Leader: Judiciary expected to strongly defend justice (28.6.2001)

Tehran, June 28, IRNA -- Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said on Thursday the Judiciary is expected to strongly defend justice. In a meeting with Head of the Judiciary Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi and other judicial officials on the occasion of the martyrdom anniversary of former Chief Justice late Ayatollah Mohammad Beheshti, the Supreme Leader paid growing tribute to the late Ayatollah Beheshti and other statesmen who lost their lives in a bomb blast (at the headquarters of the Islamic Republic Party in 1981.) The Terrorist Mojahedeen Khalq Organization (MKO) carried out bombing of the Islamic Republic Party in 1981 which led to martyrdom of the late Ayatollah Beheshti and 72 other cabinet ministers and ranking officials. The Leader said the opponents of the late Ayatollah Beheshti were opponents of the Islamic Republic who made conspiracy to assassinate the architect of the Islamic Republic. Ayatollah Khamenei said that the Judiciary is one pillar of the Islamic Republic in charge of campaign against financial corruption and the lackeys of the global arrogance who take action against the Islamic Republic. "If the global arrogance enjoying financial strength and media networks manages to set up a base inside the country by hiring some foolish people, the Judiciary is responsible to strongly deal with those standing against the Iranian nation," the Supreme Leader said. The Leader stressed the need for independence of judges and called on them not to care about the hue and cry being raised in the press and made it clear that the press should not intervene in the court proceedings. "Protest against legal rulings has its own course and is being brought up to the higher court. Defending convicted people is the business of defense lawyers and therefore the press have no right to involve in defending those under legal proceeding by the judiciary," the Supreme Leader said. The Leader cautioned that undermining the Judiciary will be detrimental to security in the every day life of people adding that any action aimed at promoting the judiciary is a step forward to promote Islam. The Supreme Leader appreciated administration of the Judiciary by Ayatollah Hashemi Shahroudi and recommended the staff of the Judiciary take into account Ayatollah Shahroudi's guidelines to improve state of affairs in the Judiciary. The Leader said that the Judiciary is making progress and hoped that the body would work to the extent that people can pin hopes on the Judiciary as a strong body helping them retake their rights. Prior to the Leader's remarks, the head of the Judiciary honored the memory of late Ayatollah Beheshti and 72 cabinet ministers and top officials who lost their lives in the terrorist act and said that the staff of the Judiciary are working hard to fulfil their responsibilities. Ayatollah Shahroudi complained that the number of people taking legal action with the judiciary has increased and blamed prevalence of financial corruption for the 15 percent growth in the number of lawsuits lodged in the past year.
:irna 16:50

Leader: Understanding Holy Quran, an invaluable heritage for mankind (25.6.2001)

Tehran, June 25, IRNA -- Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said on Monday that understanding Holy Quran serves as an invaluable heritage for human beings during their lifespan. In a meeting with children and young adults who have memorized the Holy Quran, the Supreme Leader called for meditation about the Holy Book and for the untilization of such an invaluable heritage for intellectual development of the mankind. The Leader said that families play important role in encouraging their children to learn the Holy Quran. However, the Leader recommended that families should not oblige children to learn the Holy Book by heart. "In parallel with encouraging children and the youth to learn the Holy Quran by heart, they should be provided with interpretations of the Holy Book by late Ayatollah Morteza Motahari and other great scholars to help the youth attain Quranic mentality and serve Islamic propagation," the Leader pointed out. The Supreme Leader called on teachers of the Holy Quran to teach social topics to learners in addition to the Quranic studies. Prior to the Leader's remarks, Head of the Institute for Studies on Holy Quran Hojjatoleslam Tabatabaie said that about 450 young boys and girls have memorized the Holy Quran and some of them have also memorized Imam Ali (AS)'s book Nahjoul-Balaqa and some have become teachers themselves.
:irna 18:22

Leader: Iran opposed to U.S. interference in Balkans (20.6.2001)

Tehran, June 20, IRNA -- The visiting Croatian President Stipe Mesic here on Wednesday met with the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. During the meeting, in which President Mohammad Khatami was also present, Ayatollah Khamenei said the two countries' real intention for promotion of relations will ensure their people's interests. Referring to Mesic's statement that Croatians were of Iranian origin, the Leader said, "Such a pleasant and positive feeling among the Croats, will further expand the two countries' political, economic and cultural relations." Ayatollah Khamenei also referred to the recent regretful events taking place in the Balkans region, saying, "The region's stability will be ensured only through honoring the existing nationalities and religions as well as not violating the borders." Considering the public support as the only way to eliminate the current problems in the Balkans, he stressed that the big powers' interference, particularly that of the U.S., would not be to the interest of the region. He also expressed satisfaction with the present Croatian government's due attention to the Muslim population, adding, "The Muslims are other owners of the region whose legal rights should be respected, too." Mesic, for his part, expressed great pleasure over his visit to Iran, saying, "Iran is our house, for the Croatians believe they have an Iranian nationality." Referring to his talks with the Iranian officials as very friendly and useful, the Croatian president stated his country can play an important role as a gate for the expansion of Iran-Europe trade relations. He concluded by saying that the crisis existing in the Balkan region has not a military solution, but should be eliminated through holding negotiations.
:irna 20:43

