The Supreme Leader's Hajj
Message
Thursday, 26 November 2009 07:49
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
The season of Hajj is the time of a spiritual rebirth and the dawn of
monotheism across horizons over the world. Its rituals flow like a limpid
river, offering chances to pilgrims to wash away the filth of sins or
negligence and to eventually restore the sheen of their God-like innate
disposition.
The shedding of the attire of snobbery and privilege in the Hajj
rendezvous and the subsequent wearing of the uniform garment of Ihram
altogether symbolize a unanimous Islamic Ummah and decree a symbolic call
of unity and empathy to Muslims worldwide.
The Hajj calls "Your God is One God, so to Him surrender. And give good
tidings unto the humble" (The Hajj: 34) on the one hand and "the Holy
Mosque that We have appointed equal unto men, alike him who cleaves to it
and the tent-dweller" (The Hajj: 25) on the other and in doing so, the
Ka’aba embodies a call in unison for Islamic fraternity besides its call
of monotheism.
The Muslims who have converged onto the holy place from the four
corners of the world with an ardent desire for circumambulating around the
Ka’aba or visiting the shrine of the Noblest Messenger, may the peace of
Allah be upon him and his progeny, are expected to cherish the opportunity
in consolidating their mutual brotherly bonds as it would heal many woes
of the Islamic Ummah.
Nowadays, we clearly see that the hands of the ill-wishers of the world
of Islam are busy more than the past driving wedges among Muslims, thus
the Islamic Ummah is in need of integrity and unanimity more than ever
before.
Today, the bloodstained claws of enemies are busy unleashing tragic
scenes here and there across the Islamic lands; Palestine languishes under
the wicked grip of Zionists and suffers a widening tribulation. The
Al-Aqsa Mosque faces a grave threat; innocent people of Gaza, having
already been subjected to an unprecedented genocide and still endure the
harshest conditions; Afghanistan, under the boots of the occupiers,
witnesses a new suffering on a daily basis; in Iraq instability has robbed
people of their calm and their peace of mind; in Yemen fratricide has
struck the Islamic Ummah with a fresh grief.
Muslims worldwide should rather stop and think how and where these
blind seditions, wars, blasts, assassination bids and massacres which have
gripped Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan have been planned. Why was it that
before the American-led Western troops arrived in this region in a
peremptory and possessory manner, the regional nations had never been
subjected to such a long list of sufferings?
The occupiers, on the one hand, brand any popular resistance movements
in Palestine, Lebanon or any other place as terroristic, and on the other
hand, are organizing or masterminding a violent sectarian terrorism among
the regional nations.
The Middle East and the North African region was once colonized and
humiliated for more than a century by the Western governments of Britain
and France and subsequently by America; their natural reserves were
plundered, their free spirit was trodden upon and their nations were taken
hostage by the greed of the aggressive aliens.
Yet, after an Islamic awakening coupled with a popular resistance
movements made it impossible for them to proceed and following a re-
emergence of the issue of martyrdom and ascension to God and on the path
of God , as an exceptional factor in the scene of Islamic jihad, the
aggressors, having been pushed to a defensive position, resorted to
duplicitous methods after replacing their old approach with a new type of
colonialism.
Nonetheless, the multi-faced demon of colonialism has now fielded all
its capacities to bring Islam to its knees, from military might, an iron
fist and flagrant occupation to an evil chain of propagandas and a myriad
of lie-spreading and rumor-mongering media centers, from the organization
of networks to ruthlessly carry out assassination and homicide to
promotion of promiscuity and the proliferation of narcotics targeting the
morale and the morality of the youth, and, finally, from a thoroughgoing
diplomatic assail on any hub of resistance to the provocation of sectarian
snobbery, prejudice and enmity among brothers.
If affection, trust and empathy take the place of the enemy-desired
mistrust and animosity among Muslim nations or Islamic sects, the
conspiracy of the ill-wishers would be defeated for the most part and
their sinister plots in seeking a growing dominance over the Islamic Ummah
would be foiled.
The Hajj is one of those precious opportunities for this sublime goal.
Muslims will only be able to withstand the multi-faced demon and
overcome it through cooperation with one another and reliance on their
common foundations which are encapsulated in the Holy Koran and the
practice of the Messenger. Islamic Iran, following the lessons of our
great Imam Khomeini, has epitomized this fruitful resistance. The enemies
have faced defeat in Islamic Iran.
Thirty years of plotting, conspiring and ill feeling, from staging a
coup and imposing an eight-year war, to imposition sanctions and the
freezing of assets, from the unleashing of psychological warfare and media
confrontation to making efforts to hinder scientific growth and the
acquisition of modern sciences including nuclear expertise by the Iranian
nation, and even blatant provocations and interventions during the recent
glorious and meaningful elections, all turned into scenes of setbacks,
passiveness and confusion on the part of the enemy, re-evoking a verse in
the Iranian mind: "Surely the guile of Satan is ever feeble" (The Women:
76).
In all other areas of the world too, where people have countered the
arrogant powers through a faith-inspired resistance, the faithful achieved
victory while the tyrants ended up in scandal and retreat. The shining
victory of the Lebanese in the 33-day war and the prideful and victorious
jihad of the Gazans during the past three years stand as living evidence
in this regard.
I emphatically recommend the fortunate pilgrims in general and
especially the scholars and orators of the Islamic countries who have
attended the Hajj gathering, as well as the leaders of Friday prayers in
the noble sanctuaries, to recognize their your immediate duty, to expose
the conspiracy of the enemies of Islam in the eyes of your audience, and
to call the people to affection and unity, they should strictly avoid
anything which may provoke a sense of mistrust among Muslims, and vent all
cries at the arrogant and the enemies of the Islamic Ummah and the
masterminds of all seditions headed by the Zionists and Americans, and in
doing so, help materialize the practice of renouncing the infidels in word
and in deed.
I humbly pray to God, the Most High, to confer His succor and blessing
on me and to you all.
Wassalam-o Alaikum
Seyyed Ali Husseini Khamenei
November 21, 2009
22/08/2009
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
This gathering was very pleasant and enjoyable for me. First of all,
Quranic gatherings are intrinsically appealing, especially when the Quran
is read aloud in a sweet voice with a pleasant tone. Second, this
auspicious gathering has coincided with the beginning of the holy month of
Ramadan. I hope Allah the Exalted will place all of us among the followers
of the Quran. By Allah's favor, our life will be based on Quranic
principles and our death will be in line with Quranic recommendations.
First and foremost, good progress has been made in the country
regarding widespread affinity with the Quran and melodic recitation of it.
The melodic recitations that were performed here - for which I would like
to express my gratitude to all the esteemed qurra as well as those who
made preparations for this gathering - were among excellent recitations.
Some the recitations were indeed performed in a highly principled way - in
terms of pronunciation, intonation, tajwid, attention to the meaning, and
correspondence between the tone and meaning of verses. Thankfully, our
youth have made good progress in these areas. That is something good. As I
have repeatedly pointed out before, such gatherings and the efforts to
promote principled recitation of the Quran are a prelude to our society's
affinity with the Quran. They are a prelude to saving our people and
country from alienation from the Quran, something that has plagued our
country and our nation for many consecutive years.
