The martyr Morteza Motahhari, years before the Revolution, would be the one to say, "I swear to God that today's Shimr is the Israeli prime minister." These words had such a great impact then and ring true today. We condemn Shimr because we want to root out influence that has led others to behave like Shimr - in this world. [Shimr killed Muhammad’s grandson Hussain Ibn Ali at the Battle of Karbala.] We condemn Yazid and Obeidollah because we are opposed to tyrannical rulers; from rulers such as Yazid, to the rulers of indulgence and hedonism, and to the rulers of oppression over believers around the globe. Hussain ibn Ali (as) rose to power in order to defeat and eradicate governments opposed to Islamic, human and divine values: he did so by uprising.
Our gatherings must be Hussaini gatherings, gatherings against oppression, gatherings against monarchy; gatherings against Shimrs, Yazids and Ibn Ziads of the present time. And this is the continuation of Imam Hussain's (as) story.
Today, the world is filled with oppression and tyranny. Take notice of what tormentors are doing. Observe what they are doing in Palestine, what they are doing in Iraq, what they are doing in various countries, what they are doing with the nations of the world; what they are doing to the poor, what they are doing with the national wealth of the countries. Hussain Ibn Ali's (AS) movement extends through all these areas. Imam Hussain(as) taught a lesson not only to Shi’a and other Muslims but also to all freemen of the world.
The leader of the Indian Nationalist Movement {Mahatma Gandhi} mentioned Hussain Ibn Ali (as) about seventy years ago and said, “I have learned from him.” Moreover, he was Hindu, he was not a Muslim at all. He has the same impact among the Muslims. This is the story of Imam Hussain, and you are the curator of such invaluable treasure from which all humankind can benefit.
Ayatollah Khamenei, Jan 9, 2008
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