I am grateful to Almighty Allah that through another instance of perseverance and epical presence on the part of the public, Islamic urban and rural councils have now started their new term and a new chapter has been opened in rendering services to the general public by those elected by the Iranian people.
The December-15 elections for Islamic urban and rural councils, in which public turnout was higher compared with the previous municipal elections, brought the country under the extensive jurisdiction of councils which have been tasked by the constitution with the management of cities and villages, and which bring another symbol of the Iranian people's administering their country before the eyes of everyone.
Members of these councils should be grateful to the public for their remarkable turnout at the municipal elections for the current term, which was higher compared with the previous terms. They should commit themselves to rendering services which have a direct and tangible effect on the everyday lives of the people residing in cities and villages.
The purpose behind the foundation of this social institution is to solve the problems facing the people living in cities and villages and to make the lives of citizens more comfortable and more ethical. The success of councils in achieving this objective will boost the precious asset of ‘public trust' and will set the stage for the enthusiastic presence of the general public on various scenes of the country's progress and development.
One major prerequisite for accomplishing this goal is that factional leanings and party politics should not dominate councils, since this would prevent them from performing their main responsibilities. The relative success of councils in many large cities during their second term compared with their previous term bears witness to this reality.
The above prerequisite becomes even more significant with respect to the selection of the mayors of towns and cities and the governors of villages and rural districts. The criteria for this selection should be trustworthiness, faithfulness, competence and efficiency as well as honesty and appropriate behavior toward the public.
The interference of factional tendencies and personal or partisan or tribal inclinations with this momentous responsibility is a deadly poison which brings about the malfunction of councils and makes them useless and at times even harmful.
Besides, in supervising and examining the performance of the mayors of towns and cities and the governors of villages and rural districts, councils should be completely aware of the significance of their duties and pay attention to nothing except their great divine responsibilities.
On the list of the services that are expected to be rendered by councils, preserving the genuine identity of cities and villages, adhering to the Islamic and Iranian architecture, placing emphasis on both the beauty and strength of buildings, encouraging the culture of law and discipline, promoting the symbols of religion and morality, facilitating the rendering of municipal services and observing fairness and equity in rendering these services, expanding green areas and ensuring the soundness of environment, meeting the requirements of war-disabled veterans and the physically handicapped, making efforts to administer social justice with respect to deprived districts and underprivileged strata and paying special attention to the well-being of women and also of youngsters should be prioritized.
You should always bear in mind that you are in the presence of Almighty Allah, and that your actions are being watched by the Almighty. Try to turn your responsibilities, which have been entrusted to you by the general public, into an act of worship and a cause of attaining proximity to Allah.
It is hoped that Almighty Allah will be pleased with your endeavors, and that you will benefit from the prayer of His Holiness Imam of the Age - may our souls be sacrificed for his sake.
Greetings be upon you
Sayyid Ali Khamenei
8.2.1386