These gatherings can foster an affinity with the Quran, and that is
being done in a gradual process. Of course there is a long way to go
before all our people, youth, men, and women develop an affinity with the
Quran. Then there will be an opportunity to consult the Quran for various
daily matters. This will be done when there is an affinity with the Quran.
Otherwise, it is not the case that anyone can just open the Quran and
unfailingly find what they need without having developed any affinity with
it. That is not the case. Most of the time, it is not possible to find
what one needs. Most of the time, the heart cannot develop close
familiarity with Quranic concepts. But when there is an affinity with the
Quran, that becomes possible. Therefore, these are the prelude for an
affinity with the Quran.
I usually make some recommendations to our dear qurra. A new
recommendation that I would like to make this year is that the intonation
and melodic recitations are good: They make the Quran more enjoyable to
the ear and the heart, and they increase the influence of the Quran.
However, these enjoyable melodic recitations can be performed in two
different ways. One way is to read out the verses like a singer. That is
the case with some famous Egyptian qurra - who are, of course, considered
among the prominent qurra. They simply sing out Quranic verses, and they
are good at their work. They have a good voice, and the tone and
intonation of their voice is also good.
However, the Quran can also be recited - using the same tones and
intonation patterns - in a way that it can create humility in the hearts
of those who are listening and make them remember God. "And when His
messages are recited to them they increase them in faith ..." [The Holy
Quran, 8: 2]. The purpose is to achieve this goal. This kind of recitation
can bring man closer to humility and supplication before God. That is
another way to recite the Quran. Among the famous qurra, there are some
individuals that recite the Quran in this way. Their recitation engenders
humility.
You should observe this aspect of reciting, particularly you dear youth
who thankfully have a good voice and have achieved good mastery over the
techniques of recitation. I know that you dear youth are also familiar
with the meaning of what you recite. That was not the case in the past.
The situation was different in the early years of the first decade of the
Revolution. At that time, there were some qurra who had a good voice, but
they often did not pay attention to the meaning of what they recited. By
Allah's favor, the progress we have made in this regard has brought the
youth to the forefront. That is something good. But you should learn and
observe what I said as another technique in order to engender humility.
When there is humility before Quranic verses, the heart will be
influenced by Quranic guidance. Some hearts do not seem to be influenced
no matter how much Quranic verses and guidance are recited to them. But
this is not the case with some other hearts: "So whomsoever Allah intends
to guide, He expands his breast for Islam, and whomsoever He intends to
leave in error, He makes his breast strait (and) narrow as though he were
ascending upwards" [The Holy Quran, 6: 125]. We must pray to Allah the
Exalted to make our hearts so sensitive that they learn lessons and are
influenced by Quranic guidance and hints.
We keep repeating Quranic verses to one another, but our hearts must be
affected by these verses. For instance, take the verse "And hold fast by
the covenant of Allah all together" [The Holy Quran, 3: 103]. This is a
Quranic teaching, and it has been repeated to us so many times. We have
read this teaching repeatedly. When this holy verse is revealed to our
hearts as a divine inspiration, when our hearts absorb the message, when
our hearts take the form of this verse, and when our heart and soul are
placed within the framework of this verse, unity will turn into an
essential issue for us, and we will not undermine national unity for the
sake of personal motives and goals. That is where unity manifests itself.
If Quranic verses are revealed to us in a way that our hearts absorb and
understand the message and take the form of the verses, then it will be
easier to accept the message when, for instance, the following verse is
read to us: "And those with him are firm of heart against the disbelievers,
compassionate among themselves." [The Holy Quran, 48: 29].
This verse does not mean that the enemy must constantly be suppressed
and trampled underfoot. That is not the case. Sometimes it is appropriate
to suppress the enemy and sometimes it is inappropriate to do so. However,
you must always stand firm against the enemy. Your bulwark must not be
flimsy. Your stronghold must be impenetrable. That is how you should treat
the enemy. In contrast, you should be "compassionate" among yourselves. We
must be kind towards one another. We must be sympathetic and gentle. After
all, that is the order of the Quran. Why do we fail to practice this
Quranic decree? What is wrong? That is our problem. If our hearts are
ready for Quranic blessings and guidance and if we develop close
familiarity with the Quran, it will be easy for us to unite. Then personal
goals, materialistic interests, greed for power and money, favoritism, and
other such things will not make us forget or disregard this Quranic
recommendation and guidance.
Therefore, reading the Quran and listening to it must gradually lead us
to this point. That is the way it should be. That is the characteristic of
the Quran as a celestial book. The Quran is not like an ordinary book that
can be read once. It is not possible to read it once, learn everything,
and put it aside. That is not the case. The Quran is like drinking water.
It can give you life. You always need it. Its effect is gradual and
infinite. Its guidance is endless. No matter how much you learn from the
Quran, there is always a door to be opened. There is always something that
has to be explored. That is what the Quran is. Therefore, the Quran must
be read constantly. We must gain an affinity with the Quran. Our youth
must recite the Quran in a good tone and observe different techniques that
have been developed for recitation. As I said, our youth must consider
engendering humility as one of the components of good recitation.
Dear God, let our life and death be accompanied by the Quran. Associate
our souls with the Quran. O God, make our hearts accept Quranic guidance
and knowledge. Make us true followers of monotheism. O God, for the sake
of Prophet Muhammad (s.w.a.) and his household, make this month of Ramadan
auspicious for our nation and the Islamic Ummah. O God, make the Quran
more and more common among the Islamic Ummah on a daily basis. Dear God,
bestow mercy and blessings on our forefathers.
Blessings be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessings
Leader addresses nation in Friday prayers: Transcript
Sat, 20 Jun 2009 17:43:32 GMT - Presse TV
In this sermon, I call all the respected brothers and sisters who have
attended the Friday prayers here to piety and I advise them against any
wrongdoing.
In this sermon, I will address the issue of the election, which is a
hot topic in our country.
I want to address three different groups on three different issues;
firstly, I want to address the general public. Secondly, I want to address
the political elite, the candidates of the presidential election,
activists and those who have been active in the process of election.
I also have something to say to the leaders of the global arrogance,
certain Western governments and their media.
On the first issue, where I address you dear people, I want to express
my appreciation and gratitude. I do not like to exaggerate while I am
addressing my audience, but regarding the recent election, I must tell you
great people that no matter what I say, words cannot describe the
greatness of your great accomplishment.
The June 12 election was a great show of the people's sense of
responsibility, their will to participate, and their dedication to the
system.
Truly, I have never heard of anything similar to what you have
accomplished taking place in any of the democratic systems around the
world, whether they are false democracies or truly built on their people's
vote.
In the Islamic Republic, aside from the 1979 referendum, there has been
no election like the one held last Friday with a turnout of almost 85
percent. This means almost 40 million voters. You can see the presence of
the 12 and last Shia Imam behind this. This is a sign of God's blessing to
us.
It is necessary that I address you all across the nation from the
depths of my heart, to express my respect and tell you that I feel humble
in your presence.
