Rawalpindi/Islamabad – September 21, 2026
Leader of the Shia Muslims in Pakistan, Ayatollah Syed Sajid Ali Naqvi, said that peace is facing serious threats from global hegemonic powers, imperialism, and Zionism, expressing concern that the United Nations has failed to stop the escalation of violence and alleged abuses in the region, including Palestine.
In his statement on the occasion of the International Day of Peace, Ayatollah Syed Sajid Ali Naqvi said that the land of the prophets has been devastated while the world observes the International Day of Peace, with violence and bloodshed continuing across the Middle East. He said that essential civilian infrastructure, including facilities serving children and civilians, has been severely damaged as a result of war and military operations. He stressed the need to stop injustice and resolve the issues of Palestine and Kashmir.
He noted that the United Nations has observed this day since 1952, adding that the organization has addressed the situations in Gaza, Sudan, Congo, Haiti, Myanmar, and Yemen in its reports and discussions over the years. He also referred to what he described as the United Nations’ recent reference to the Minab school in Tehran in the context of war crimes. He expressed concern over what he characterized as unserious and threatening conduct by certain international powers, questioning how lasting peace can be achieved under such circumstances.
He pointed out that the International Day of Peace comes as the United Nations General Assembly is preparing to convene, while the continued failure to resolve the Kashmir issue in South Asia and the Palestine issue in the Middle East after decades remains, in his view, a major question concerning the effectiveness of the international community in addressing longstanding conflicts.
Ayatollah Syed Sajid Ali Naqvi emphasized that wars do not resolve problems but instead create further crises and humanitarian tragedies. He said that the use of force has inflicted severe harm on humanity under the banner of peace. He further argued that what he described as new plans and political moves are creating further space for Israel, and called for such developments to be prevented.
He stated that lasting peace cannot be achieved as long as oppressed and occupied peoples are denied their fundamental rights at the international, state, and societal levels. He also said that, in his view, lasting peace will remain unattainable as long as Israel and India continue what he described as oppression against the Palestinian and Kashmiri peoples.
The Leader of the Shia Muslims in Pakistan stressed the need for practical measures to protect the rights of oppressed peoples and to address the issues of Palestine and Kashmir, emphasizing that sustainable peace requires an end to injustice and the safeguarding of fundamental rights for all peoples.
