Turkish Shia visitors praise spiritual atmosphere and services at Imam Reza Shrine

A group of Turkish Shia Muslims visited Imam Reza Shrine in northeast Iran and toured the AQR service and achievements exhibition.
The visit provided an opportunity for the delegation to explore the organization's broad activities and share their pilgrimage experiences.
The guests included Dr. Alireza Otar, deputy head of the Turkish Shia Foundation, and his wife Dilber Otar, a Quran instructor in Turkey.
Dr. Otar highlighted the foundation's cultural and religious initiatives across Europe.
He said: "Groups from Turkey, Belgium, Germany, and other European countries embark on pilgrimage caravans to Iran and Iraq two to three times a year."
The caravans typically range from 20 to 40 participants or more.
He suggested: "Having guides familiar with the history and architecture who speak the pilgrims' native languages would greatly enrich their spiritual journey."
Dilber Otar also discussed her work organizing pilgrimage trips for Turkish women to Karbala and Mashhad.
She noted: "I love Iran dearly; this country feels just like my own."
She added that providing Turkish-speaking guides would help international pilgrims gain deeper insights into the holy site's history and diverse porticos.
Referring to recent developments and the martyrdom of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Dilber Otar recounted local solidarity efforts.
She explained: "We organized a massive march in our residential district where roughly 15,000 Shia Muslims reside."
She added that their community visited the Iranian consulate in Istanbul to extend heartfelt condolences.
She maintained that visiting Mashhad after Karbala and Najaf offers a deeply moving atmosphere, expressing hope for future pilgrimages.