Leader sends message marking "Martyr Day" (27.9.2001)

Tehran, Sept 27, IRNA -- Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei on Thursday honored the memory of the martyrs of the Islamic Revolution and the Iraqi-imposed war. In a message marking the "Martyr Day", a part of a week long ceremony commemorating the Sacred Defence (September 22-29), read out in a special ceremony by Head of the Martyrs Foundation Hojjatoleslam Rahimian, the Supreme Leader said that the defence week is an occasion to remember the bravery and sacrifices of the Iranian soldiers who dedicated their lives to defend the country during the eight-year imposed war (1980-1988). The Leader said that the martyrs set a pattern of life free from greed and material benefits from which the world community is suffering currently.
:irna 17:36

Irans Supreme Leader called the fight against terrorism as necessary and an act of Jihad (26.9.2001)

Tehran, September 26 IRIB - The Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, at a meeting with the family members of the martyrs, war wounded ones and sacrificers of the armed forces during the eight-year Iraqi imposed war against Iran, made crucial remark s in which he condemned the haughty remarks that were made by some American officials in the aftermath of air attacks on New York and Washington. He then called America's logic for the definition of terrorism as wrong and unacceptable and reiterated... the Islamic republic of Iran does not recognise the U.S. as an honest and competent country in leading the international anti-terrorism movement and this country will never participate in any U.S.-led movement against terrorism. Ayatollah Khamenei called the behaviour of U.S. government and officials in the wake of the recent incidents in New York and Washington as haughtily, proudly and risen from an arrogant morale. Referring to the fact that America's reputation has been marred due to recent air attacks on New York and Washington, he added, the humiliation of U.S. government should not be used as a reason for its officials to make arrogant and outrageous remarks, adding that independent nations and governments won't give up and surrender because of such declarations. Addressing the families of those killed and injured in the Iraqi imposed war, the supreme leader ruled out the idea (put forward by U.S. president) saying those who don't accompany the U.S. government are with the terrorists and stressed this is a wrong expression, since some of the governments who are with America right now are more dangerous than all the terrorists. Ayatollah Khamenei further added, those at the head of the usurping Zionist regime have been participating in the most savage and disasterous terrorist acts and are still heading forward in their path. He then called America's division of countries in support and against terrorism as unacceptable and reiterated "we are neither with you nor with the terrorists". He went on saying, in America's logic and reasoning the genocide and massacre of people in Sabra and Shatila, Ghana and the official ratification of Palestinian muslims to be assassinated are not examples of terrorism, but Palestinian's legitemate defence for their homeland is considered as terrorism. Referring to the remarks made by some American officials that said there is no good and bad in terrorism, the supreme leader stated that the Americans have practically segregated the good and bad in terrorism, since when the Iranian Airbus was shot down by the American navy in Persian Gulf where hundreds of innocent people were killed, rather than apologizing and punishing the perpetrators, the American warship commander was rewarded. Ayatollah Khamenei called the global propagatory waves in regard of the recent incidents in the U.S. as one-sided and in accordance to the interests of the powers and referred to American officials and media for their role in providing the atmosphere against muslims after the explosions in New York and Washington which he considered as heinous and wicked and that it would bring a long lasting impact. He then hinted out (to U.S.) how is it that in the first hours of the incident, you blame muslims. If your security means and intelligence agencies were so sophisticated, then how come you failed to discover such an extensive operation which required months and even years to be planned and implemented. Referring to U.S. president, who had called these incidents a crusade, the supreme leader added, if these remarks are not intentional and deliberate then a question comes up and that is why a high-ranking official of a country should speak in such an improper and careless