(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Interfaith dialogue between Muslim and Christian leaders was held in the Iranian capital Tehran to discuss the ways to boost mutual relation of the religions in the Middle East.

This conference titled “Muslim-Christians Cooperation in the Middle East” was held by the Center for Interfaith Dialogue and also the Organization for Culture and Islamic Relations participated by the elites and thinkers from Germany and Islamic Republic of Iran.

Mohammadreza Dehshiri, Secretary of the conference, Hujjat-ol-Islam Mohammad Masjed Jame’ee, Ayatollah Seyyed Mostafa Mohaghegh Damad, Jonathan Beth Clia Representative of the Christians in Iran’s Parliament, Bishop Barbara Eber Hardz and Bishop Marner Sai Benjamin from Germany were among the participants in this conference.

Mohammad Dehshiri in this conference praised dialogue an important solution for a mutual understanding among the leaders from different religions.

He said, “In fact a constructive dialogue is not merely an exchange of information but its outcome is correction of the misunderstanding and transcending the knowledge of both sides.” and defined dialogue as the grounds for transferring the understandings and pictures of the other side and also getting free of misunderstandings.”

He called the East and particularly the Middle East as the heir to ancient cultures and civilizations which are common in their enthusiasm for monotheism and spirituality in a post-Abrahamic era in the Mesopotamia.

“Therefore we believe such conferences can explain the shared responsibilities of the religious leaders regarding sacrileges, demolition of religious tokens for discussing the necessity of compiling the charter of religions’ rights.

An Iranian participant, Hujjat-ol-Islam Mohammad Masjed Jame’ee, praised Assyrian churches’ support of Persian churches.

Bishop Marner Sai Benjamin also said, “At present, there are many religions that, besides racial and tribal differences, widen the gap between the people to the point that in some countries religion is a political shield providing the chance for some evil powers to commit anti religions crimes.”

Iranian figure Hujjat-ol-Islam Mohaghegh Damad praised the relations between Islam and Christianity which was formed since the beginning of Islam though it has been subject to many ups and downs throughout history.

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