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America & Terrorism Ayatollah al-Udham
Full text of speech of
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. I welcome all the honorable members of the audience and the honorable families of the martyrs. On the occasion of the blessed month of Rajab I hope the Almighty will grant His special kindness to pious hearts and the honorable families of the dear martyrs. These days and nights are very valuable. They are the blessed days of the Almighty. The month of Rajab is a great opportunity for all pious hearts to strengthen their ties with the Almighty. All human beings need this spiritual communion because the forgetful heart will be targeted by the shaitan. When the shaitan takes over the mind and the spirit of a human being corruption in the world will be spread.
The importance of piety and spirituality The true and deep way to combat any form of evil and corruption in the world is to be close to God and to immunize our heart and soul against the shaitan's influence and rule. If shaitan had not ruled the hearts of some of the people who originated major works in human societies, the world would have been able to see peace, mankind would have been able to see security and safety. All the miseries of mankind stem from being separated from God. Therefore, in Islam there are opportunities to establish a special connection with God Almighty. One such opportunity is the month of Rajab. We should value the month of Rajab. The prayers said in that month are all lessons. They are not merely tongue wagging. Those prayers should be heartfelt and with an awareness of their deep meaning. Let them run through your hearts and tongues. In the month of Rajab and then the month of Sha'ban, a Muslim, young, old, woman or man should have clear and close relations with God in order to prepare themselves for the month of Ramadan. Then, the month of Ramadan becomes a divine feast. We should prepare before enjoying that feast. "Cleanse yourself before you walk into the tavern" [part of an old Farsi poem]. That cleansing should be done in the months of Rajab and Sha'ban so that one could arrive at the divine feast of Ramadan and benefit from it. If we manage to benefit from the month of Ramadan, then we can see progress in our own behavior, manners, outlook and ideology. We become our own judges and we would be able to recognize development. If we do not undergo such tests we would feel the ensuing miseries and problems with all our existence and in the atmosphere of society. We should take advantage of the month of Rajab.
On the importance of the martyrs and the armed forces To you, the families of martyrs, in particular, the issue of martyrs and martyrdom is one of the most outstanding issues in Islam. Our martyrs are not people who have died in a war for hegemony. They are different from those who have been killed in ordinary wars in many parts of the world, where they have attacked the lands of others. There is a difference between those and our martyrs. Our country was invaded; our independence was attacked; the honor of this nation was attacked; they shouted abuse at us; all the big powers joined forces against us; the same people in the world who talk so much about peace and security today, they equipped one of the cruelest governments against us; they attacked our home, our cities, our villages, our roads, our installations; they violated our borders. If the armed forces had not stood strong and mobilized itself against the enemy, if the Iranian nation, in the form of Basij, had not gone to sacrifice themselves alongside the armed forces, do you know what would have become of the country? Do you know how the enemy would have trampled on the honor of this great nation, the dignity of this great nation and the pride of this great nation? This nation, all of us, owe our life to the combatants and the dear martyrs. The martyrs were the ones who demonstrated greater bravery and boldness. They didn't fear danger and they were martyred. Some flew to the heaven and others turned into living-martyrs [the war disabled]. It is the blood of the martyrs, the endeavor of the disabled and the effort of the combatants which brought security and peace to our country. Those who speak against the armed forces, who speaks against the Basij forces should understand that they are not serving the interests and the future of the country. The armed forces, be they the organized armed forces or the members of the Basij, who are prepared to enter into battle in order to defend all the people and the borders of the country, are among the most valuable groups in our society. Everyone needs them and this will be realized at the time of danger. In its cultural onslaught, the enemy tries to weaken and discredit the resistance of our people, and, in reality, smash the people's resistance and destroy their bastions. The most important bastion of a human being is his bastion of faith, motivation and love. You should not allow these bastions in your hearts to collapse and be destroyed by them. Martyrdom, is a pleasant-smelling and scented flower which can only be reached and smelled by those chosen people and those chosen by God from amongst human beings. The families of the martyrs should be proud of their martyrs. The ailed spouses, the bereaved mothers and fathers and the children who have never seen their father have experienced these hardships, but now they should feel proud. It was your fathers, husbands and children that were able to bring dignity to this country, which today, thank God, is very precious. If it was not for them, our situation would be different. Some issues have been brought up in the world today under the influence of the incidents which occurred in some of cities in America. The wave of global propaganda and political moves continuously fan the flames of bias propaganda reports. World media is controlled by a particular group. World newspapers, radios and television stations are controlled by capitalists, and the rich and powerful. They are not in the hands of ordinary people, or intellectual, pious or wise