Leader holds big powers responsible for environment degradation (19.6.2001)

Tehran, June 19, IRNA -- Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday that degradation of the environment is a global dilemma for which big powers bear the responsibility. In a meeting with foreign dignitaries attending the International Conference on Environment, Religion and Culture, in Tehran, the Supreme Leader said that the big powers are misusing science and technology to the detriment of environment. "Today, science has been driven to a wrong direction. The big powers are misusing science for strengthening pillars of their power and they don't pay heed to destruction of the environment and nature resulting from chemical and nuclear arms production. Humanity has, in fact, become the victim of the big powers," deplored Ayatollah Khamenei. The Leader said that the United States is mainly responsible for environment destruction, on one hand, and does not honor international treaties, on the other. The big powers are expected to honor their commitments in the field of safeguarding the environment, said Ayatollah Khamenei. Referring to the plight of the Palestinians, the Leader said, "Many big powers don't take practical action to support the Palestinians rights while they advocate human rights." Ayatollah Khamenei said that in Islam's view, the nature belongs to human beings. Human beings should safeguard the nature for the coming generations, the Leader said adding that anyone involved in destroying the environment is betraying the future generations. "Logical treatment of nature is a thanksgiving for the blessings of God, and any action detrimental to nature is ignoring the mercy of God, bringing divine retribution," the Supreme Leader said giving a religious outlook on nature. The Leader hoped that the conference's final communique would draw attention directly to the elements responsible for causing damages to the environment. Ayatollah Khamenei appreciated the efforts made by the Department of Environment in taking measures to protect the environment and said that the Islamic Republic of Iran regards the environment as a vital issue and is determined to deal with the elements detrimental to environment. Prior to the Leader's remarks, Vice-President and Head of DOE, Mrs. Masoumeh Ebtekar presented a report on the international program to deal with environment problems and the role of religion and morality in campaign against environment degradation. Ebtekar said that the Islamic Republic of Iran put forward the proposal to the meeting of the environment ministers to raise the religious and moral aspects of safeguarding the environment. The proposal was welcomed and conferences were held in Tehran and Jeddah to lobby for environment protection from the religious aspects, Mrs. Ebtekar said.
:irna 16:06

Leader: Surveying into performance of IRIB to its own benefit (19.6.2001)

Tehran, June 19, IRNA -- The Leader of the Islamic Revolution's Monday response to parliament speaker's question on scrutinizing IRIB activities resolved dispute among the people's representatives, the Guardians Council and the Expediencey Council in this regard. In response to a letter forwarded to Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei by Parliament Speaker Mahdi Karroubi seeking his idea about revising article 198 of the parliament's Internal Affairs Code, the Leader stressed that IRIB would actually benefit from surveying into its performance. Hojatoleslam Karroubi's letter read in part that the performance of a large number of various organizations, government offices and foundations have been surveyed by auditing commissions appointed by the Islamic Consultative Assembly, Majlis since the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran. He added that the outcome of such scrutiny have been publicly and privately announced through various sources for instance the auditing commissions that surveyed the performance of the IRIB and the MJF (the foundation for the poor and the war-disabled) by the Fourth Islamic Parliament. Karroubi referred to a recent interpretation of the Constitution by the Guardians Council which said revising the ratifications of the Expediency Council is possible only after gaining the Leader's permission. He then requested the Leader to permit the parliament to revise Article 198 of its own Internal Affairs Code, so that its constitutional right to survey into every national affair would be dully guaranteed, particularly regarding the parliament's right to audit the performance of the foundations that are run under Leader's direct supervision. The Supreme Leader in response said in a letter to the Majlis speaker that auditing right of the parliament in every national affair is among the most appropriate means for securing the sound performance of the country's national institutes. The leader stressed that the existence of such an article in the country's Constitution is among its points of strength, adding that it was a blessing for the IRIB to benefit from the positive aspects of that advanced constitutional article. The leader remarked that if the parliament is currently entangled with a legal difficulty in application of that advanced article, that problem can definitely be solved through the Expediency Council's revision of its own previous ratification, as mentioned by the Majlis speaker in his letter. The Leader thus permitted that the council, in accordance with his own constitutional rights, to make such a revision in its ratification in that regard.
:irna 00:45

