Leader Appoints New Chief Custodian of Astan Quds Razavi

Hojjatoleslam Marvi will replace Ayatollah Seyed Ebrahim Rayeesi who was formerly appointed by the Supreme Leader as head of Iran's Judiciary.

Astan Quds Razavi runs assets and affairs related to the shrine of Shiite Islam's 8th Imam, Hazrat Ali Ibn-e Mussa (AS).

The Supreme Leader offered the new custodian a list of guidelines for the post, calling on the cleric to do his utmost to serve the pilgrims of Imam Reza (AS) and provide assistance to the needy.

Marvi was in charge of a department at the Leader's Office responsible for contacts and communications with religious seminaries before being appointed as the custodian of Astan Quds Razavi.

The Astan Quds Razavi is officially a charitable foundation, which is autonomous in the set-up and budget but functions within the framework of general government policies.

It relies on endowments as its main source of income and serves as a major player in the economy of Mashhad, Iran's second most-populous city, which hosts millions of Shia pilgrims from across the world every year.

There are more than 70 institutions affiliated to the Astan Quds Razavi, whose central organization currently has around 18,000 staff members.

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