s Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, proposing a conference between top Shia and Sunni scholars �to review the most important obstacles in the way of Islamic unity� and �to set forth the most significant, necessary measures for reinforcing Islamic unity,� the Iranian cleric�s international affairs adviser Ayatollah Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini Qazvini told reporters on Monday, without specifying the date the letter was sent.

The call by Tayeb had been aired on Egypt�s state TV on July 22 at the end of a series of programs during the holy month of Ramadan.



[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="555"] Grand Imam of Egypt�s al-Azhar Mosque Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb[/caption]

 

Stressing the necessity of �coexistence and peace� between Shia and Sunni Muslims, Tayeb had urged Sunni scholars to issue a fatwa (religious decree) prohibiting the killing of Shia Muslims.

He had also called on Shia scholars to issue a similar fatwa banning the killing of Sunni Muslims.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Ayatollah Qazvini said Ayatollah Shirazi had included principal issues in his letter and is awaiting Tayeb�s response.

By Press TV