way? The supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei said you (to U.S.) provide the atmosphere against Islam and then announce Islamic and Arabic names as suspects without mentioning any names from America and western countries. Then you (to the U.S.) ask the people not to attack muslims? The supreme leader of the Islamic revolution called Americans request from the world's countries to cooperate with the U.S. because of the loss to their interests as over-expecting and bullying. They do this because their interests have been stricken. He then stressed it is because of such bullyings that has made America to be hated and we witness every day that America's flag is put on fire in different parts of the world. The recent anti-racist conference in South Africa was another clear example of people and government's anti-American sentiments. Referring to the good remarks and positions of the Iranian officials in reaction to the recent incidents in America, Khamenei stressed that Iran would never provide America and its allies with any sort of help. Referring to America's different conspiracies against Iran in the last 23 years, the supreme leader added that you (to U.S.) have continuously been blowing Iran's interests and now how do you dare to ask us for help in order to attack our neighbouring war-ridden country whose oppressed people have gone under a lot of suffering. The Supreme Leader assessed the issues behind the scene of a possible attack on Afghanistan according to available evidences and signs as different from the present hubbubs and superficial propagandas. He then added that the government of the United States by taking advantage of the pretext that some suspects whose guilt has not been proved yet are residing in Afghanistan, is intending to expand its influence in the region and have presence in central Asia and the sub-continent up to Iran's eastern borders, just like they did during the Gulf war. Another goal that United States is following by deploying his troops in the region is to take revenge from those who have been supporting the oppressed people of Palestine, said Ayatollah Khamenei. The supreme leader called the fight against terrorism as necessary and an act of Jihad and stressing on the necessity for a competent leadership in this movement he reiterated that America is not qualified to guide the global anti-terrorism movement and the Islamic Republic of Iran will not take part in any U.S.-led movement. Ayatollah Khamenei said the main condition for U.N. to guide this internationl movement, is the lack of America and other powers' influence on this organisation. He then assessed the duty of the Islamic states and the Organisation of the Islamic Confer ence (OIC) in their fight against terrorism as onerous and that in this field they should act independently. Referring to OIC's duty towards the oppressed muslim people of Afghanistan, the supreme leader said the agony and pain that Afghans are suffering is the result of other powers' interference in their country's fate. He then added, the people of Afghanistan who are brave and talented and have a rich culture and there's no difference between them and all other people around the world and therefore should not be the target of chimerical pretexts of some powers. In another part of his speech, Ayatollah Khamenei considered the issue of martyrdom and martyr as one of the most prominent issues in Islam, and referred to the fedility and sacrifice of warriors of Islam, especially the martyrs and their role in maintaining the independence and the territorial integrity of Iran during the eight-year Iraqi imposed-war. The supreme leader added that the warriors of the holy defence particularly the martyrs, have made Iran's people indebted to themselves and those who run words against the armed forces and Basij (the popular people's forces) are in fact acting against the expediences of the nation and the country. Referring to enemy's cultural invasion of the enemy which aims at destroying the religous faith and motivation of the Iranian people, Ayatollah Khamenei said there should be a confrontation against enemy's attemp for discrediting the Iranian people's resistance during the eight-year holy defence and the families of the martyrs should always feel honoured and dignified. The supreme leader also considered the Rajab month (one of the Islamic lunar months) as a good opportunity to deepen one's relationship with God and stressed that the month of Rajab and then Sha'ban are appropriate opportunities especially for the youth to prepare themselves fully before entering the holy month of Ramadhan. full text of speech