Our young generation showed and proved they have insight and that like
the first generation of the Islamic Revolution, they are committed. The
difference is, during the days of the revolution, revolutionary fire
burned in the hearts of all. It was the same is the days of the imposed
war but in a different sense.
Today, however, there is no more of that but we still witness this
commitment, this sense of responsibility, this understanding and fervor in
our youth. This is not something that can be ignored.
Of course, there are differences of taste and of opinion among our
people. Some people support a certain candidate; others back another
person and his words and ideas. This is natural, but you can see a
collective commitment amid all this and amongst people of all walks of
life. You can see a consensus, a collective commitment to the protection
of our country and system.
Everyone entered the political scene in villages, towns, cities, major
cities, different ethnic groups, people of different faiths, men, women,
young and old. They all entered the scene. They all took part in this
great movement.
My dear people, this election was a political tremor for your enemies.
For your friends across the world, it was a real celebration -- a
historical ceremony and victory.
Thirty years after the victory of the Islamic Revolution, such a huge
turnout and show of commitment to the Islamic system and the late Imam
[Khomeini] shows the renewal of the pledge of allegiance to the late Imam
and the martyrs. This was a breath of fresh air, a new movement and a
great opportunity for the Islamic system.
This election put religious democracy on display for the whole world to
witness. All ill-wishers of the Islamic establishment saw for themselves
the meaning of religious democracy.
This is an alternative path in the face of dictatorships and arrogant
regimes on the one side and democracies devoid of spirituality and
religion on the other. This is religious democracy. This is what brings
the hearts of people together and draws them to the scene.
This is the first point I wanted to make about the election. The second
point is that the June 12 election showed that people live with trust,
hope and national enthusiasm in this country.
This is against a great deal of comments your enemies make in their
propaganda. If the people of this country were not hopeful about their
future, they would not have taken part in any election.
If people were not dedicated to the Islamic establishment, they would
have never voted. If they did not feel free, they would have never shown
up at polling stations. The trust they have in the Islamic system was
evident in this election.
Later on, I will tell you how the enemy targeted the very trust of the
people in the Islamic establishment. This trust is the very thing they
want to crush. This trust is the greatest asset of the Islamic system, so
they want to take it away from the Islamic establishment.
They want to cast doubt on the election and weaken the confidence of
the people in the system. They want to cause the people to panic. The
enemies of the Iranian nation know that without trust there would have
been a low turnout.
A low turnout would have questioned the legitimacy of the establishment.
That is what they are after. They wanted to take away your [people] trust
and keep you away from the polls to target this legitimacy, and if they
had achieved this goal, the damage done would have been incomparable to
any other.
For the people to come to the polls en masse and then be told that they
made a mistake and should not have trusted the Islamic establishment, this
is an enemy game.
This path is the same one they pursued even before the elections. A few
months before the election, in late march, I said in Mashhad that the
enemy has started whispers and rumors that their will be vote rigging.
They were preparing the grounds for the events of today.
I advised our friends in the country not to repeat what the enemy wants
to plant in people's minds. The Islamic establishment has the people's
trust and it has not gained this trust easily.
For the past 30 years, authorities in the Islamic Republic have managed
to maintain this trust, with their performance and painstaking efforts.
The third issue I want to touch upon is the issue of rivalry. This
competition was a free, serious and transparent race between four
candidates as we all witnessed.
These competitions, debates and discussion were so transparent that
some began to voice objections. I will tell you that to they had the right
to object to some extent.
Certain problems were also created that resulted in what you see today.
I must tell you that we were and still are under the impression that these
rivalries were between the four candidates who are all individuals
committed to the system.
The Enemies want to portray the situation in the media - some of which
belong to the Zionists -as if there is a row between the proponents and
opponents of the Islamic Republic. No, this is not the case, this very
untrue.
The four candidates who entered the presidential race all belonged and
still belong to the Islamic establishment. One of these four is the
president of our country - a hardworking and trustworthy president. One of
them is the two-term prime minister, he served the country when I myself
was president. He was my prime minister for eight years. One of them was
the commander of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps and one of the wartime
commanders. One them was two-time head of parliament and Majlis speaker.
They are all members of our Islamic establishment.
Of course, they have differences of opinion and plans that differ from
one another. But, they all belong to this Islamic establishment. This race
was defined within the framework of the system. It was not a competition
between insiders and outsiders as the Zionist and the US were trying to
portray. No, this was a competition within the framework of the system
between members of the system.
I know them all personally, I know their system of thought and their
tastes very well. I am familiar with their personalities. I have worked
with all of them closely. I know them all. But of course, I do not share
all their views. I believe some of their views and executive records are
subject to criticism.
I see some more suitable to serve the country than others. But, this is
up to the people to decide, and this is exactly what happened, they chose
who they wanted.
My desire and my choice was never announced nor was there any need for
the people to pay heed to it. The people had their own criteria and this
is what they based their decision on. Millions here and outside the
country decided for themselves. This is an internal issue.
Misrepresenting the problem is underhand. The row is not between
insiders of the system and outsiders. The row is not between revolutionary
and anti-revolutionary forces, it is a difference of opinion between the
members of the Islamic Revolution.
People who voted for these four candidates, voted with faith in the
system. They believed their candidate of choice was better for the country
so they voted for him. They voted in favor of the person they found most
competent.
Well, these campaigns and debates were an important and interesting
initiative. They were very clear, to the point and serious. The televised
debates proved wrong those who were trying to say from the outside that
these competitions are formalities.
They saw that these rivalries are real and serious. They saw that they
are really battling it out and exchanging viewpoints. From this
perspective, these debates were positive. But, they also had some negative
points which I will touch upon.
The positive aspect was that in these televised discussions and debates
everyone spoke their mind clearly and casually. A flood of criticism
followed. Everyone was forced to respond. Everyone was criticized and they
defended themselves. The stances that these individuals and groups had
were unveiled before the eyes of the nation. They talked about their plans,
commitments and projects.
All this was publicized for the people so that they could judge for
themselves. People felt that in the Islamic system they are not the
outsiders. Everything was clearly laid out before the people.
They were shown that the nature of their vote is not ceremonial. The
right to vote truly does belong to the people. People want to have the
right to choose. This is what the televised debates indicated.
One of the main reasons that ten million additional voters participated
in this election was because the people's minds had been engaged,
therefore they came and voted for the candidate of their choice.
These debates found their way into the streets and homes. These debates
helped the people become better informed and hence make better decisions.
The Islamic establishment is in favor of such debates.
Note that such debates should not be steered in a direction that may
cause people to hold grudges against one another. If these debates had
remained within their intended framework, they would have been positive.
But when they turn into arguments than they will gradually bring grudges
and hard feelings.
Of course, such debates should continue at managerial levels, but
without a negative aspect. Officials should allow criticism and feel
responsible to answer. If an individual is criticized, he must see it as
an opportunity to enlighten the people and reveal fact and truth.
If these debates are regularly carried out [as normal government
practice], at election time when there are such debates we would not
witness such reactions. All arguments would emerge and all ideas would be
exchanged over time. These are the positive aspects of such debates.