Leader hails election for "religious democracy" (10.6.2001)

Tehran, June 10, IRNA -- Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei here on Saturday hailed the June 8 presidential election in Iran as a clear example of "religious democracy" for the proponents of a republican Islamic system in the world. The leader also congratulated President Mohammad Khatami for his landslide victory, saying he demanded the president not to spare any efforts for eliminating people's problems. In a message addressed to the Iranian nation, Ayatollah Khamenei praised them for their "sincere defense of the Islamic system", saying their turnout in the election had neutralized the enemy plots, aimed at discouraging the people from voting. "Once more, you insisted on not heeding the demands of the hegemonic and interfering powers which were trying to discourage the nation from attending ballot boxes," he told Iranians in the message. "Once more, you proved that the Islamic Iran, under reliance on the will of the nation, could follow a line of independence and freedom from the aliens' dominance," he added. President Mohammad Khatami swept to another landslide victory after winning 77 percent of the vote in Friday election, Iran's Interior Ministry said on Saturday. Khatami won 21,659,053 million out of the total 28,160,405 million vote cast, the ministry said, adding turnout had been around 67 percent, down from 83 percent in 1997 election in which Khatami acquired 69 percent of the total electorate. In a message on Saturday, Khatami hailed Iranians for their presence at ballot boxes, saying he was facing a grave responsibility to "pay his debts" to the nation who had backed him. "The urgent demand of today and tomorrow is to instill and deepen republicanism, give back the legitimate rights of the people in line with the (Islamic) religion, identify priorities in the economic field and solve basic problems of the society under a prudent agenda," he said. "The real victory is that the nation has strived to present a right and just model of a civil society based on religion and morality alongside democracy and freedom," he said. He said "patience, moderation and prudence" as well as "commitment to the ideals of the Islamic Revolution" were needed as prerequisites to sort out social problems of the country and meet public demands. Khatami's victory triggered jubilation throughout Iran, where residents in several cities distributed sweets and cheered slogans in his support. Citizens in western city of Ilam, near the Iraqi border, spilled to streets, as car drivers honked their horns, prompting traffic to come to a standstill. In southern city of Marvdasht in Shiraz, many youth waved pictures of Khatami and marched through the streets. Similar celebrations were reported in the holy cities of Qom and Mashhad as well as in the capital Tehran. The Emirs of Bahrain and Qatar, and the Sultan of Oman congratulated Khatami Saturday on his re-election. Bahrain's Sheikh Hamad bin Issa Al-Khalifa wished Khatami "success in carrying out the aspirations of the Iranian people", while in Doha, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani phoned the Iranian president to congratulate him on his landslide victory. In Muscat, Sultan Qaboos bin Said wished Khatami "progress and prosperity". German President Johannes Rau Saturday congratulated the Iranian president, saying "the Iranian people have reaffirmed their confidence in you in an impressive fashion." A Russian foreign ministry official on Saturday welcomed Khatami's victory, saying it "lends confidence that the course of comprehensive cooperation between Russia and Iran declared during Khatami's visit to Moscow in the spring will be continued." Morocco's King Mohammed VI congratulated Mohammad Khatami for his re-election, saying "I am taking this happy occasion to reiterate... my determination to work with you to strengthen the brotherly Islamic ties and fruitful cooperation which unites our two peoples," the king said in the statement. Meanwhile, several electoral contenders in the presidential poll on Saturday congratulated Khatami on his victory, saying they were ready to help the reformist with tackling social and economic ills of the country.

Ayatollah Khamenei lauds Iran's presidential polls (10.6.2001)

Tehran, June 10, IRNA -- Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday hailed the Iranian nation for their massive turnout in the Friday's presidential elections which swept incumbent President Mohammad Khatami to office for another four-year term. "I thank the Iranian nation for its massive turnout in the presidential elections since they once again proved that they always watch out for the enemies plots," Ayatollah Khamenei told a function to mark the birth anniversaries of Islam's Holy Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and Sixth infallible Imam of the Shia Imam Ja'far Sadeq. Reformist President Mohammad Khatami scored a second landslide win in the polls held on Friday. "The president and other state officials should cooperate and spare no efforts in catering to both material and spiritual needs of the people," said the Leader, adding, "the state officials should always feel accountable to the people." "In the next administration, the president and his colleagues should do their best to serve the people," he said. Ayatollah Khamenei hailed the presidential polls as a victory for the Islamic system and "religious democracy." "Once more, you insisted on not heeding the demands of the hegemonic and interfering powers which were trying to keep the nation away from the ballot box," he said. On the religious occasion, Ayatollah Khamenei has pardoned 409 prisoners convicted by public, revolutionary and military courts. The request for the pardons had come from Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi. Prisoners are often granted amnesty or have their sentences reduced by the Supreme Leader to mark important dates in the Iranian calendar.
:irna 15:03