people. They disseminate whatever they like and whatever corresponds with their own interests. They divert them into communication channels of radios, televisions, news agencies and newspapers, and spread them throughout the world and some groups, unaware of what they are doing, take up those reports . Unfortunately, some groups also help them while they do not benefit from what they are doing, but they help such waves of selfishness and arrogance. During the past two or three weeks and since the explosions in America turned into global and international matters, our country's officials have adopted some good stances and mentioned some good points. At the same time, I would like to mention a few points in order to inform our dear nation, which, God be praised, is quite alert. The first point is that the behavior and remarks of the American government and officials concerning this incident were very arrogant and pretentious and continue to be so. Their remarks do no tally with any kind of logic. Of course, their dignity has been badly harmed, their security reputation has been badly dented, but those are not adequate reasons for resorting to their arrogant image in order to compensate for their humiliation. They put on a very angry face to tell the people of the world that: O' people of the world, we are angry and you do not dare say anything which would contradict what we are saying. No one should dare say anything different from what they are saying. They think that, through such methods, they can sideline independent people, nations and governments. An example of what they say is that whoever is not with us is with the terrorists. That is very wrong. No, that is not the case. Many are on the side of America and are more dangerous than many terrorists of the world. Today, the government of Israel is sheltering the most dangerous of terrorists. Those leading that government have personally ordered and taken part in the most tragic acts of terrorism. Right now they are committing acts of terrorism and they are also on the side of America. That is not correct that anyone who is with you is not with the terrorists. No, that is not the case. The most stubborn and evil terrorists are on your side right now. The same applies to the opposite side. Anyone who is not with us [America], is on the side of the terrorists. No, that is not right either. We are not with you and we are not on the side of the terrorists either. [People chant: Allahu Akbar, Khamene'i is the leader, death to America, death to Israel…]
Criticizing US treatment of Muslims The second point is that from the early hours after the incident, they made the general atmosphere of their country anti-Islamic. How did you determine in those first hours that Muslims have conducted this act? If your information apparatus is so powerful that from the early hours, the radio and television in America spoke in such a way that everyone believed that it was the work of Muslims, if you are so powerful in information gathering , then why haven't you been able to detect this widespread operation which has definitely taken months and some even say years to plan. How did you realize that it was the Muslims? They made the general atmosphere such that people in America attacked mosques and attacked, shot and stabbed those Muslims who had an Islamic appearance. In America and some European countries they made the atmosphere anti-Islamic. The American president in his first remarks said that this was a Crusade. The Crusades are the wars which the Christians set out from Europe to capture Bayt al-Muqaddas [Jerusalem]. Those wars lasted for 200 years. At the end, however, Christians and Europeans were defeated by the victorious Muslims who forced them out of the region. The crusade means the battle between Islam and Christianity. Why should a senior official be so inconsiderate and unrestrained in his speech if he did not have any ill intentions? Why have they accused the world Muslims of committing a terrorist and disastrous act? They, first, turn the public opinion against Islam and then, officially, tell the people not to attack the Muslims. How could this be possible? They have created an atmosphere under which Muslims and Arabs are condemned. They publish Arabic and Islamic names and pictures of people with Arabic attire in their dailies. Do they mean that there was no American or westerner or people with western names among those accused of committing this act? Did they all have Islamic names? Why have not they published those names? They, first, create such an atmosphere, then advise the people not to attack the Muslims and say that Muslims are good. Is such a thing possible? This is a very bad and ugly act with long-lasting repercussions which will not be rectified easily or anytime soon. The third point is that in these issues, they have been very demanding. Now that they have been attacked, the Americans expect the entire world to cooperate with them. Why? Because their interests have experienced a blow. Well, this is very demanding. Have you ever respected the interests of others, that you now expect everyone to respect yours? In today's world, is the possession of cannons, guns and missiles a permit for a government to say that: It has to be what I say and nothing else? Will the people of the world accept this? It is these that has made America detestable. Look and see that today in which countries the people are burning the American flag. Everywhere is not Iran. This conference that was recently held in South Africa [the Durban Conference] demonstrated the feelings of the world people, organizations and the different governments. With its bullying and great demands, America has isolated itself. If the American interests in the Persian Gulf are threatened, everyone has to cooperate. But if the interests of the Persian Gulf countries are threatened it doesn't matter. Many times they have trampled on the interests of different countries including our country, now they are saying that the whole world has to cooperate with them because their interests have come under attack. This is a great demand.
