Draft:Headquarters for the Reconstruction of Atabat

Headquarters for the Reconstruction of Atabat

Logo of the Headquarters
Formation	2003
Type	Non-governmental
Legal status	Active
Headquarters	Tehran, Iran
Region served	International
Website	https://atabat.org/

The Headquarters for the Reconstruction of Atabat (Persian: ستاد بازسازی عتبات عالیات) is a non-governmental organization founded in 2003 by a consortium of Iranian trustees and benefactors dedicated to the reconstruction of the Holy Shrines in Iraq and other significant religious sites. Headquartered in Tehran, the organization maintains representative offices throughout Iraq and various Iranian cities. In addition to its religious mandate, the Headquarters engages in humanitarian initiatives across Islamic countries. Funding is derived primarily from voluntary contributions solicited from governmental and non-governmental entities, as well as individual donors and devotees of the Ahl al-Bayt (a).

History

The Headquarters for the Reconstruction of Atabat was established in 2003 in response to the long-standing neglect and destruction of pilgrimage shrines in Iraq, a consequence of the anti-Shi'a policies of Saddam Hussein. Its primary mission was the rehabilitation of these holy sites. Following the collapse of the Ba'athist regime in Iraq and the subsequent reopening of the region to pilgrims, Iranian devotees, trustees, and benefactors founded the organization, acting upon recommendations from Sayyid Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The head of public participation for the Headquarters has credited Qasem Soleimani as the principal founder of the institution.

Financial Resources

According to the organization's official information portal, financial assets are secured through voluntary donations from governmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as private benefactors committed to the reconstruction of the shrines of the Shi'a Imams (a) and other religious sites.

General Objectives

The Headquarters pursues the following primary objectives:

1. The reconstruction and expansion of the shrines of the Infallible Imams (a) and the maintenance of religious sites in Iraq and other nations.
2. The provision of humanitarian aid to the people of Iraq and other countries as necessitated, with priority accorded to Islamic nations.

Methods and Duties

To achieve its mandate, the Headquarters employs the following strategies:

• Establishment of specialized study and research committees.
• Creation of provincial and municipal branch headquarters throughout Iran.
• Establishment of international branch offices.
• Operation of reconstruction offices within the Atabat of Iraq.
• Coordination with the offices (buyut) of Grand Ayatollahs and Shi'a scholars in Iran and Iraq.
• Collaboration with governmental and non-governmental organizations in Iran.
• Liaison with the Iraqi government, Endowments (Awqaf) officials, shrine custodians, and other social institutions.

Organizational Structure

The organizational structure comprises the following components:

• Board of Founders or Central Council
• Head of the Headquarters
• Specialized Deputies
• Provincial and County Branch Headquarters
• Overseas Offices
• Reconstruction Offices based in the Atabat
• Specialized Committees.

Executive Policies

Operational policies and duties include:

• Data collection and the assessment of technical-engineering requirements in the holy cities of Iraq.
• Prioritization of reconstruction projects within the Atabat.
• Design and implementation of reconstruction projects based on chronological planning.
• Collection and management of public vows and coordination of voluntary benefactor contributions.
• Execution of civil, cultural, educational, and health initiatives.
• Provision of technical and service consultations to shrine custodians and Iraqi officials.
• Implementation of welfare plans and services for pilgrims.
• Utilization of public capacity and the equipment and facilities provided by donors free of charge.
• Deployment of voluntary technical and expert services.

Projects

The Headquarters for the Reconstruction of Atabat has successfully executed numerous projects and continues to oversee ongoing initiatives. These include the expansion, restoration, and reconstruction of shrines and pilgrimage sites in Karbala, Najaf, al-Kadhimiya, Samarra, Musayyib (Shrine of the Sons of Muslim b. 'Aqil), Balad (Shrine of Sayyid Muhammad b. 'Ali al-Hadi (a)), and Kufa. Additionally, the organization was instrumental in repairing and reconstructing the Shrine of Lady Zaynab (a) following damages sustained during the war in Syria against ISIS.