On the occasion of the 21st anniversary of the demise of Imam Khomeini (r.a.), Ayatollah Khamenei the Leader of the Islamic Revolution led this week's Friday prayers at Imam Khomeini's shrine.
Speaking before the prayers, Ayatollah Khamenei referred to Imam Khomeini (r.a.) as the most important yardstick in the Islamic Revolution.
His Eminence referred to the stances adopted by Imam Khomeini (r.a.) towards arrogance, reactionary attitudes, western liberal democracy, and hypocrites and said that no one should deny or distort Imam Khomeini's viewpoints in order to please certain individuals or movements.
Ayatollah Khamenei further criticized individuals who deny or distort the ideological principles introduced by Imam Khomeini (r.a.) and stated: "Unfortunately, people who once used to follow and promote Imam Khomeini's ideology have now deviated from his path."
His Eminence said that according to Imam Khomeini's ideology, American Islam was the opposite of pure Islam and added that American Islam is a version of Islam which is indifferent to oppression and greed and which provides assistance to bullying powers.
Ayatollah Khamenei further stated: "If the US, Israel, monarchists, munafiqs, and other people who are opposed to Imam Khomeini (r.a.) support a certain individual and praise and respect him, it is not possible for that person to claim that he follows Imam Khomeini's path. And such a claim cannot be considered to be true because Imam Khomeini clearly mentioned that those who are praised by the enemies of Islam are traitors."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution further referred to the people who clearly opposed Imam Khomeini's ideals on Quds Day and organized the disgraceful events which happened on the day of Ashura and added: "If a certain individual supports or even stands silent about such movements which are fundamentally opposed to the principles introduced by Imam Khomeini (r.a.), the nation will understand the realities and will not accept that person's claims of following the path of Imam Khomeini."
Ayatollah Khamenei added that Imam Khomeini's logical and heartfelt support for the Palestinian nation is an example of his global perspective on the Islamic Revolution. "Imam Khomeini clearly said that Israel is a cancerous tumor, and it is clear that removing a cancerous tumor is the way to treat it."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said that Imam Khomeini's supportive stance towards the Palestinian nation was the most logical stance and added that the global bullying powers tried to wipe out a geographical entity through oppression, massacre, torture, and exiling its people. "In a totally illogical act, they tried to replace that country [Palestine] with a fake country called Israel. But Imam Khomeini adopted a completely logical stance towards this historical oppression and always stressed that Israel, which is a fake geographical entity, should be wiped out so that the original country - namely, Palestine - can continue its life."
Ayatollah Khamenei said that Imam Khomeini's stance towards occupying Israel was very straightforward. "But now even when someone indirectly says something in this regard, a number of people who claim to follow the path of Imam Khomeini complain in one way or another."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution further stated that according to Imam Khomeini, the current behavior of people is the main yardstick for making judgments about those people and added: "Imam Khomeini (r.a.) always stressed that making judgments about individuals should be based on their current behavior. And this issue is an important point in understanding and following the path of Imam Khomeini."
Ayatollah Khamenei further stated that making judgments on the basis of people's past is only acceptable when their present behavior is not opposed to their past. "Otherwise, people's past can no longer be a criterion for judgment."
His Eminence referred to the serious action taken by Imam Khomeini regarding some of his early companions during the Revolution and said that this was an example of Imam Khomeini's practical commitment to this important criterion.
Ayatollah Khamenei said that the US, Britain, western countries, munafiqs, and monarchists supported the post-election sedition in the country and added that such support led to the glorious presence of the Iranian nation on Dey 9th and Bahman 22nd. "And the Iranian nation and its educated and vigilant youth will continue to foil all the enemies' plots by relying on their piety and vigilance."
Elsewhere in his speech, Ayatollah Khamenei touched on some important international events and added: "The plot by the Zionist regime to promote Judaism in Palestine and the continuation of the siege on Gaza and the related events are important issues which should be taken into consideration and analyzed."
Ayatollah Khamenei said that uprooting Islam in Palestine is the goal behind promoting Judaism in Palestine and stressed that the Muslim world should seriously stand up to this great crime and prevent it from happening.
Ayatollah Khamenei said that the continuation of the siege on Gaza is a savage action and added that the blockade imposed on 1.5 million people in Gaza is supported by the US, Britain, and other western powers who claim to support human rights. "Unfortunately, some Arab and Islamic countries have maintained complete silence in this regard and are watching the situation. Of course some of these countries commit acts of betrayal behind the scenes."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution referred to the Zionist regime's recent attack on the Gaza aid flotilla which happened in international waters and their blatant lies in this regard, further adding: "This action proved the savage nature of the Zionists to the world. And this savage nature is a reality which the Islamic Republic has always stressed during the past thirty years. But this reality has been ignored by the hypocritical and dishonest western powers."
Ayatollah Khamenei said that attacking the Gaza aid convoy was a miscalculation and a big mistake on the part of the Zionist regime and said that the Zionist regime made a mistake by attacking the Gaza aid flotilla just as it did when attacking Lebanon and Gaza. "And these serial mistakes are indicative of the fact that the Zionist regime is heading closer to its predetermined destiny of annihilation."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said that the outcome of the NPT meeting in New York is another important international event which is worthy of contemplation and said: "The outcome of the meeting was opposed to what had been planned by the bullying powers because the Zionist regime has been challenged to join the NPT under pressure from 189 countries, and the necessity of destroying nuclear weapons was realized."
Ayatollah Khamenei said that what happened in the NPT meeting is indicative of the fact that the views and words of such arrogant powers as the US are no longer supported in the world.
Ayatollah Khamenei added: "The Islamic Republic has been able to affect global public opinion in a way that not only peoples, but also different governments of the world stand up to the US and adopt positions against it."