Leader calls for serious campaign against terrorism (26.9.2001)

Tehran, Sept 26, IRNA -- Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Wednesday called for serious campaign against terrorism and said that the statements made by U.S. officials on definition of terrorism are unacceptable. Addressing the families of martyrs of the Iraqi-imposed war (1980-1988), the Supreme Leader said that the Islamic Republic of Iran does not regard U.S. as sincere in fighting terrorism and will not join in any move orchestrated by the United States in this respect. The Leader pointed to the 'arrogant' statements by U.S. officials and said that the humiliation the U.S. has suffered (by the terrorist attacks on the American cities on September 11) cannot serve as reason for such an arrogant statements adding that the people of the world will not bow to such statements. The Supreme Leader ruled out the idea (put forward by the U.S. president) either siding with the U.S. or with terrorism and said that it is a wrong perception, because today some governments, which are allies of the U.S., are dangerous than all the terrorists. "Those at the helm of the Zionist regime, have taken part in the most heinous and brutal terrorist attacks and are continuing their actions," the Leader said. "We are not with you, and not with the terrorists either," the Supreme Leader declared. "By American logic, massacre of the people in Sabra and Shatila (in 1982) and Qana (in 1999) and the legislation to assassinate the Palestinians cannot be regarded as terrorism, but the legitimate defense of the Palestinians to liberate their lands is called terrorism," questioned Ayatollah Khamenei. "The American officials say there is no good or bad terrorism, but, they have practically classified terrorism to good and bad. An example of which is the shooting down of the Iranian airliner over the Persian Gulf (in 1988) which caused loss of life of hundreds of innocent people by the U.S. warship (Vincennes). The U.S. (President Clinton) awarded the navy commander responsible for downing the airliner instead of offering apology to Iran," the Supreme Leader said. The Leader condemned the U.S. media propaganda campaign against the Muslims from the early hours of the terror attacks on September 11, and asked how did the U.S. intelligence agency immediately reached the point that the terrorists are Muslims. If the U.S. intelligence agency is so quick in identifying the terrorists in a matter of hours, why could they not neutralize the plot which takes several years or several months to plan? the leader asked. The Leader criticized the U.S. president's statement calling for 'Crusade' against terrorism and said if the wording is not deliberate, why did the U.S. official speak so carelessly? "You have embarked on propaganda campaign against the Muslims. You announce names of the Muslim suspects while you do not release the names of the U.S. or western suspects. Then you ask the people not to attack the Muslims," Ayatollah Khamenei said. The Leader condemned the approach the U.S. officials have taken in the wake of the attacks against U.S. interests and said that such an attitude leads to hatred for the U.S. administration so that the U.S. flag is burned in different parts of the world. "The Islamic Republic of Iran will not help the U.S. and its allies in any attack on Afghanistan," the Supreme Leader said. "You have always dealt blow to Iranian interests in the past 23 years. How do you expect us to help you in attacking the war-stricken people of Afghanistan in our neighborhood?" the Leader said in response to U.S. request from Iran. The Leader said that the United States is using the current situation to gain influence on Iran's eastern borders, in the region, the Central Asia and the South Asian sub-continent. The struggle against terrorism should be initiated by the United Nations without the influence of the U.S. and western powers, the Leader said, Islamic states and the Organization of the Islamic Conference should also shoulder the onerous task of fighting terrorism. The Afghan people are not different from other people in the entire world, so that they should not be fallen victims for various reasons, the Leader concluded. full text of speech
:irna 18:32

Leader urges young reciters of Quran to get ready to guide society in future (19.9.2001)

Tehran, Sept 19, IRNA -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei here on Wednesday advised young reciters of the Holy Quran to get prepared to guide society in the future and confront suspicions of those who can't see the majesty and glory of Islam in Iran. Ayatollah Khamenei said Quranic verses are better interpreted and understood today after establishment of the Islamic Republic despite enmities and injustices of the global arrogance and big powers and their plots to divert public opinion. The Supreme Leader told a group of young reciters of the Holy Quran that those establishments in charge of cultural affairs in Iran shoulder a heavy duty to compensate for negligence in the past towards teaching Quranic concepts. The Leader said Quranic concepts should be classified by experts and incorporated into textbooks to upgrade Quranic knowledge of the Iranian people, especially the youth and young adults. Ayatollah Khamenei said God Almighty who is the protector of Quran and divine injunctions has bestowed upon the Iranian people the blessing of learning and teaching and Holy Quran thanks thanks to their great efforts and adherence to Islam and Quran. The Leader said presence of Quran in man's mind and communion with Holy Quran as well as acquaintance with the lexicon and appearance of the Holy Book are the first necessary step towards acquaintance with the lofty teachings of Quran. Acquisition of extensive knowledge and new experiences will be effective in increasing knowledge of Quranic concepts, the Leader added. Ayatollah Khamenei also called on the audience to make efforts to augment their scientific and religious knowledge. BG/RR End ::irna 17:54

Leader condemns massacre of defenseless people (17.9.2001)