But, there have also been some negative aspects to the debates that
need to be dealt with. In some cases, we saw that logical points were
undermined and emotional and destructive responses dominated the debate.
There were efforts to portray the last four years as a dark era. There
were also attempts to portray previous administrations in a similar light.
Allegations were made that have not been proven in any court, rumors were
used as a reference, and unjust remarks were made.
This administration, despite the excellent services it had rendered
came under unjust attacks. Similarly, the performance of previous
governments in the past 30 years came under attack. The candidates gave in
to their emotions.
They made some positive points. They also raised some unpleasant
negative issues. Like the rest of the nation, I sat and watched these TV
debates. I took pride in the freedom of speech I witnessed. I enjoyed the
fact that the Islamic Republic has been able to aid the people in deciding
their future, but the shortcomings saddened me.
For supporters of the candidates the shortcomings and negative aspects
were also a cause for concern; both sides were a party to this... both
sides had their problems.
On the one hand, insults were hurled against the president of the
country, even two to three months prior to these debates, speeches were
brought to me and in them, I read the insults made and the accusations
leveled against the president of the country who was elected by the vote
of the people. They accused him of lying. This is not good. They
fabricated documents against the government and distributed them
everywhere.
I saw what was going on. They [accusations] were all untrue and
contrary to the facts. They swore at the president, called him
superstitious, and called him names. They closed their eyes to ethics and
the law.
On the other hand, almost the same thing happened. The performance of
the past 30 years of the Revolution was brought under question. People
were named who are among the system's veteran figures.
They are people who have dedicated their lives to this establishment.
Never before have I mentioned people by name in the Friday prayer sermons,
but today, I have to mention some names, particularly Mr. [Akbar] Hashemi
Rafsanjani, Mr. [Ali Akbar] Nateq-Nouri. I must mention their names and
point out that nobody has accused them of corruption.
Now, if anyone has any claims or complaints regarding their [Hashemi
Rafsanjani and Nateq-Nouri's] relatives they should refer to judicial
authorities.
You cannot raise these issues in the media before they are proven. If
it is proven, you can raise the issue as every member of society is equal,
but you are not allowed to make claims. When such things are mentioned,
misunderstandings are the outcome. This can cause misunderstandings for
the younger generation.
Everyone knows Mr. Hashemi. My relationship with him goes back to
before the Islamic Revolution. I have known him for more than 25 years.
Mr. Hashemi was one of the main revolutionary figures.
He was one of the most active proponents of the revolution, and after
the Islamic Revolution, he was one of the main political figures serving
the people alongside the late Imam, And after the departure of the founder
of the Islamic Revolution he has been alongside the leadership to date.
On several occasions, there were assassination attempts on his life.
Before the revolution, he donated his possessions for the revolutionary
cause. Our youth should know these facts. After the revolution, he had
different responsibilities.
For eight years, he served as the president and before that he was the
parliament speaker. He held other sensitive positions as well. Throughout
these years, I am not aware of one incident in which he gathered wealth.
These are the facts that everyone should know.
In the most sensitive of periods, he served the revolution and the
establishment. Of course, my opinion and Mr. Rafsanjani's differs on
numerous issues, which is natural. However, we should not create any
misunderstandings for the people.
The president and Mr. Rafsanjani have had differences of opinion since
the president took office in 2005. They have differences of opinion in
foreign policy, in the manner of spreading social justice as well as on
some cultural issues. However, the president's ideas are closer to mine.
The same goes fort Mr. Nateq-Nouri. He has also served the revolution,
rendered great services for the establishment and there is not a shred of
doubt about that.
The live televised debates are a positive step, but these shortcomings
should be removed. After the debates, I had a talk with the president
because I knew he would listen to me. The stance of the Islamic
establishment is clear-cut regarding corruption and social justice.
Corruption should be fought anywhere it is traced.
There is a point I want to make here. We do not claim that our
establishment is free of all economic and financial corruption. Yes, there
is corruption. If there was no corruption, I would not have written the
eight-point letter to the heads of the legislative, judiciary, and
executive branches of the country.
We have corruption, but the Islamic establishment is one of the
healthiest establishments in the world today. However, it is not right to
accuse the country of corruption based on some Zionist reports and sources.
Moreover, questioning the credibility of statesmen goes beyond the
bounds of decency. Financial corruption is an important issue in the
Islamic establishment. The judiciary, executive and legislative branches
of the country must do everything within their power to fight against it.
Everyone is duty-bound to fight corruption. If corruption is not
contained, it will spread in the same manner as you see occurring in many
countries…. They are struggling with an alarming level of corruption as
you have heard about in the UK. This is only a fraction of the scandal as
it goes way beyond what has been publicized.
Let me summarize the points I made. The Friday election was a
historical event, which touched the entire world. Some of our enemies,
however, attempted to cast doubt over this absolute and definitive victory.
Some even attempted to portray it as a national defeat.
They did not want you to enjoy this victory. They did not want to see
the highest turnout in the world go down in history in your name. However,
it has happened, it has been recorded in history. They cannot manipulate
this.
The time for rivalry is passed... These four candidates have all fought
in the battlefront of this revolution and they are members of this
establishment. Forty million people went to the polls and cast their votes
for this revolution.
It was not only the 24 million votes that went to the president; 40
million votes were cast in favor of the revolution. The people have trust
[in the establishment], and all supporters of candidates should rest
assured that the Islamic establishment would never betray the people's
trust.
In fact, the electoral system of the country does not allow for any
vote rigging, which is testified to by all those in charge of the election
process.
When there is a margin of one hundred thousand or one million at most,
then one can doubt that there may have been some form of manipulation or
irregularity; however, when there is a difference of eleven million votes,
how could any vote rigging have taken place?
However, as I have said, and the Guardian Council has accepted, if some
people have doubts then it should be dealt with through legal channels.
Everything must be dealt strictly though legal channels. I will never
accept illegal demands.
If the legal frameworks are breached today, then no future election can
be guaranteed. In every election, there is only one winner, and of course,
some defeated candidates. Complaints, if there is any doubt, should be
pursued through legal channels. We have a comprehensive and competent
legal system.
Just as the candidates have the right to appoint observers, they are
given the right to file complaints. I have requested the Guardian Council
conduct a partial vote recount in the presence of the candidates and their
representatives. We have no problem with this.
I want to address the politicians, candidates and political parties at
this point. We are at a critical historical juncture. Look at current
world affairs, the situation in the Middle East, global economic woes and
the situation in our neighboring countries.
We are duty bound to remain vigilant and to be careful not to commit
mistakes at this critical point in time. In the election, people fulfilled
their duty in the best way possible, which was by going to the polls. We
have heavier responsibilities on our shoulders now.
Those figures who are looked up to by the people and politicians,
should be cautious about their words and deeds. If they show any amount of
extremist attitude, it will penetrate into the ranks of the people.
It may have dangerous consequences and may eventually get out of
control. Extremism in society will trigger or fan other extremist moves in
the country. If political elites disobey the law and make wrong decisions,
they will be held accountable for any violent actions or rioting that
ensues.
