According to IQNA’s ICRO branch, the program was organized by Iran’s chamber at State Islamic University of Syarif Hidayatullah in cooperation with Ahl-ul-Bayt (AS) Institute in Indonesia.

The forum was addressed by Azyumardi Azra, Indonesian Muslim thinker and former chancellor of the university and Rusli Malik and Amani Du tan, university lecturers.

Azyumardi Azra, author of numerous books on history of Islam, talked about the role of Ahl-ul-Bayt (AS) followers in Southeast Asia and Indonesia and said that Islam was introduced to the region by Alawi Sayyids.

He stated that Islamic preachers who arrived in Indonesia, Brunei and the Philippines were largely from among Saadaat Shia Muslims.

He added: “Most of Alawi Sayyids who moved to Southeast Asia were descendants of Imam Sajjad (AS). Hence, the works dated back to the period of Alawi era in some parts of Indonesia include poets and elegies on Ashura and the Karbala event.”

The scholar expressed sorrow over a recent attack on a Shiite community in Sampang district and noted that it is against Indonesian culture and that Indonesian people and Shia Muslims have lived peacefully together for centuries and observed principles of religious tolerance.

The program concluded with Saman religious elegy performance and a question and answer session.

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