Iran condemns terrorist groups' violation of holy sites sanctity in Syria

  Iranian Foreign Ministry vehemently condemned the violations committed by the armed terrorists groups of desecrating the sanctity of holy places and religious figures in Syria, the most recent of which the violation committed by the so-called the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham's of the sanctity of shrines of Ammar Bin Yasser and Uwais al-Qarni in Raqqa city. Iranian Foreign Ministry's spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham called upon international forums including Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and United Nations to adopt a stance regarding these extremist terrorist practices which contradict international culture and traditions. The reaction of international community and its condemnation of such acts are considered the first step on the path of assuming the responsibility towards preserving holy sites and preventing repetition of such blind exercise, Afkham said. Media sources pointed out that al-Qaeda-linked Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham targeted the two shrines with an explosion. The armed terrorist groups destroyed and burnt several mosques and churches in different provinces, including some sites with historical and religious values. One of those attacks was the explosion of the Great Umayyad Mosque' minaret in Aleppo and attack on Khaled Ibn al-Waleed Mosque in Homs, in addition to destroying parts of Om al-Zunar Church in Homs. 22/5/140328