I urge these people, these friends of mine, to exercise restraint and
patience. You should see enemy hands at work [against the country]. You
should see hungry wolves laying in ambush. They are taking off their masks
of diplomacy and are showing their true colors. I urge you to open your
eyes and see the enemy.
In the past few days the prominent diplomats of some Western countries,
which have been dealing with us through diplomatic rhetoric, have removed
their masks. Today you can see their true face. They are now showing their
enmity toward the Islamic establishment and the most treacherous of them
all is Britain.
I tell these brothers of ours to think of their responsibility. You are
responsible before God. I call on you to remember what Imam has written in
his will; the law has the final say.
All differences should be settled at the ballot box. This is what
elections are for, to let ballot boxes and not the streets determine what
the people want.
If after every election, the supporters of the candidates who have lost
take to streets and the supporters of the candidate who has won respond in
the same manner, then what need would we have for elections?
Why should the people have to suffer? We should not take to the streets
to show off with the number of our supporters to the people. Such acts are
not a political issue for those terrorists who take advantage of the
situation to hide among the masses in order to carry out their agenda.
It is a very good cover for these saboteurs. Who will take responsible
for this? Some of the people who were killed in these riots were ordinary
people, ordinary Basij members. Who will be held accountable for this?
They may start taking advantage of this situation to assassinate Basij
members, which will naturally provoke emotional reactions. Who is to be
held responsible for this? One is grieved to see them attack religious
students at Tehran University dormitories and afterwards chant slogans in
support of the leadership.
Post-election rivalry on the streets is not the right way to go. It
only challenges the election. I want all sides to put an end to this. If
they do not stop such actions, then they will be responsible for the
repercussions of such incidents.
It is also wrong to assume that street riots can be used as leverage to
pressure the establishment and to force officials to listen to them for
what they believe is in the interest of the country.
Giving in to illegal demands under pressure is in itself the beginning
of dictatorship. This is a miscalculation and the consequences will be
directed at those who orchestrated them. If necessary, I will tell the
people about them in due time.
I ask all these brothers and friends of mine to act based on friendship
and abide by the law. I hope God will help us choose the righteous path.
The celebration of 40 million votes should be appreciated and the enemy
must not be allowed to ruin the celebration. However, if certain people
decide to choose another path, then I will have no choice but to talk with
the people more openly.
The third group I wish to address are the leaders of the Western media
and arrogant powers. In the past two to three weeks, I have heard the
words and witnessed the actions of politicians from the United States and
certain European countries.
Before the elections, they attempted to cast doubt over the election
itself so that there would be a low voter turnout. They had their own
assessments of results forecasts, but they did not expect the mass
participation of the people. They never predicted an 85 percent turnout,
or 40 million voters.
When they saw the mass turnout, they were shocked. They realized the
reality of Iran. They came to understand that they need to adapt
themselves to the new situation be it regional, nuclear or internal.
When they saw the great popular movement on Election Day, they realized
that a new chapter had been opened with regards to Iran and that they must
come to terms with it. When some candidates began protesting the results,
they felt that there was a change, so they jumped at the chance to ride
this wave.
Their tone after the election changed on Saturday and Sunday. Their
attention shifted to the riots and that was when they gradually began
removing their masks.
Western officials, their presidents, prime ministers and foreign
ministers commented on this situation. The US President said that we were
waiting for the day when people would take to the streets. At the same
time they write letters saying that they want to have ties and that they
respect the Islamic Republic. Which are we to believe?
Inside the country, their elements [foreign countries] began street
protests and vandalism, they set fire to public property, they made shops
and businesses insecure, and they are trying to rob the people of their
security.
This has nothing to do with the people and their preferred candidates.
This kind of behavior stems from ill-wishers, mercenaries and elements
working for Western and Zionist secret services.
The incidents occurring inside the country have misled some of those
outside our borders, who imagine Iran to be the same as Georgia. A Zionist
American capitalist a few years ago, had been quoted in the media saying
that he had spent 10 million dollars in Georgia to start a velvet
revolution.
Our nation cannot be compared to any another nation. Their problem is
they have not come to know this revolution and its people.
American officials say they are worried about the Iranian nation, how
can you be worried? Can you even speak about human rights when you are
responsible for the blood shed in Afghanistan and Iraq? In Palestine who
has and is supporting and funding the Zionist regime?
During the term of a previous US government, eighty people affiliated
with the Davidian sect were burnt alive in their compound in Waco, Texas.
For some reason these people were disliked by the then US administration.
Eighty people were burnt in that building, how dare you talk of human
rights?
In my opinion, these western officials should at least feel a little
embarrassment!
Speech at the Fourth
International Conference in Support of Palestine
4.3.2009
In the Name of Allah, the All-beneficent, the All-merciful
I welcome you, honored guests—scholars, thinkers, statesmen, and
combatants—who have come to the Islamic Republic of Iran to participate in
the Fourth Conference in Support of Palestine.
Important and crucial developments have occurred between this and the
preceding meeting held in Tehran during 15-17 Rabi al-Awwal, 1427 H.
(April 14-16, 2006). These developments have brightened the prospects of
the issue of Palestine and made clearer our duties concerning this
fundamental problem of the Islamic world.
Among these important developments were the amazing military and
political defeats inflicted by the Islamic resistance in Lebanon on Israel
during the 33-day war in 1427 H. (2006), and the humiliating failure of
the Zionist regime in the 22-day criminal war against the people of Gaza
and the legal government of Palestine.
Now this usurper regime—which with its army and weapons backed by the
U.S. military and political support flaunted a fearsome and undefeatable
facade during the past several decades—has twice been forced to suffer
defeat by the forces of resistance fighting with trust in God and the
people, rather than reliance on arms and equipment.
Notwithstanding its military exercises, preparations, and far-reaching
intelligence outfits, as well as the unsparing support of America and some
other Western governments, along with the collaboration of some hypocrites
in the Muslim world, the Zionist regime is faced with incompetence, a
steep downfall and dissolution before the powerful wave of Islamic
awakening.
On the other hand, the crimes committed by the Zionist criminals during
the historic events of Gaza—the genocide of civilians, the destruction of
defenseless homes, the impaling of breastfed babies, the bombing of
schools and mosques, the use of phosphorous bombs and other outlawed
weapons; all this following an almost two-year blockade on supplies of
food, medicine, fuel and other essentials of life for the people, and
numerous other crimes—proved that the savage and criminal instincts of the
leaders of the fake Zionist state have not changed in the least since the
early decades of the disaster in Palestine. Exactly the same policies and
predatory and ruthless motives which created such tragedies as those of
Deir Yasin, Sabra and Shatila still rule the dark minds and hearts of the
contemporary tyrants. Of course, the magnitude of such atrocities and
their disastrous consequences has been amplified by the advances in
technology.
By now both those who advocated a “pragmatic” approach under the
illusion of the invincibility of the Zionist regime and those who
succumbed to surrender and compromise with the usurpers, should have
realized their mistake, as well as those who entertained hopes of peaceful
coexistence with the Zionists, wrongly believing the second and third
generation of Zionist politicians to be free from the criminal impulses of
the first.