Tehran, Sept 17, IRNA -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei here on Monday condemned massacre of defenseless people whatever kind it might be. In a meeting with his representatives at universities, Ayatollah Khamenei, referring to recent terrorist attacks in the United States, said killing of innocent people whether Muslims or Christians or of any other religious groups is condemned. Ayatollah Khamenei said, "Killing of people, in any place and with any kind of weapons, including atomic bombs, long-range missiles, biological or chemical weopons, passenger or war planes, carried out by any organization, country or individuals is condemned." The Leader stressed, "It makes no difference whether such massacres happen in Hiroshima, Nakazaki, Qana, Sabra, Shatila, Dir Yassin, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq or in New York and Washington." The Leader said, "The Islamic Republic of Iran, based on such a policy, condemns any probable military action against Afghanistan which will lead to another human tragedy." Ayatollah Khamenei stressed that there should be no discrimination in condemning the massacre of human beings and said "Why has the world closed its eyes on the crimes committed by the Zionists in the occupied Palestine and has been silent toward such tragedy?" The Leader pointed to the efforts made by the Zionist regime to take advatage of the attacks in the United States by intensifying pressure on the Muslims in Palestine and said, "Under current situation, Muslims are duty bound to voice their protest against the crimes of the Zionist regime." Stressing that serious vulnerability of the United States in its internal security affairs has now been made known, Ayatollah Khamenei said, "How come a country that claims to be the headman of the 'global village', harbors the most dangerous terrorists." Ayattollah Khamenei said exorbitant demands by the world powers is the root cause of their losses and added,"the reason of the recent events is the expansionist policies of the United States in the world and if this country had abandons these policies and dealt with its internal affairs, such problems and events would not have taken place." The Leader said,"Today, too, if the Americans intend to expand their power in the region by presence in Pakistan and sending forces to Afghanistan, it will just add to their own problems." Ayatollh Khamenei pointed to the"agony of the the oppressed people of Afghanistan during the past 25 yeras" and said,"Are those Muslim people once more to be crushed under the yoke of war because some people are alleged to have taken part in the attacks in the United States, although these accusations have not been proved?" He stressed that many indications support the supposition that the Zionists might have been the designers and directors of the recent attacks in the U.S. and said,"The fact that there are some Muslim names which are not known how have entered the terrorist network, cannot be a permission for oppression against the Muslims and attack on the people of Afghanistan." Ayatollah Khamenei expressed regret over the poisonous propaganda by the western media about the Muslims and their efforts to provoke public opinion against them and said,"How can you accuse the Muslims who have been oppressed in the world and even in the United States and how can you generalize the accusation against a Muslim which has not yet been proved to all Muslims?" The Leader said,"Can you condemn all Jews because of the heinous crimes that the Zionists are currently committing against the Palestininas?
:irna 22:09

Leader: Muslim, non-Muslim intellectuals interested in religious government (10.9.2001)

Tehran, Sept 10, IRNA -- Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said on Monday that intellectuals in the Islamic and non-Islamic states are interested in the idea of forming religious government. The Leader said in the ceremony marking the beginning the academic year at the theological school that despite theoretical challenges raised by the Western states against the idea of establishing religious government, the idea has been welcomed in many countries both Islamic and non-Islamic. Reiterating the fact that religion's sovereignty should prevail in every aspect of man's life, the Supreme Leader said that all the prophets launched campaign against injustice and powers of their time in order to form religious government. "Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) migrated from holy Mecca to holy Medina (13 years after his appointment to prophethood) and the first action that the prophet took in Medina was to form a religious government and undertake administration of the state," the Leader said. The Leader said that "European states publicized this notion among Islamic sates for 100 years that religion should be separated from politics, but Muslim intellectuals such as Jamal ad-Din Assadabadi, confronted such a notion and finally the late Imam Khomeini led the Islamic Revolution to seal the doom of the notion." Ayatollah Khamenei said that extensive propaganda has been launched to publicize separation of religion from politics under the guise of a "new theory". The Leader called on theological centers and scholars to explain the logical correlation between religion and politics and the benefits of a religious government for human communities. The Supreme Leader called on the theological centers to offer theoretical work to remove possible ambiguity in this respect. The theological centers are required to put forward theoretical answers to the questions on the relationship between religion and the state, the Leader said. The Leader cautioned in the meantime that currently the advocates of separation of religion from politics are spreading their old thought in the guise of "new theory" and therefore the theological centers must embark on theoretical campaign against those who advocate the notion that religion is separate from politics.
:irna 17:12

Leader felicitates nation at Hazrat Fatema Zahra (SA)'s birthday (9.9.2001)

Tehran, Sept 9, IRNA -- On the auspicious occasion of the birth anniversary of Hazrat-e-Fatema Zahra (SA), the beloved daughter of Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him), a special ceremony was held in the presence of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, here on Sunday. Poets read verses in remembrance of the blessings of Hazrat-e Fatema (SA). Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) held Hazrat-e Fatema in high esteem. She married Imam Ali (AS), the first Imam of the Infallible Household. The leader felicitated the nation on the auspicious occasion and said that Hazrat-e-Fatema (SA) set a model for the humanity so that to praise her is to promote morality and the aspirations of the Prophet's infallibe household. He also offered his guidelines to those poets on how to pay homage to the household of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) in prose and verse.
:irna 22:44

