Khamenei.ir

In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
"Surely we are Allah's, and to Him we shall surely return."
The nefarious and blood-stained hands of wicked criminals gave rise to a great tragedy today and perpetrated another sin by violating the bounds of religious sanctities. The holy shrine of Imam Ali-ibn-Muhammad al-Hadi and Imam Hassan-ibn-Ali al-Askari (greetings be upon them) was desecrated and destroyed, and this tragic incident deeply affected the Shias and all the Muslims devoted to the Holy Prophet's immaculate household (greetings be upon them).
This criminal act, probably carried out by reactionary bigots and vile and ignorant mercenaries, has definitely been devised by some conspirers harboring evil intentions. This political crime should be traced to the intelligence organizations of the occupiers of Iraq and the Zionists. The hegemonic powers that consider the political and social situation in Iraq contrary to their domineering goals are nurturing sinister plots, including those aimed at escalating insecurity and fomenting religious conflicts in that country.
The crime perpetrated in Samarra today added another page to the dark record of the wicked acts performed by Iraq's occupiers. The holy shrine of Imam Ali-ibn-Muhammad al-Hadi and Imam Hassan-ibn-Ali al-Askari (greetings be upon them) will once again be constructed more gloriously than in the past by the devout adherents of the Holy Prophet's immaculate household (greetings be upon them). But this crime brought a black stain on the character of the enemies of Islam and Muslims which will not be obliterated for long years to come.
I express my condolence over this tragic incident to the Holy Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him and his infallible household) and to His Holiness Imam of the Age - may our souls be sacrificed for his sake - and also to all the Shias throughout the world and to all devoted and vigilant Muslims and the adherents of the Holy Prophet's immaculate household (greetings be upon them), and I declare a week of public mourning in the country.
I deem it necessary to emphatically ask the mournful people in Iran and Iraq and other parts of the world to strictly avoid any action that is likely to foment conflict and hostility among Muslim brethren. Surely certain hands are at work trying to incite Shia Muslims to attack the mosques and other sites revered by Sunni Muslims. Any action in this direction will help to further the goals of the enemies of Islam and the enemies of Muslim nations and is religiously prohibited.
Greetings be upon the pious servants of Allah
Sayyid Ali Khamenei
3.12.1384