On Israeli terrorist acts The next point is that in the minds of the American officials the meaning of terrorism is wrong. They define terrorism incorrectly. They define terrorism in such a way that the massacre of the people of Sabra and Shatila - two Palestinian camps in Lebanon, in which men, women and children were all massacred one night on the orders of a person who is at present at the head of the usurper Zionist regime [Ariel Sharon] - is not terrorism. That does not constitute as terrorism in the eyes of the Americans. A few years ago, some people gathered in front of the UN office in Qana, in Lebanon, to stage a protest. An Israeli airplane, or helicopter, came along and killed hundreds of them, men, women and children, hungry, thirsty people. They sprayed them with bullets and killed them all. They do not consider that as terrorism. Many times they Israelis have kidnapped, killed people in Lebanon. That is not considered as terrorism. A few months ago the usurper government approved that certain Palestinians should be assassinated. They even mentioned the term assassination. They said they should be assassinated, and they assassinated them. They blew up their cars, they killed several people. All that is not considered as terrorism.
Criticizing America But the people of Palestine, who have risen in the defense of their lands and to reclaim their violated rights, who scream with stones in their hands - they have no weapons - are called terrorists. That is the logic of the Americans. Well, that is an incorrect logic. The world will not accept that logic. The next point is that, they Americans say: We have no good and bad terrorists, that all terrorists are bad. But in practice they, themselves, divide terrorism into good and bad. In the skies of the Persian Gulf they shoot down an Iranian airliner with hundreds of passengers onboard, without any reason or excuse; they blow up the airplane, tear the people into pieces and drown them in the sea - a clear case of terrorism. But then they give the commander of the warship a prize. Where can mankind take that grievance to? Not only do they not put them on trial, not only do they not admonish them, not only do they not apologize to Iran, but they give a prize to the commander of the warship. That is good terrorism. [People chant: Death to America, several times] Their logic is wrong. The purport is wrong and they expect the entire world to mobilize behind them for the sake of this wrong purport. Moreover, they expect the rest of the world to help them. That is, not only they expect the world not to protest against them, but they want help from everyone too.
On US intentions in Central Asia On the whole the evidences show that there is something else behind the scene of Afghanistan's issue today. They and their wrath are facing the hapless Afghanistan which has no supporters, because one man - or perhaps 10, 100 or 1,000 people inside that country - are accused of being behind the explosions in New York and other places. But behind the scene, the issue is different. Firstly, evidences show that the American government intends to repeat what it did in the Persian Gulf in this region, that is, in Central Asia. They intend to come and establish themselves in this region under the pretext of lack of security here. Evidences show that they intend to do so in Pakistan, the Subcontinent, the Central Asia and in Afghanistan, on the other side of our eastern borders. Secondly, they want to settle scores with anyone who defended the oppressed people of Palestine. This is what they are really pursuing, the rest are superficial matters.