Leader: Help the next president to overcome the problems (8.6.2001)

Tehran, June 8, IRNA -- Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei here on Friday called for a high public turnout in the 8th presidential elections and Majlis by-elections on Friday. Ayatollah Khamenei, after voting for his favorable candidate at Jamaran Mosque, said that today is an auspicious day for Iran and the Iranian nation due to the people's presence in the polling stations to thwart enemy conspiracies. The leader said any vote cast today will be in fact a vote for the Islamic system and Constitution and that is highly valuable and important. Ayatollah Khamenei drew a comparison between the high number of voters in various elections held in Iran in the past and the ones in the Western and laic countries and said the Iranian nation has always been held in high status in terms of democracy and "this time too with the grace of the Almighty the same will happen." The Leader recalled the important status of the president in the Islamic system as the executive arm of the system and said the presidential election is highly important. Ayatollah Khamenei said over the past 22 years, the Iranian people have not spared any devotion towards the Islamic republic and on the same basis the Islamic system should not spare doing anything for the public. The Leader expressed hope that the next government would succeed in paving the way for more social justice. The leader stressed exercise of care by the officials in charge of the elections to safeguard public votes and said: "The votes must be counted and announced with full honesty." Elsewhere in his remarks, the leader noted: "The end of the elections means the end of the electoral rivalries. After the polls, the politicians should ignore issues related to the era of competition and help the incoming president and government solve the problems of the public so that the country could attain its lofty goals." "The one elected president will be the president of all the people and all should respect him. The president in turn should observe the rights of all," added the Leader. With reformist incumbent President Mohammad Khatami said to be the clear favorite, Iranians from every walk of life have since early Friday lined up at the polling stations set throughout the country to vote for their favorite candidate in the closely-watched polls. Polling in 37,000 stations started at 09:00 (0430 GMT) and is scheduled to end at 19:00 (1430 GMT) unless the turnout appears to be high. More than 42 million Iranians aged over 15 are eligible to vote, six million more than in 1997. Definitive results are expected to emerge within 24 hours of the end of voting, officials said Thursday. Incumbent reformist President Mohammad Khatami, who swept to power in 1997 with around 70 percent of the vote, is facing nine mostly conservative candidates on Friday and expected to win easily. Candidates require 50 percent of the vote plus one, officially known as absolute majority, to win outright and avoid a run-off. More than 120,000 policemen, troops and members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps are guarding the polling stations and government buildings. An IRNA poll conducted in Tehran Wednesday has shown that around 83 percent of eligible voters are expected to participate in the elections. It indicates that 16 to 20-year-olds, all first-time voters, would make the strongest showing with 89.9 percent expected to cast their ballot. Among his nine challengers are Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani, the first serving officer to run for president, and former Labor Minister Ahmad Tavakoli, both of whom have attacked his economic record and management. Other contenders in the race are Vice President Mostafa Hashemi-Taba, former vice president Mansour Razavi and two other former ministers -- Hassan Ghafouri-Fard and Ali Fallahian. The list also includes former MP Shahabeddin Sadr, conservative academician Abdollah Jasbi and lawyer Mahmud Kashani. Almost all of the candidates' campaign strategies were based on a criticism of President Khatami's economic record in office. They, however, pledged to continue the president's political policies which have won him large credibility and popularity inside Iran as well as abroad.
:irna 12:17

Leader casts vote, urges high public turnout (8.6.2001)

Tehran, June 8, IRNA -- Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday cast his ballot in the 8th presidential election and Majlis by-elections, calling on the nation for a big vote. "The vote cast by the Iranian nation demonstrates endorsement and legitimacy of the Islamic system," he said, dismissing the plots hatched by the enemies to play down the presidential elections.
:irna 09:33

Supreme Leader: Qom Seminary, a great asset of country (7.6.2001)

