Rawalpindi/Islamabad – October 1, 2026
Ayatollah Syed Sajid Ali Naqvi, Leader of the Shia Muslims in Pakistan, said in his messages marking the consecutive international observances of Older Persons, Nonviolence and Teachers, as well as in discussions with various personalities, that nations achieve success through honoring senior citizens, rejecting violence and respecting teachers.
He said these three international principles, which have been severely undermined, are particularly important amid growing intolerance in Pakistan and around the world. It is essential to respect one another’s views and practice nonviolence, as intolerance provides a foundation for the continuation of extremism.
He added that in Iran, Palestine, Lebanon and across the Middle East, the forces of hegemony and Zionism have failed to respect even the sanctity of the elderly, teachers and educational institutions. He stressed that Islam teaches security, peace, harmony and mutual respect.
On the occasion of the International Day of Older Persons on October 1, Ayatollah Syed Sajid Ali Naqvi said that senior citizens are respected members of every society, and Islam places particular emphasis on honoring them. He added that the International Day of Nonviolence, observed on October 2, reminds us that the disorder and insecurity affecting the world today are fundamentally the result of the unjustified use of force in pursuit of self-interest and the attempt to hold cities and states hostage through the exercise of power.
He further said that the culture of moving from verbal abuse to the use of weapons, rather than relying on arguments and evidence to defend one’s views, has also contributed to the spread of violence and intolerance. Such intolerance first paves the way for extremism and then for radicalism. Therefore, states, governments and international institutions should not only encourage those who promote tolerance, nonviolence, patience and restraint, but should also take practical measures to create such an environment rather than limiting their efforts to commemorating these occasions.
The Leader of the Shia Muslims in Pakistan said that World Teachers’ Day, observed on October 5, should be marked with great respect and appreciation, because teachers play not only a fundamental role in the development and progress of nations and societies, but also undertake the important responsibility of educating, nurturing and guiding future generations.
He said that teachers have played a central role in all developed civilizations, societies and states around the world, working tirelessly to educate and nurture new generations through knowledge. Teachers are respected across societies and religions, while the universal message of the Holy Qur’an has given this role exceptional importance. Teachers also hold a particularly distinguished position in the traditions of Eastern societies.
In conclusion, Ayatollah Syed Sajid Ali Naqvi referred to the plight of the oppressed in the region, particularly in Iran, Palestine, Lebanon and Gaza, saying that educational institutions, teachers, students, young children and infants, as well as senior citizens, continue to be subjected to violence and oppression by forces of hegemony and the Zionist entity, while international institutions remain silent spectators.
