IRAN NEWS NATIONAL DESK TEHRAN (03/18/95) - The Leader of the Islamic
Revolution Grand Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, in a message to the bereaved family of the
late Imam Khomeini, the Iranian people and all Muslims throughout the world extends his
condolences on the sad passing away of Hojjatoleslam Seyed Ahmad Khomeini
yesterday. He
recalled that during the events of the Islamic Revolution, Hojjatoleslam Ahmad Khomeini
was one of the key figures, and consistently rendered valuable service, not confined to
the post-Islamic Revolution period. Offering his condolences to the Imam of the age,
Hazrat Mahdi (may Allah hasten his reappearance), the Leader said that after almost a week
of concern and anxiety, the heavy load of grief, which struck yesterday, has saddened the
hearts of all Muslim people. Commemorating the selfless service of Seyed Ahmad, Khamenei
said Khomeini's role throughout the struggles of the Iranian nation was
remarkable, and
would remain alive eternally.
Concluding his message, the Leader offered condolences to the mother of the Hojjatoleslam
Khomeini, and the wife of the late Imam, as well as to Hojjatoleslam Seyed Hassan Khomeini
the eldest son of Seyed Ahmad and Ayatollah Seyed Morteza Pasandideh, the paternal uncle
of the deceased and elder brother of the late Imam, who is a centenarian.
Iran News, IRAN NEWS NATIONAL DESK TEHRAN - Leader of the Islamic
Revolution, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei yesterday praised the "noticeable"
improvements in Iranian TV and radio programs. He told IRIB chief and senior managers from
various cities that "programs of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting
(IRIB)
represent innovation and creativity of (IRIB) managers and program directors."
The Leader said paying tribute to the martyrs, the war disabled and the heroes of the
8-year Iraqi-imposed war as well as the Hizbollah forces is a policy pursued by the
IRIB,
"this is because those people who wholeheartedly defended the frontiers of Islamic
Iran against the enemy's aggression and drove the aggressors from the country are
considered national heroes and our nation is proud of each and every one of them."
Ayatollah Khamenei said that today religious values have been given special importance in
the nation's radio and television programs, and added that issues pertaining to hijab and
prayers as well as gnostic programs are being broadcast in a proper fashion.
However, the
Leader of the Islamic Revolution called on the IRIB to broadcast more comic and
entertaining programs to cheer up and exhilarate people.
Hailing the qualitative and quantitative improvement of political and news programs on
Iranian radio and television, the Leader said "Iranian society is a political society
and the IRIB should enhance people's political analysis capability through its news and
political programming." Ayatollah Khamenei also called on Iranian actors to draw
inspiration from the Iranian culture not to imitate the behavior of Western
actors. He
further urged Majlis (parliament) and the government to allocate appropriate funding for
the IRIB.
Prior to his speech, the Leader was briefed by IRIB chief Ali Larijan on the activities of
the organization this year.
IRAN NEWS NATIONAL DESK TEHRAN - The Leader of the Islamic Revolution,
Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei says chador (full Islamic cover) is the best hijab for the
Muslim woman but it is "not mandatory." Responding to a religious inquiry posed
by the Minister of Education, Mohammad Ali Najafi, the Leader said: "There is no
doubt that chador is a desirable cover and among Iranian costumes is considered the best
hijab, but religiously no specific dress has been designated as necessary cover for
women,
and making the chador mandatory has no ground." The Minister said in his
inquiry:
"For some years the Education Ministry specified the minimum hijab for schoolgirls
according to the religious norms and the fatwa by His Eminence the Imam in a
circular.
Recently the use of chador has been made mandatory for schoolgirls in some parts of the
country, and local officials are putting schoolgirls under pressure to wear
chador. You
are requested to kindly state your viewpoint." The text of the question and answer
were published in yesterday's issue of Abrar.
Iran News, IRAN NEWS POLITICAL DESK TEHRAN - Leader of the Islamic
Revolution, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei yesterday praised the Assembly of Experts calling
them "an important, well-organized and responsible group linked with Muslim
Ulema." He met with the Assembly's members and declared his support for their
position on various problems facing the Muslim world. The Leader said Iranian clergymen
nominate the Assembly members as a group of selected ulema whose stance represents that of
the nation's ulema.
"The ulema have always provided shelter for the poor and the deprived people, and are
considered the representatives of the downtrodden. Therefore, this is the policy being
naturally pursued by the Assembly of Experts," the Leader said.The Leader stated that
it is also the policy of the government to solve the problems of the poor. "The
Islamic government has been working for the deprived, the needy and the oppressed since
the culmination of the Islamic Revolution and I have personally followed up the issue of
helping the needy and deprived people and tackling their problems," Ayatollah
Khamenei said.