Firstly, the false image of invincibility was shattered by the wave of
Islamic awakening and maturing of the erstwhile sapling of Islamic
resistance. The signs of the usurper regime’s weakness and despondency
have become fully visible. Secondly, the aggressive character of the
ringleaders of that regime and their unscrupulousness in committing
atrocities remain unchanged since the early decades. They are not averse
to committing any atrocity whatsoever and whenever they think they can do
it.
Now 60 years have passed since the occupation of Palestine. During this
period all material means of power have been in the service of the
usurpers, including money, weapons and technology, as well as political
and diplomatic initiatives and the giant empire of news media and networks.
Yet despite these staggering and far-reaching satanic efforts, the
usurpers and their supporters have failed to solve the problem of the
Zionist regime’s illegitimacy, rather the problem has grown more
complicated in the pass of time.
The intolerance shown by the Western and Zionist media and pro-Zionist
governments toward even the mere posing of any question concerning the
Holocaust—which served as an excuse for the usurpation of Palestine—and
research on the topic, is one of the signs of this nervousness and
uncertainty.
The image of the Zionist regime in world opinion today is much worse
than it has ever been during its dark history, and more serious questions
are being raised concerning the rationale of its creation.
The spontaneous and unprecedented world-wide protests against this
regime and in support of the Islamic resistance in Gaza and Lebanon during
the 33-day war, which extended from the Far East to Latin America, and
demonstrations in 120 countries including Europe and Britain, the breeding
ground of this evil tree, reveal the emergence of a world-wide resistance
against Zionism that has never been so serious and extensive in the last
60 years. We may well say that the Islamic resistance in Lebanon and
Palestine has succeeded in awakening the world’s conscience.
This is a big lesson, for both the Muslim Ummah and its enemies.
It is a lesson for the enemies, who tried to create a fake and
ceremonial nation and state by resorting to force and repression, and to
convert it in the course of time into an undeniable reality, and to make
such an unjust imposition something normal for the Islamic world.
It is also a lesson for the Muslim community, especially the proud
youth and their alert conscience, so that they may know that any struggle
waged for the restoration of usurped rights is never in vain, and that
God’s promise is indeed true when He, the Most High, declares (in the
Qur’an):
“Those who are fought against are permitted [to fight] because they
have been wronged, and Allah is indeed able to help them. —Those who were
expelled from their homes unjustly, only because they said, ‘Allah is our
Lord.’ Had not Allah repulsed the people from one another, ruin would have
befallen the monasteries, churches, synagogues and mosques in which
Allah’s Name is mentioned greatly. Allah will surely help those who help
Him. Indeed Allah is all-strong, all-mighty.” (22:39-40)
And when He, the Most High, says
“Indeed Allah does not break His promise.” (3:9)
“Allah shall never break His promise.” (22:47)
“[This is] a promise of Allah: Allah does not break His promise, but
most people do not know.” (30:6)
“So do not suppose that Allah will break His promise to His apostles.
Indeed Allah is all-mighty, avenger.” (14:47)
And what promise can be more categorical than this promise of God,
“Allah has promised those of you who have faith and do righteous deeds
that He will surely make them successors in the earth, just as He made
those who were before them successors, and He will surely establish for
them their religion which He has approved for them, and that He will
surely change their state to security after their fear, while they worship
Me, not ascribing any partners to Me. And whoever is ungrateful after that—it
is they who are the transgressors.” (24:55)
A big fallacy which has taken control of the minds of some persons
concerning the problem of Palestine is that a country named Israel is a
60-year old reality with which one has to reconcile. I do not know why
these people do not learn from other realities that are in front of their
eyes. Is it not a fact that the countries of the Balkans, Caucasus, and
Southwest Asia reclaimed their identity after 80 years of loss, and after
being parts of the former Soviet Union? Why cannot Palestine, which is
part of the body of the Islamic world, reclaim its Islamic and Arab
identity? Why cannot the Palestinian youths, who are among the most astute
and resistant of Arab youth, overcome this unjust reality by their will
and resolution?
Another big fallacy is to say that negotiation is the only means of
deliverance for the Palestinian nation. With whom are these negotiations
to be held? With a usurper, misguided and bullying regime which does not
believe in anything except force? What have those who have been captivated
with this game and delusion achieved?
Firstly, what they obtained from the Zionists in the form of the
Palestinian Authority—its humiliating and disgraceful manner aside—was at
the enormous cost of having to recognize the ownership of the usurper
regime over nearly the entire Palestine.
Secondly, even that partial and fake authority was at times trampled
underfoot by the Zionists under empty excuses. The siege of the late
Yasser Arafat in his administrative building in Ramallah and numerous
forms of humiliation he was made to suffer are not events that can be
forgotten.
Thirdly, during Arafat’s days and, especially, after him, they have
treated the officials of the autonomous Authority as police-station chiefs
whose duty was to prosecute and arrest Palestinian combatants and to keep
them under intelligence and police surveillance, thus spreading seeds of
enmity among Palestinian groups and prompting them to wage war against one
another.
Fourthly, even that puny achievement was the fruit of the struggle of
Palestinian combatants and resistance of its proud men and indomitable
women. Had the Intifada not occurred, the Zionists would not have given
them even this little, despite the successive compromises made by the
traditional Palestinian leaders.
Or shall there be negotiations with America and Britain, which are
guilty of the biggest sin in creating and sustaining this cancerous tumor,
and which are more one of the parties to the dispute than arbiters?
The American government has never ceased its unconditional support for
the Zionist regime and its flagrant crimes, such as those committed during
the recent events in Gaza.
Even the new American President, who came to office with the slogan of
bringing change in the policies of the Bush administration, avows
unconditional commitment to Israel’s security, which means defending state
terrorism, defending injustice and oppression, and defending a 22-day
massacre of hundreds of Palestinian men, women and children. It is a
policy which amounts to the same crooked ways of the Bush administration
and nothing else.
Negotiations with bodies associated with the United Nations are another
exercise in futility. The United Nations has perhaps confronted few tests
such as the problem of Palestine, wherein it has been exposed and earned a
bad name. It was a day when the Security Council promptly and officially
recognized the occupation of Palestine by Belligerent terrorist groups and
played a basic role in the birth and continuation of this historic
injustice.
After that, for several decades, it maintained a consent-implying
silence with regard to the cases of genocide, expulsion of refugees, war
crimes and other various atrocities committed by that regime. Even when
the General Assembly voted designating Zionism as a racist ideology, the
Security Council did not go along rather it maintained practically a
diametrically opposite stand. The oppressive world powers, which enjoy
permanent membership in the Security Council, have been manipulating the
world body. As a result, the Security Council does not help the cause of
world security rather it rallies to the assistance of these powers
whenever they employ notions such as human rights, democracy and the like
as pretexts to further their greed and domination, drawing a curtain of
deception and lies over their illegitimate actions.
