Khamenei.ir

Leader's Speech in Meeting with Outstanding Personalities of Kurdistan Province

Leader Meets Nomads in Kurdistan

Leader's Speech in Meeting with Kurdish Tribal Chiefs

Leader Meets with Prominent Figures of Kurdistan

There are differences but we should accept them

"And lest your power depart." [The Holy Quran, 8: 46] What is the meaning of this? This verse exactly reflects our current situation. When there is discord, when we are suspicious of one another, and when we consider one another as traitors, we will naturally avoid cooperation. Even if we do cooperate with one another, we will not be sincere. That is exactly what the enemy is after. Both Shia and Sunni scholars must understand this. It is quite natural for two denominations of a religion to have differences in some of their primary and secondary principles. Of course they are normally similar in the majority of their principles. But difference is not the same as hostility. In some cases, the fatwas that are issued by Shia muftis are radically different. Similarly, the fatwas issued by Sunni muftis are sometimes very different from one another. But when there is difference, one should not necessarily engage in insulting and slandering. We should accept the differences.That is to say, no particular denomination should think that the members of the Prophet's household belong to them. That is not the case: They belong to the world of Islam. Is there anyone who cannot accept Fatima Zahra (a.s.)? Is there anyone who cannot accept Imam Hussein (a.s.), the master of those who live in Paradise? Is there anyone who cannot accept the honorable Shia Imams? Shia Imams may be considered a religious leader by some, and some others believe that it is not obligatory to obey them, but all Muslims accept them. These are the facts, and we must understand and institutionalize them. Of course there are some people who do not understand these things. They give in to the enemy's provocations, while they think they are doing the right thing.

Spreading nonsense about Sunni and Shia, the job of the enemies' agents

Take the case of Palestine and our support for the Palestinian people - that is just an example that I am going to discuss. Regarding the Palestinian issue, no country and government was as active as the Islamic Republic. We supported them so much that some Arab countries voiced their dissatisfaction and said that Iran was pursuing its own objectives in Palestine. Of course the Palestinians did not pay any attention to these claims. Particularly, during the 22-day war that was waged on the people of Gaza a few months ago(2009), the Islamic Republic served the cause of the oppressed and faithful Palestinian brothers. Public rallies and financial support were used to further their cause. At the height of our support for Palestinians, we realized that some dangerous ideas were being propagated. Some individuals were trying to convince a number of ulama to withdraw their support for the Palestinian people. These individuals had told them that the people of Gaza were Nasebi, which meant that the people of Gaza were opposed to the members of the Prophet's (s.w.a.) household. They convinced these ulama. Then the ulama sent me several letters saying that the people of Gaza were Nasebi. I replied, "May God protect us. May God curse the evil and abolished Satan. There are some Mosques in Gaza named after the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) and Imam Hussein (a.s.). How could these people be Nasebi? They are Sunni, but not Nasebi.". There is another side to the coin. Some people go all the way to Qom to search Shia books for an insult to what Sunni Muslims hold sacred or they try to record the voice of an ignorant and spiteful speaker who talks nonsense about Sunni beliefs Thus, they try to encourage a negative attitude towards Shia.

Leader’s Speech to Armed Forces of Kurdistan

Leader’s Speech to Sunni and Shia Ulama in Kurdistan

Leader: Iran Will Not Hesitate to Respond to Threats

Leader Meets Ulama and Seminarians in Kurdistan

Leader’s Public Address in Sanandaj

Leader Warmly Welcomed in Kurdistan

One of the vicious policies of the Pahlavi era was regarding different ethnicities as foreign

Of course, I should tell you that the enemies will never stop pursuing their goals. An evil policy had been adopted in the country since the Pahlavi era: Alienating different ethnicities from one another. They used to alienate Kurds, Baluchis, Azeris, Arabs, and Turkmen from other people. They used to consider these ethnicities as aliens. Such policies were manifested in their behavior too. If you take a look, you will see that no major construction or cultural projects were carried out in this province during the Pahlavi era. They did not feel responsible and would not do anything in this regard. Construction projects were almost non-existent during the Pahlavi era. The same was true of cultural projects. Today, there are nearly 50,000 students studying at some twenty academic centers in Kurdistan province, while during the Pahlavi era the number of students in this province was only 360. The rate of illiteracy was also terrible during that era. Only 29 percent of the population of this province were literate! They Taghut regime of Pahlavi did not want the Kurdish people—this talented and smart people—to be literate. Only 29 percent of the population of the province—that enjoyed such great features and qualities—were literate! That was their construction work, and this was their cultural works! Their view of this province was a mischievous and fallacious one.