IRAN NEWS NATIONAL DESK TEHRAN - Leader of the Islamic Revolution
Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei says the time is ripe for Muslim heads of state to capitalize
on their peoples' Islamic sentiments, vigilance, and faith to settle problems with the big
powers on an equal basis, instead of dealing with them submissively and granting them
concessions. "The bitter developments gripping the Muslim Ummah `re saddening and
frievous to `ny Muslim. Today, the hardships faced by the oppressed Muslims of
Palestine, Chechnya, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and elsewhere in Asia and Africa, though
painful, are not so
grievous as the more basic problem of division and schism in the Muslim world," he
said. The Leader made the remarks on Thursday when he received a group of senior
government officials, among them the president, the ministers, the Majlis
speaker, the
Judiciary head, members of the Guardians Council, ranking Army officers, as well as Muslim
ambassadors in Tehran, on the occasion of the Eid-al Fetr, marking the end of the fasting
month of Ramadhan. He cautioned against discord and division: "To try to create
ethnic and nationalistic feelings among Persian, Turkish, Arab, and other Muslims would be
to disrupt the consolidation and unity of the Muslim Ummah." "Despite all bitter
and saddening developments in the Muslim world, however, there are also glimmers of
hope,
since Muslims now approach Islam and their own problems with a more serious concern and
deeper feelings and manifest their Islamic faith through daily-increasing efforts and a
grand movement. This appalls the U.S., the global Zionist circles, and the big capitalist
institutions," the Leader marked. "The Zionists are headstrong,
hostile,
mammonishly secular, cruel and racist. The Zionist regime's hostility with Muslim
governments and peoples is deep-rooted...," the Leader stressed, adding, "In the
Islamic world, I now notice that Muslims are gradually shaking off their former passivity
and submission." "The U.S. presence in the Persian Gulf is against the best
interests of the region's Muslims. The peoples of the region demand to deal with the U.S.
and any powerful European country on an equal basis. They also demand that their cultural
dealings and exchanges with those powers be made on the basis of the same
principle..."
The Leader then referred to the example of the Islamic Republic of Iran which has been
able to thwart different plots hatched by the enemies of Islam because of the solid and
unshakable bonds between the masses and the officials. "The massive presence of the
people in the February 11 rallies (16th anniversary of the triumph of Revolution), the
international Qods Day (24 February), and the funeral ceremonies of the innocent martyrs
of the imposed war (February 19) serve as evidence of the people's high spirit and
involvement in the affairs," he emphasized. "The Iranian people are involved in
the national affairs and devoted to their (government) administrators; moreover, they have
faith in the country's policies. That is a valuable quality which no honest person can
afford to overlook," the Leader stated. "The harmony between the administration
and the people, and the compassionate concern and the spirit of self-sacrifice, as shown
by our government administrators, is simply a divine blessing, and the administrators must
be thankful to Almighty Allah for that blessing and make the best use of it," he
stressed.
Meanwhile, in a brief felicitation to the Leader, President Hashemi Rafsanjani expressed
hope that Muslims worldwide would soon uproot their ethnic and divisive differences and
attain their deserved status and dignity.
IRAN NEWS NATIONAL DESK TEHRAN The Leader of the Islamic Revolution,
Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei says the dignity and prestige of Muslims depended on
consolidation of their ranks. Leading the massive Eid al-Fetr prayer here
Thursday,
Ayatollah Khamenei warned of the vicious intentions of the enemies of Islam to create
differences and sow discord among Muslims. The festival marked the end of the holy month
of Ramadhan and the beginning of the month of Shawwal in Iran. "By masterminding
organized plots, the enemies are attempting to pit Muslims against each other because they
have realized that Islam has inspired new hopes in the hearts of people," said the
Leader, quoted by IRNA. He said the Islamic Revolution has dealt heavy blows on arrogant
powers, led by the U.S. and for that reason they are trying to create rifts among Muslims.
"The strong and heroic Iranian nation and government, while adhering to Islamic
teachings, are extending friendly hands to offer assistance to all Muslim
nations,"
the Leader noted. He regretted that the present situation in Chechnya, Bosnia, Lebanon and
Kashmir was a result of lack of unity among Muslims. The Leader said the people's presence
in all social and political scenes would help settlement of the problems and bring
prosperity to the nation.