The deliverance of Palestine cannot be obtained through begging from
the United Nations or the dominating powers, and more so from the usurper
regime. The sole path of its deliverance is through resistance and
fortitude, through the unity of purpose of the Palestinians and the word
of God’s oneness (Tawhid), which is the inexhaustible resource for human
struggle.
The pillars of this resistance, on one side, are the combatant
Palestinian groups and each and every one of the faithful and resistant
Palestinians, those who are within that country as well as those who are
abroad.
From another side, the pillars are the world's Muslim nations and
governments, religious scholars, intellectuals, political figures and
academics. If these two pillars remain firmly in their place, there is no
doubt that in every part of the world, awakened consciences, hearts and
minds which have not been spoiled by the spells of the news media empire
belonging to the global arrogance and Zionism, will rally to the
assistance of the victims and those who have been denied their rights,
forcing imperialism to confront a storm of thoughts, emotions and actions.
We have seen an example of this truth in recent days during the
magnificent resistance of Gaza. The sobs in front of the news cameras of a
Western chief of one of the international aid organizations, expressions
of sympathy by activists belonging to humanitarian organizations, the
large and impassioned public demonstrations in the heart of European
capitals and American cities, the bold moves made by the heads of several
states in Latin America—all these are signs that the non-Muslim world has
not yet been fully subjugated by forces of evil and corruption—called
‘Satan’ in the nomenclature of the Quran—and that the ground is still open
for truth to manifest itself.
Yes, the resistance and fortitude of the Palestinian combatants and
people, together with all-round support and assistance from all Islamic
countries, will break the satanic spell of the usurpation of Palestine.
The prodigious energies of the Islamic Ummah can solve the problems of the
Islamic world, including the urgent and acute issue of Palestine.
Muslim brothers and sisters throughout the world, my message is now
addressed to you as well as to all persons with an alert conscience,
irrespective of country and creed. Make an effort, and break the spell of
impunity for the Zionist criminals. Bring to trial the political and
military heads of the usurper regime who have had a role in bringing about
the Gaza tragedy, and mete out to them the punishment laid down by reason
and justice.
This is the first step to be taken. The political and military leaders
of the usurper regime should be brought to trial. If criminals are
punished, the room for criminal acts by those who possess the motives and
madness to commit them will be restricted. Impunity for perpetrators of
great crimes is itself a cause and incentive for further crimes.
If after the 33-day Lebanon war, the Muslim world community had
earnestly demanded the punishment of Zionist leaders responsible for the
terrible atrocities committed during this war, had this legitimate demand
been made following the massacres of wedding processions in Afghanistan,
after the atrocities committed by Black Water mercenaries in Iraq, and
following the Abu Ghuraib scandal and other scandals involving American
soldiers, we would not have witnessed a repetition of Karbala events in
Gaza.
In these cases, we, Muslim states and nations, have not acted in
accordance with our duty as dictated by the laws of justice and reason.
Its consequence is what we are witnessing today.
It is a matter of deep regret that some governments and world
politicians are totally alien to moral values and judgments of human
conscience. They are insensitive to the 22-day long genocide in Gaza in
which 1350 people were killed and about 5500 civilians were wounded, many
of them children. The murderers and criminals have not only gone
unpunished, but also they have been rewarded. The security of the
bloodthirsty regime is considered sanctity to be defended at all cost, and
the victims, whether it is a government elected by a decisive popular vote
or the people who have elected it to office, are accused and condemned.
Such is the judgment of political tribunals totally divorced from ethics
and alien to conscience and human virtues. Yet, when these governments
encounter public opinion in the form of a deep hatred, instead of noting
its obvious cause, they again resort to political maneuvers, thus
continuing the vicious circle.
Dear brothers and sisters throughout the Islamic world! Let us learn
from experience.
Our great community, with the boon of the Islamic awakening, possesses
tremendous power. The key to the solution of many of the problems of the
Muslim countries lies in the resoluteness and solidarity of this wonderful
galaxy. The question of Palestine is the most urgent problem of the
Islamic world.
At times some people are heard to say that Palestine is an Arab problem.
What does that mean? If it means that there is a stronger feeling of
consanguinity among the Arabs, who are willing to offer Palestine a
greater service and do more struggle for its sake, that is something
desirable and we welcome it. But if it means that the heads of some Arab
countries should refuse to pay any heed to the cries of help of the
Palestinian people which are addressed to all Muslims, if it means that
they may collaborate with the ruthless usurper enemy in such an important
case as the tragedy of Gaza while loudly condemning others who cannot
remain indifferent to their call of duty to help Gaza—then no proud and
conscientious Muslim or Arab will accept it, nor spare the speaker of
disapproval and reproach. It is the same as the logic of Akhzam (an Arab
man), who used to beat his father and chide others for interfering. After
him, his son would assault the grandfather with his fists. The fable
became the source of an Arabic proverb which means: My sons have left me
covered with blood; a precedent that I know was laid down by Akhzam.
Offering a multi-faceted assistance to the people of Palestine and
complete support is a joint duty of all Muslims. The governments which
criticize the Islamic Republic of Iran and some other Muslim countries for
assisting Palestine should come forward to bear the burden of such support
so that others are relieved of this Islamic duty. But if they lack the
ability and courage to do so, instead of criticism and causing hindrance,
they should appreciate the dutiful and courageous steps taken by others.
Respected audience! You who are present at this conference are thinkers
and specialists about the problem of Palestine. Today our historical duty
is not to repeat the bland statements and torpid theories of the past, but
to suggest approaches for liberating Palestine from the oppression of the
Zionist regime.
Our proposal is a solution which is in total agreement with democracy
and can form a common logical basis. That proposal is that all those who
have a legitimate stake in the territory of Palestine, including Muslims,
Christians and Jews should choose their own system of government in a
general referendum. All Palestinians who have borne for years the ordeal
of displacement should also participate in such a referendum.
The Western world should know that non-acceptance of this solution will
imply an absence of commitment to democracy, which it always claims to
support. The failure to pass this test will further expose its double
standards. Palestine was also the focus of an earlier test, when the West
didn’t want to accept the result of elections in the West bank and Gaza
which brought the Hamas government into office. Those who accept democracy
so long as it results in achieving their aims are war-mongering
adventurers. If they talk about peace, it is nothing but lies and
deception.
The reconstruction of Gaza is one of the most urgent problems of
Palestine. The Hamas government— which was elected by a decisive majority
of the Palestinians and whose epical resistance, which saddled the Zionist
regime with defeat, is the brightest page in Palestinian history of the
last hundred years—should be at the centre of all reconstruction efforts.
It will be appropriate for the Egyptian brothers to open the way for aid
to move in and allow Muslim countries and nations to carry out their duty
in this regard.
In conclusion, I honor the memory of the martyrs of the 22-day war.
With their blood they made the Palestinian Gaza a matter of pride for
Islam and Arabs. I implore God’s mercy and forgiveness for them. In
addition, I invoke His blessings for all the martyrs of Palestine, Lebanon,
Iraq and Afghanistan and for all martyrs of Islam, as well as for the pure
spirit of our magnificent leader, the late Imam Khomeini.
