The reality of the holy shrines between the painful past and the bright present in a photographic exhibition in Washington, DC.

Many painful and harsh periods have passed over the sacred sites in Iraq, in which the holy shrines has suffered from neglect and destruction, this fact has made the al-Kafeel Center for international relations of the al-Abbas's (p) holy shrine in North America for the establishment of a photographic exhibition comparing the status of the holy shrines in the difficult times before, and their bright condition in the current time.

The photo exhibition, which was held in Washington, DC at the Ja'fari administration Center, was attended by a large number of local figures who have shown a great interest in these sacred religious shrines, especially the work and worldwide activities of the holy shrines of Imam al-Hussayn and of al-Abbas (peace be upon both of them).

The Director of al-Kafeel Center for international relations and the representative of the al-Abbas's (p) holy shrine; Sheikh Mohamad Jawad al-Salami has stated in an interview with the site of Karbala satellite television: "The exhibition shows the great difference of the holy shrines in the era of tyrants, and its current situation at the moment after the liberation of Iraq. There ae some photos dating back more than 150 and 200 years, and there are pictures dating back to 14 years, and we find a clear difference between the old image and the modern image today .. "

One of the exhibition visitors; Mr. Salah al-'ekili has stated: " These images remind us of the Imams (peace be upon them), as sometimes we feel that we have pierced the image and we are standing inside the holy shrine, and when we compare these images with the old pictures, we say: The evolution that occurred is because of the attention given by the management of the shrines to these sacred sanctuaries."

"Today, thanks to God and to the sacrifices made by the followers of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), we can visit and embrace the holy shrines freely, and we are also glad for the presence of representatives of the holy shrines who convoy the humanity messages of the imams all over the world." said Mahdi Radawi, a volunteer at the Jaafari administration Center.

Pointing out that "such a photographic exhibition gives an educational opportunity to read a brief history of the status of the holy shrines in Iraq, and gives the viewer an opportunity to perform the Ziyarat from afar."

It is worth mentioning that the al-Kafeel Center for international relations is one of the centers of the al-Abbas's (p) holy shrine, where it holds a number of religious and artistic activities throughout North America in order to familiarize the communities with the activities of the holy shrines in Iraq.