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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - The Islamic Centrist Party (ICP) on Monday criticized Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affair's recent visit to Shi'a shrines in Iraq and his meeting with Shia leader Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani.

The "Wasat" political party also criticized Awqaf Minister Nuh al-Qudah's welcoming of religious tourism by Shias to Jordan, especially tombs and shrines revered by Shia Muslims like the Shrine of Jaafar bin Abi Talib in the southern Mazar in Karak.

In a statement issued Saturday, ICP said that it is surprised by the Minister's leaning towards "normalization" with the Shia sect, criticizing al-Qudah's recent visit to Iraq and visiting Shia sites.

"Does the Minister not know what our brothers in Syria are suffering from at the hands of the Syrian regime with the blessings of Shia leaders in Najaf, Karabala, and Qum," the statement said.

The statement also warned of Iran's efforts to propagate the Shiite ideology, and accused it of military and logistical support of the Syrian regime.

ICP called on the government to stand against such visits and statements, and express clearly that it stands against the minister's statements.

The Centrist party expressed rejection of what it described as "Shia expansion under the pretext of Shia religious tourism."

On Saturday, local groups in Karak expressed denunciation of an act of arson when local Southern Mazar residents set ablaze a building belonging to the Bohra Shia Muslims.

The building served as a hostel for Shia pilgrims visiting the Southern Mazar region, where several centuries-old tombs and shrines revered by Shia are located, including the tomb of Ali bin Abi Talib, Prophet Muhammad's uncle and brother of Imam Ali.