IRAN NEWS NATIONAL DESK TEHRAN - Commemorating the 15th anniversary of
the establishment of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majlis), the Leader of the Islamic
Revolution, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said that Majlis plays a pivotal role in the
development of this nation and termed it as the most sensitive passage through which the
Islamic system may reach its goals. Meeting with Majlis Speaker Ali Akbar
Nateq-Nouri, as
well as the representatives and staff of Majlis in Tehran yesterday, the Leader added that
the sentiment of the people is a decisive factor in the policy of the Islamic Republic and
assured that this factor has a fundamental impact on the considerations of the general
policy of the Islamic Government. "The Majlis," he said, "is a prominent
entity and its performance in its fourth term shows that it has assumed the true role of
representing the nation." He said that the fourth Majlis, which was established in
1979, had successfully combined policy with morality and avoided anti-ethical
norms,
reported IRNA. He observed that no Member of Parliament (MP) has done wrong or acted with
malicious will or uttered untrue statements, all of which have created an atmosphere of
peace and tranquillity for the community. He termed Majlis' national role as
"supervisory over the government," and added that the it serves to guide the
government towards improvement while helping it "handle" its various
affairs,
such as the balancing of the nation's annual budget as well as other financial
disciplines.
The Leader concluded that the proper conduct of the fourth Majlis in conjunction with the
government's second Five-Year Development Plan indicates that the Members of Parliament
continue to assist the government in determining the general direction of policy while
staying in line with the proposed plans of Majlis.
Iran News, IRAN NEWS NATIONAL DESK TEHRAN - The Leader of the Islamic
Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei here on Thursday appointed Hojjatoleslam Mohsen
Mojtahed Shabestari as his representative to East Azarbaijan province and the substitute
Friday Prayer leader of Tabriz.
Ayatollah Khamenei said in his decree that the appointment of Shabestari was temporary
because of the latter's important post as a member of parliament.
Hojjatoleslam Shabestari has been serving as a deputy of the Majlis for Tehran since 1992.
IRAN NEWS NATIONAL DESK TEHRAN - The Leader of the Islamic Revolution
said yesterday that now is the time the superpowers endeavor to lead the entire world into
a state of tyranny, disbelief and infidelity. Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei told a group of
preachers, that "tyrant superpowers" were making every effort "to impose a
tyrannical sovereignty upon the entire world, misusing international regulations and
schemes to widen the scope of injustice and discrimination" under a pretext of
defending human rights. He said a faithful nation managed to revive Islam and introduce a
righteous governing system on the basis of Islam. The Leader gave thanks to the blessings
of Ashura, 10th of the Islamic month of Moharram, the day on which the Muslim's third
Imam, Imam Houssein (A.S.) was martyred in an unequalled battle with the tyrannical power.
The late founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini, was a follower of Imam Houssein
(A.S.) and the philosophy of Ashura, the Leader said. All should follow the notion of
Ashura in order to prepare the ground for the advent of the ultimate leader of the time,
Vali-e Asr (may God hasten his reappearance), he said. The Leader called on
preachers,
Friday prayer leaders and scholars of the theological centers to express the essence of
the notion of Ashura during the mourning ceremonies, held annually to pay
tribute. The
present world is longing for reality, he said, and those who are in touch with Western
culture believe that the learned class of their civilization are thirsty for Islam.
Iran News, IRAN NEWS NATIONAL DESK TEHRAN - The Leader of the Islamic
Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Monday that the memory and name of the late Imam
Khomeini was still alive in the minds of Iranian people. The Leader was speaking to
officials in charge of headquarters for ceremonies to commemorate the sixth anniversary of
the late Imam's demise in 1989. "The character, image and presence of the late Imam
in our society is quite tangible and his influence is fully felt. This reality gives
impetus to society," he said in an IRNA report. Ayatollah Khamenei pointed out that
the Iranian nation did not regard the late Imam Khomeini as an historical issue, "but
rather the presence ... is fully felt in the life of the new generation in Iran."
The Leader said commemorative ceremonies should be "meaningful, educational and
completely cultural". "The late Imam's personality had outstanding features
which should be expressed in the best possible manner by competent authors using the sweet
and beautiful Persian language," he said.
Ayatollah Khamenei also recalled the memory of Hojjatoleslam Ahmad Khomeini (son of the
late Imam) who died last March. He said the hojjatoleslam's death would certainly further
arouse the emotions and sentiments of people during the ceremonies.
IRAN NEWS NATIONAL DESK TEHRAN (05/21/95) - Ayatollah Seyed Ali
Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, extended his appreciation for the efforts
of officials in charge of the Hajj pilgrimage. In a meeting with head of Iranian Hajj
pilgrims, Hojjatoleslam Mohammad Mohammadi-Reyshahri here yesterday, the Supreme Leader
said that this year's Hajj pilgrimage was magnificently performed and enumerated it as one
of the Almighty's blessings and favors. He added that the massive participation of
non-Iranian pilgrims in the `disavowal of the pagans' rally, was as a result of the
unyielding commitment of the Iranian people in maintaining their righteous
stance. He
noted that this kind of commitment to the pillars of Islam and the values of this
righteous religion were among the building blocks of the Islamic Revolution and one of the
irreversible policies of the Founder of the Islamic Republic, the late Imam Khomeini.
Prior to the Leader's speech, Hojjatoleslam Reyshahri had informed Ayatollah Khamenei that
the attending pilgrims of all nations had been well aware of the divisive plots of the
enemies of Islam and had been vigilant in their support of the efforts put forth by the
Iranian pilgrims.
IRAN NEWS POLITICAL DESK TEHRAN (05/20/95) - The Leader of the Islamic
Revolution, the Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, on Thursday hailed the first Imam of
the Muslims, Hazrat Ali Ibn Abi Talib, as the ultimate model for human societies on this
national holiday of the Eid of Qadir. He spoke with officials and President Hojjatoleslam
Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani about the way the enemies of Muslims were trying to divide the
different schools of Islam apart, and give Islam a bad name. He also said that enemies
were advocating non-Muslim systems of banking, economy, politics, and culture as if the
Islamic state did not take care of these things. Khamenei felicitated Muslims on the grand
occasion of Eid al-Qadir, which was widely celebrated in Iran, and called the message of
Qadir a focal point of Islamic thought for the perfection of human societies, and said
that `Veleyat' has been a source of unity and inspiration. He added that the people of
Iran had triumphantly withstood threats and plots of the big powers and had frustrated
their enemies' campaigns against the Islamic country - the spirit of `Veleyat' and the
power of God would help them be victorious.
On the occasion of the Eid ul-Adha and Eid ul-Qhadir, the Leader pardoned 231 convicts of
the Islamic Revolution's public and military courts. The amnesty came as a proposal by the
head of the judiciary Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi.
Iran News, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Grand Ayatollah Seyed Ali
Khamenei inspected the 8th Tehran International Book Fair yesterday. Minister of Culture
and Islamic Guidance Mostafa Mirsalim briefed the Leader on the issues relating to the
Fair. Ayatollah Khamenei visited various pavilions and talked with the authors,
translators and publishers at the Fair.