Leader's message underlines performance of prayers (8.9.2001)

Isfahan, Sept 8, IRNA -- The Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, in a message read out here on Saturday at the 11th nationwide Prayer Seminar, underlined the need to observe the Islamic rituals, particularly prayer. Stressing the importance of prayer, the Leader's message said that the prayer makes the man get closer to his creator. The prayer helped the Iranian nation a lot during the 1979 Islamic Revolution and in the course of the 1980-88 Iraqi imposed war. The Leader called on all walks of life including religious leaders, thinkers, artists, owners of industries, armed forces, parents and youth as well as all ministries, universities, schools, film producing centers, research centers and the entire society to help promote observance of prayer. Ayatollah Khamenei further underlined the need to promote Friday prayers congregation throughout the country and urged the religious leaders to establish a close and amicable relation with the younger generation. The two-day Prayer Seminar started with Leader's message and a speech by President Mohammad Khatami. President Khatami arrived here in this central provincial capital city on Saturday to attend the seminar. The president and his entourage were welcomed at the city's airport by the Leader's representative and the provincial Friday prayer leader, Provincial Governor-General Jafar Mousavi, and a number of local officials as well as Minister of Science, Research and Technology Mostafa Moin. Ministers of Energy, Habibollah Bitaraf and of Health, Masoud Pezeshkian as well as some deputy ministers are among those accompanying the president for this seminar. President Khatami is to leave the city for Tehran this afternoon.
:irna 14:40

Leader pardons prisoners below 18-year, above 50-year (8.9.2001)

Tehran, Sept 8, IRNA - On the auspicious birth anniversary of beloved daughter of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), Hazrat-e- Fatema (SA), Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei on Saturday pardoned prisoners below 18 except for those involved in armed robbery, kidnapping, armed drug trafficking and armed action against the state. The Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi forwarded a list of prisoners below 18 years old and prisoners above 50 years old and requested for the Supreme Leader's clemency. The leader felicitated him on the auspicious occasion and accepted the request.
::irna 19:26

Ayat. Khamenei calls for solidarity against anti-state campaigns (7.9.2001)

Tehran, Sept 7, IRNA -- Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamanei on Thursday called on all revolutionary forces to join hands in a sign of solidarity to counter campaigns launched by foreign elements to question the tenets of the Islamic system. In a meeting with the 86-member Assembly of Experts which has the authority to name or dismiss the supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamanei remarked that the "global arrogance" (an allusion to Iran's arch-foe, the United States) sees its realm as jeopardized with regards to numerous successes achieved by by the Islamic Republic in opening "new horizons for higher spiritual ideals in the Muslim world." "It is natural that the formation of such system that has offered people a more real democracy and has made up their spiritual vacuum better than that of the Western ideologies is dangerous for the global arrogance," said the leader who has a final say on all the state affairs. "Certain foreign elements, ever since the advent of Iran's (1979) Islamic Revolution had been trying to face the Islamic system... Now they have waged a full-scale attack to destroy it, or at least stymie its progress and infiltrate into it," cautioned the ayatollah. He touched on certain "theoretical issues", particularly the governance of surpeme jurisprudence, as those targetted by the enemies. Ayatollah Khamanei urged the country's governmental and non- governmental cultural entities, particularly the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Orientation and the state broadcasting to exploit all available potentials to repulse the probable attacks through intellectual means. Elsewhere in his remarks, the Iranian Supreme Leader said foreign elements are trying to portray the Islamic system as "ineffective" as part of their propaganda against Iran, and said the solution to foil such attempts is to launch a serious combat against corruption, and to abstain from declaring anything that might be exaggerated by the foreign parties. He stressed the need to take measures to distinguish Iran's internal political figures as, what he called "the isndiers" and "the outsiders", based on their beilef in the Islamic jurisprudence and the national constitution, but remarked that being an outsider would not mean "deprivation of legitimate citizenship rights."
:irna 12:53

Leader calls for political enlightenment against enemy onslaught (2.9.2001)

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