Tehran, June 7, IRNA -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said here on Wednesday night that the Qom Seminary is a great asset, obtained through endeavors of Muslim ulema in the past. Such a great asset should be utilized properly, the Leader added. Ayatollah Khamenei made the remarks while receiving members of the High Council of Managers of the Qom Seminary. Elsewhere in his remarks Ayatollah Khamenei said that at present there is no cultural work more important and more urgent than paying attention to issues related to this seminary. The Leader also said that addressing the essential needs of the youth and removing possible ambiguities facing the society are among the responsibilities of the Qom Seminary. The Ayatollah also underpinned the necessity of paying attention to the Islamic philosophy at the Qom seminary and recommended the high council to draw special plans for training prominent faqihs (Islamic jurists) from among both men and women Muslim scholars. Prior to the Leader's speech, a number of clerics in charge of the Qom Seminary briefed the Supreme Leader on the activities and plans adopted by the council to implement previous guidelines set by Ayatollah Khamenei.
:irna 17:26

Leader lauds late Imam Khomeini's great personality (4.6.2001)

Tehran, June 4, IRNA -- Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has started addressing ceremonies, marking the 12th departure anniversary of the father of the Islamic Revolution and Founder of the Islamic Republic the late Imam Khomeini. The high-profile ceremonies began at 09:00 hours local time on Monday with recitation of verses from the holy Quran. Ayatollah Khamenei in his speech dwelt on the great personality of the late Imam and called on Iranians to follow his guidelines and safe-guard the achievements of the Islamic Revolution. He referred to Islam, people, rule of law and vigilance against nemy as the key factors observed by late Imam in founding the Islamic Republic, which replaced the former monarchical regime. President Mohammad Khatami, Majlis Speaker Mehdi Karroubi, Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, Expediency Council (EC) Chairman Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the late Imam's grandson Hojjatoleslam Hassan Khomeini were among top dignitaries attending the event. Foreign theological students and foreign diplomats were among foreign guests attending the ceremony. 800 Iranian and foreign reporters and cameramen are covering the event. An elaborate report on the Supreme Leader's speech is scheduled to be sent on the wire.
:irna 11:19

Leader calls for massive turnout in elections (4.6.2001)

Tehran, June 4, IRNA -- Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei here on Monday addressing tens of thousands of mourners at the mausoleum of the founder of the Islamic Revolution Imam Khomeini, called on the nation to turn out en mass in this Friday's presidential elections and stay alert to enemy plots. Speaking in the 12th anniversary of Imam Khomeini's passing away, Ayatollah Khamenei told a huge congregation of mourners in a sweltering heat that the nation's massive turnout in the elections would prove the Islamic Republic's dignity in enemies' eyes and neutralize their plots. "The presidential election is a divine trial and a massive and enlightened presence of the people in that arena will grant dignity and honor to Islam and strengthen the Islamic system," the supreme leader said. He called the election as "an expression of the public will, saying "the Islamic system, without people's support and their votes is null and void." "Republicanism has an Islamic root in our system and the basis of people's rights and their decisive role is based on strong Islamic concepts," the leader said. The enemies, Ayatollah Khamenei said, were trying to turn the election into a lackluster as well as political riots and confrontations. He said some people in the country were considering the presence of the enemies in Islamic ranks as "an illusion" and warned against "negligence" toward enemy plots. "Negligence to the enemy is the biggest threat (to the country). One has to be vigilant toward enemy plots and identify them," he said. "Today, the enemy and their propaganda apparatus are trying to distort the realities of Islam and the Islamic Revolution and scar Islamic values. They question the struggles of the revolutionary nation and back certain elements inside Iran who follow their path. " Thus, it is up to us all to fight against these plots through disseminating the Islamic realities, and outlining the history of the Islamic Revolution and the sacred defense (the 1980-88 Iraqi-imposed war)," Ayatollah Khamenei added. Iranians are preparing to cast their votes on Friday for their favorite choice among 10 candidates who have put themselves forward with many pledges, ranging from reforms to university studies. Some 42 million are eligible this time around to participate in the polls. Incumbent President Mohammad Khatami has vowed to push ahead with his reform programs, although asking his supporters to be patient with their slow pace. Among his nine challengers are Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani, the first serving officer to run for president, and former Labor Minister Ahmad Tavakoli, both of whom have attacked his economic record and management. Other contenders in the race are Vice President Mostafa Hashemi-Taba, former vice president Mansour Razavi and two other former ministers -- Hassan Ghafouri-Fard and Ali Fallahian. The list also includes former MP Shahabeddin Sadr, conservative academician Abdollah Jasbi and lawyer Mahmud Kashani. Each candidate has been given an equal slot on Iranian TV and radio to present his platform for a future Islamic Republic. Almost all of the candidates' campaign strategies have been based on a criticism of President Khatami's economic record in office. They, however, pledge to continue the president's political policies which have won him large credibility and popularity inside Iran as well as abroad.
::irna 17:34

Leader: late Imam Khomeini symbol of Islam, people (2.6.2001)

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