No help for US over Afghanistan The next point concern their statements in which they have demanded that Iran should help them. They have asked for various assistance, including intelligence information and other forms of help. I am surprised how they have the audacity to ask the Islamic Republic government and the Iranian nation to help them? Over the past 23 years, you have employed everything and all your might to inflict blows on this nation and this country. Now you expect us to help you? What help? Even if the nation of Afghanistan were not Muslims and oppressed and even if they were not our neighbor, your request for assistance would have been misplaced. Let alone the fact that the nation of Afghanistan is oppressed and deprived. Truly, one feels sorry for the people of Afghanistan. You the American government expect assistance from the Islamic Republic. No, we shall not offer any assistance to America and its allies in their attack on Afghanistan. [People chanting Allahu Akbar, Khamene'i is our leader, death to America, death to Israel…]
Doubting America's sincerity In the final analysis, we doubt the sincerity of the American government's intention to combat terrorism. It is insincere and does not tell the truth. It has other aims. We do not think that America is qualified to lead an international movement against terrorism. America's hands are soiled with all the crimes committed by the Zionist regime in the recent years, which it is currently continuing with utmost ruthlessness and violence. Destroying people's houses with tanks. America is supporting this. Such a government lacks the necessary qualification to lead an international movement against terrorism. Everybody should know this, and our country's officials have also stated this in private gatherings and meetings. I also would like to repeat it for the benefit of our public and the world. Everybody should know that Iran, the Islamic Iran, will not participate in any movement that is led by America. [People chanting Allahu Akbar, Khamene'i is our leader, death to America, death to Israel…]
Fight against terrorism is Jihad Of course, the fight against terrorism and the fight against those who undermine the people's security is an essential fight. It is a must. It is a Jihad. Anyone who can take part in this fight, must do so. But this is a global movement and therefore should have a moral leader. Over the past few days our officials have declared that we are ready to help and join this movement under the auspices of the United Nations. Yes, let me say that the UN is good but there is one condition. And that is, the UN should not be influenced by America and other major powers. Otherwise , if the UN and its Security Council or other departments were to be influenced by them by the American administration and other major powers , one could not trust the UN either. We do not have good experience over such matters in the past. Here, the Islamic governments shoulder a heavy burden of responsibility. They must enter the arena as a global movement against terrorism, against violation of the people's lives and against violence which infringes the daily life of human citizens. They must enter the arena as an immense humanitarian movement. This is a great obligation and the Organization of the Islamic Conference is duty-bound in this respect. We, as members of the OIC, believe that one of the essential obligations of this organization is to enter this arena is a must. It must, however, be present in this arena independently. It must not be a subservient to this or that power. On the other hand, the issue of Afghanistan's nation is raised today. The nation of Afghanistan is a Muslim nation. It is part of the Islamic ummah.
On the plight of Afghans The innocent people of Afghanistan have committed no crime. Are the lives of those who died in the World Trade Center in New York more precious than those of the people of Afghanistan? Why? Is it because their collars are dirty? Is it because they have been deprived of hygiene, nourishment, peace of mind and security, all because of people who for many years were lackeys of the big powers? Is that the reason? Before the events in Afghanistan, the coup d'etat twenty odd years ago, those who were in power were lackeys of the big powers. Then the communists came into power; they were affiliated to the Soviet Union. And what happen then, the people know and can see. The interference of the powers has determined the fate of the people of Afghanistan in recent years. These are the reasons for the poverty and backwardness of the people of Afghanistan. Otherwise the people of Afghanistan are freedom loving, with a very rich and ancient culture, they are brave, very talented. We know the people of Afghanistan. We have lived together for centuries. We know that they are very talented people. They are not inferior to any other people in the world. And they have so many stronger points. What crime have they committed that they should be the victims of various objectives and policies? The Organization of the Islamic Conference and Islamic governments have a duty here. They must act wisely and rationally and do not allow the Afghan people to be harmed. Even if a few terrorists - we cannot be certain of this of course, this being a claim by the Americans - have camps there. Well, Afghan people should not have to pay for sins committed by them. Why should they be trampled on? We ask God to bestow His Grace on Islam the Muslims [People say Aamin]. We ask God to protect Islamic countries against their enemies [People say Aamin]. Gladly, our government and nation have been treading on its own correct path with patience, wisdom, calmness and steadfastness. Our government and nation will continue on the same correct and dignified road. May God bless this country and nation and keep them in the prayers of Hadhrat Baqiyatullah (AJ) [People chanting God is our protector and Khamene'i is our leader].
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