Shia group to visit Iraq

A six-member team led by Shia cleric Kalbe Jawad will be traveling to Iraq later this month to assess the situation and chalk out details for sending volunteers from India for humanitarian aid and protection of religious shrines from ISIS terrorists in the war-torn nation.
Speaking to reporters here today, Jawad said that around two lakh volunteers have registered with Anjuman-e-Haideri, a Shia organisation headquartered at Dargah Shah-e-Mardan in Jorbagh here for traveling to Iraq.
"Out of these, we have shortlisted around 6000 people which include doctors, nurses, engineers who could be sent to the war-torn country to provide humanitarian support and for rebuilding activities," he said.

"A six-member delegation of Anjuman-e-Haideri under my leadership will visit Iraq beginning September 29. This delegation will hold high level meetings in Baghdad, Najaf and Karbala to assess the situation. The details of sending large number of Indian volunteers for protection of religious shrines will be ironed out," he said.
He said once the delegation returns, the volunteers will be sent to Iraq.
Jawad also condemned ISIS, saying the horrific killings of innocent people can't be justified.

"They are in fact maligning the real peaceful image of Islam by their inhuman acts," he said.
Office bearers of Anjuman-e-Haideri said that they were in touch with Indian government officials for sending volunteers to Iraq and all those who have registered with them have given in writing that they will be traveling to the country at their own risk.

Jawad also claimed that Anjuman-e-Haideri has received a letter from Iraq's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, thanking it on behalf of Iraqi Prime Minister for volunteering a large number of Indian volunteers for protecting holy shrines.