Khamenei.ir

In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, and peace and greetings be upon our Master and Prophet, Ab-il-Qassem Al-Mustafa Mohammad, and his impeccable and immaculate household.
Venerable speakers and representatives of the parliaments of Islamic countries,
Greetings be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessings.
First, I would like to extend my warm welcome to all eminent guests who have traveled to Tehran at the invitation of the Islamic Consultative Assembly to attend the first official session of the Islamic Inter-Parliamentary Union. I hope that the session will prove fruitful.
The establishment of legislative and consultative assemblies in their present form in Islamic countries became a common phenomenon during the recent century. But broadly speaking, Islam has always been the standard-bearer and pioneer of the movement to establish popular and democratic governments within the framework of the divine revelations and commandments. The Holy Prophet of Islam always consulted with his companions about the main issues of the Islamic government in accordance with the divine commandment "and take counsel with them in the affair". And if the views of the majority of his companions were not consistent with his auspicious views, on some occasions he accepted the views of his companions. Perhaps, it could be said that this attitude was one of the secrets of the rapid and unprecedented progress of Muslims in the early Islamic era.
The formation of the Islamic Inter-Parliamentary Union has been a valuable measure taken by Islamic countries, and gratitude should be expressed to those behind this idea. However, the success and efficiency of the union will be guaranteed if it explores the problems of Muslim nations and provides Islamic countries and the Organization of Islamic Conference with feasible solutions to these problems.
The fact is that solving the complicated problems of Muslim world is not possible without active contribution of all Islamic countries and without making a concerted effort within the framework of Islamic bodies such as the Organization of Islamic Conference.
Muslims were the standard-bearers of world culture and civilization for around one thousand years. This shows the capacity of Islam for the progress and development of Muslim nations. By the grace of the Almighty, Muslims have now become disenchanted with alien culture and are reverting to their own Islamic values and principles.
In a country like Iran, the government of Islamic Republic was established under the leadership of Imam Khomeini and through vigilance, bravery and perseverance of the Iranian people. Today, both the form and content of the Islamic system in Iran are based on Islamic values and precepts.
There is also an amazing inclination for Islamic values and the enforcement of Islamic law in other Islamic countries. But the enemies of Islam have not remained silent, as they are doing everything to counter this inclination. Therefore, you, the honorable parliamentarians of Islamic countries, should hold consultations to find feasible ways of consolidating and institutionalizing this inclination. Considering the more independent nature of legislative assemblies, you can study and discuss the problems and afflictions of Muslims without feeling pressured by diplomatic considerations.
Unfortunately, the lack of coordination, congruity and cooperation is one of the weak points of Muslim nations. Today, the Islamic world is suffering from certain afflictions that have been caused by the hostilities of its united foes and the inaction of its divided friends.
Right after the plight of Muslims in Bosnia, the tragedy in Kosovo took place and the Muslims there, under pressure from both Serbs and Nato forces, suffered displacement, illness, famine and the weakening of their Islamic identity. Unfortunately, Islamic world did not perform its duty as it had been expected to.
Palestine is still in the clutches of savage Zionists and their supporters, especially the United States, and South Lebanon and Golan Heights are still under the occupation of the aggressors. Afghanistan, which is suffering from discord and division, is heading for further destruction, and the people in Kashmir are going through hard times.
Another blight that is threatening Islamic societies, particularly the youth, is the cultural onslaught of the West. Through their corrupt audio-visual transmissions that are worse than warships and warplanes and by propagating Western values, the enemies of Islam are trying to undermine Islamic culture and deprive Muslims of their identity, thus preparing the ground for restoring their domination of the Islamic world.
Besides seeking ways to counter this devastative cultural onslaught, the participants in this gathering should also explore proper avenues of promoting the rich Islamic culture and values and consolidating the foundations of faith in Muslim nations. Furthermore, the international Islamic gatherings should also try to convey the inspiriting message of Islam to the non-Muslim nations, particularly industrialized societies, which are thirsty for spirituality and disenchanted with the bankrupt materialistic schools of thought.
Today, Marxism is on display in the world museums of political history, and Capitalism is unable to meet the spiritual needs of Western nations, who have an increasing inclination for spirituality. No religion or school of thought has the capacity of Islam for fulfilling the spiritual needs of mankind.
These were just some instances of the afflictions and problems facing Muslims at the present time. You, the venerable deputies of the parliaments of Islamic countries, should hold more consultations in order to find solutions to these problems.
Measures should be taken to institutionalize cooperation, coordination and consultation among Islamic countries, since problems facing Muslim nations could only be solved through cooperation among all countries in the Islamic world.
I hope Islamic world will soon witness the formation of a common consultative assembly, where representatives of the whole Islamic umma may use the great capacity of Muslims in making their macro decisions aimed at serving the interests and solving the problems of all Muslim nations.
In conclusion, I pray to Almighty Allah for the success of you all in serving Islam and promoting the interests of Muslims throughout the world.
Sayyid Ali Khamenei