Leader Delineates Criteria for Qualified Presidential Candidates

Leader Meets with Families of Martyrs in Kurdistan

Leader’s Speech to Families of Martyrs in Kurdistan

Leader: Iranian Nation Will Enrage Enemies in Presidential Elections

Ayatollah Khamenei the Leader of the Islamic Revolution met this morning with thousands of enthusiastic nurses, teachers, and laborers from different parts of country. His Eminence described the role of nurses, teachers, and laborers of the country as very significant.

In the Pahlavi era, election was considered a purely theatrical show

Our nation was a passive element in the management of the country. Why? Because of the nature of the despotic governments that ruled in our country… However, after the Pahlavi regime came to power, elections were considered a purely political gesture. Except for a short time during the time of Mosaddeq - for a period of two years when the conditions were comparatively better, although there were many problems - the Majlis was shut down and all its authority was returned to the government. Except for this short period, democracy was reduced to rubber stamp elections. Throughout the post-constitutional era, everybody knew that elections did not at all mean popular vote. The court and the kings selected a number of people and there was an internal competition among them. The government only wanted to send submissive people into the Majlis, people who could protect their illegitimate interests. The people were completely ignored. Throughout the entire period, rarely did the people go to the ballot boxes to make a change in the management of the country. There was no such thing.

Leader's Speech to Nurses, Teachers, and Laborers

Leader's Message on the Terrorist Attack on Iranian Pilgrims in Iraq

The Invisible Net

Leader Attends Graduation Ceremony of Cadets

The enemies started the imposed war in order to smother the Revolution

The enemies started the imposed war in order to smother the Revolution, but this war only helped promote the Revolution and infused it with more revolutionary power and enthusiasm. Our dear youth regained their glory in the battlefields. Their talents started to flourish. The war turned them into great indefatigable commanders at a young age. It helped them to become resourceful and wise men. The Islamic Republic will always be indebted to these youth and their actions.

Leader’s Speech to Cadets

Leader Meets Armenian President

Leader Expresses Concern About Presidential Campaigning

Leader Meets with Hugo Chavez

They gave Saddam the green light to attack Iran

They gave Saddam the green light to attack our country. That was another measure taken by the US to harm our nation. If Saddam had not received the green light from the US, most probably he would not have attacked our borders. An eight-year war was imposed on our country, during which about 300,000 Iranian civilians and youth were martyred. Throughout the war, especially in the last few years, Americans supported and helped Saddam. They provided him with financial support, weapons, technical information, political assistance, satellite intelligence, and media support. They used to use their satellites to record the activities of our forces at the front. Then they used to send the information to Saddam to use them against our youth and forces.

MEK: When terrorists are armed, funded and respected

They supported the terrorists who killed our men, women, and children. They supported the terrorists who killed our great religious scholars and young children. They allowed these terrorists to continue their activities from inside their country.

Elections are the great investment of the Iranian nation

Elections are one of the foundations of our government. Religious democracy cannot be practiced with words only. Religious democracy is only possible through public participation, public determination, and rational and emotional engagement of the public in the developments that occur in the country. And that would be impossible unless there are appropriate nationwide elections and broad public participation. This democracy is the secret behind the constancy of the Iranian nation. The fact that you did not fear the threats of the superpowers in the last thirty years, the fact that the superpowers could not go beyond simple threats and deal you any severe blows, and the fact that the youth of this country demonstrated the necessary courage and sincerity to enter various arenas are all due to religious democracy. We must truly appreciate this. Elections are the great investment of the Iranian nation.