I beseech God, the Most High, to exalt the honor of Islam and Muslims,
to bring Muslim nations closer to one another, and bring a daily
increasing awakening to the Islamic world.
May Peace and Allah’s mercy and His blessings be upon you.
We Will Do Whatever We Can to Help Gaza
The following are excerpts of the latest speech of Ayatollah al-Udma
Sayyed Ali Khamenei delivered on 11 Muharram 1430 [January 8, 2009].
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. First of all I
would like to express my condolences on the martyrdom of the greatest
martyr of human history, Aba Abdillah al-Hussain (AS), the creator of the
unforgettable awakening epic in the course of history. Second, I would
like to welcome you dear brothers and sisters who have come here from Qom
on the occasion of the uprising of the conscious and vigilant people of
Qom [in 1978]. You have formed a lively and sincere session by your
presence here.
. . . The arrogant powers’ apparatus, which does not believe in any
human principles, wishes to dominate the sensitive Middle East region
which is bubbling with wealth and is positioned in a strategic
geographical area and benefits from economic advantages. The way they want
to achieve that objective is through the usurper Israel, the Zionists who
rule the occupied Palestine.
All the events of the past few years from what happened in Lebanon to
what happened in Iraq and Palestine can all be interpreted through this
window. The objective is that this region must become dominated by America
and the global arrogance. The case of the global arrogance is of course
separate from that of America, however America is the main manifestation
of the great Satan. The arrogant powers wish to have this region under
their domination. They need this region and the agent assisting them with
achieving that objective is Israel. All the events of the past few years
can be analyzed through this window.
You saw that during the 33-day war [of Israel against Lebanon], the
American foreign secretary of state said this was the birth pangs of a new
Middle East. That is, a new birth will be given to the American-desired
Middle East. Of course that hollow dream was interpreted with what
happened to them. The bravery, vigilance, devotion, sacrifice and jihad of
committed youth in Lebanon punched in the mouth of not only Israel, but
also America and all their supporters and followers.
The issue of Gaza is the same. They do not want anyone in the region
who would show resistance. They consider the Islamic Republic to be the
cause of resistance. They have of course understood this correctly. Here
[I. R. Iran] is the center of resistance. The Islamic Republic is a source
of inspiration for the nations of the region even if we do not take any
action, do not say a thing.
An entity, an identity that despite the efforts of all arrogant powers
and contrary to the wishes of the enemies is standing firm in the region
and is becoming more consolidated and its roots are getting deeper and
deeper. The very existence of this great and glorious entity is a thorn in
the side of the arrogant powers and a source of hope for nations. Yes, you
are right. Here is the centre of resistance. No doubt about that. Others
have also received their inspirations from here. However, in order to
smash this resistance, they have targeted a weak chain first, the elected
popular government of Hamas in Gaza. They have found some oppressed people
to suppress.
Anyone in the world of Islam today who considers the issue of Gaza a
regional, restricted, and area-confined matter is in a deep sleep, the
deep sleep which has so far caused a great deal of trouble for the nations.
The issue of Gaza does not only concern Gaza, it is an issue which
concerns everyone. Right now Gaza is the weaker link and that is why they
have started their onslaught there. They will not leave the region alone
if they succeed there. The governments of the Muslim countries in the
region, which refuse to give the aid that they can and should give, are
wrong. They are wrong. The further Israel establishes itself in the region
and the more the dominance of arrogance increases in the region, the more
the weakness and troubles of these governments will be. Why donât they
understand? The governments will also take the nations with them towards
abjectness. An abject, obedient and dependent government will make an
entire nation abject, obedient and dependent.
That is why nations should be aware. Our nation has demonstrated its
awareness and readiness regarding this issue. I must thank the nation,
which has shown its stance and determination with its slogans and its
participation in rallies. I particularly thank the enthusiastic and pious
youth, who gathered at airports requesting to be sent to Gaza. But our
hands are tied. Our hands are tied. If we could have a presence there, we
would have done it, we would not have been worried about other’s views,
but this is not possible. Every one should know that the government and
officials of the Islamic Republic will do whatever they can to help that
innocent nation, as it has done so far and will do in future. [Audience
chants: Allahu Akbar, death to America, death to Israel].
Our youth are enthusiastic. This generation has shown by this act [requesting
to be sent to Gaza] that they are the same as the generation that took
part in Karbala-five and Valfajr-four and the Kheybar and Badr operations
[reference to military operations during the Iraqi imposed war of 1980s].
These young people are the same as the young generation of 25, 30 years
ago, ready for the battle field. [Audience chants: Oh, freedom-seeking
leader, we are ready, we are ready.]
The money that the enemy’s espionage apparatus has paid to some
internal elements to divert our youth and to write analysis and denounce
this readiness was wasted. Our youth are moving in the same direction that
the revolution, Islam and Imam Hussain (AS) have laid out. This is the
situation in our country. However, in the world of Islam the nations
should show their presence and determination clearly. They should demand
this from their governments.
Some Muslim governments have made good efforts, but this is not enough.
The enemy should be forced to withdraw under political and popular
pressure. Take a look at the catastrophe the Israelis are creating today.
This is an unprecedented catastrophe. If one person, in one corner of the
world, falls down in an incident, all human rights organizations start a
furor. They [the West] claim to support human rights with lies, hypocrisy,
pretence and deception. And now, little children and innocent women are
falling down like autumn leaves [being martyred] and they [the West] donât
say a word. [Audience chants: Death to America, death to Israel.]
God Almighty disgraced those who claim to defend human rights, at the
United Nations and other so-called defendants of human rights. These
European nations constantly talk about human rights. What human rights?
You do not believe in human rights. You lie. Your mention of human rights
is deceitful. Otherwise, how could the head of a European state see these
events and not condemn Israel if he believes in human rights. Worse than
them [Europeans], are some of the intellectuals of the world of Islam.
Unfortunately, the corruption of media and broadcasting and intellectual
systems in the world of Islam is very regrettable. They write analysis
against the current legal government of Palestine to justify the crimes of
the Zionists. God Almighty will not forgive them. . .
If, God forbid, the enemy can take out the Palestinian combatants, who
are bravely fighting and defending their country with determination, one
by one, the issue of Palestine will still remain and will not go away with
such tragic acts. Without a doubt, the past experience has shown that they
will rise up much stronger than before and deal a blow to the Zionists and
will come out victorious. [Audience chants: Allahu Akbar, death to
America, death to Israel].
Our Muslim nation must keep this determination alive in its mind and
heart and respect this insight, this awareness that has been blessed on
this nation, and maintain its presence. It should show its stance clearly
and announce to the world that the Islamic Republic will stand by its
anti-oppression stances and will fight and sacrifice for them. And surely,
what it will gain will be much more valuable than what it will lose.
The immaculate souls of our dear martyrs and our great Imam will be
behind the Iranian nation and behind these efforts and the spirited
defense. God willing, all Muslim nations will celebrate victory in not a
distant future. May the prayers of the Baqiyatallah, may our souls be
sacrificed for him, include us all and regard us among the true followers
of Hussain ibn Ali (AS). May God's mercy and blessing be upon you all.
