Do not trust hegemons, Leader advises regional nations
Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has advised regional nations to never trust the arrogant powers that have plundered their countries for years.
The Leader also said that the ultimate goal of the Islamic movements that have recently arisen in the Muslim world should be the creation of a united Islamic ummah and a new Islamic civilization based on religion, intellectuality, wisdom, and morality.
The Leader made the remarks on Saturday in an address to the 1st International Islamic Awakening Conference, which is currently underway in Tehran.
Following are excerpts of the Leader’s remarks:
What has brought us together is the Islamic awakening, a state of enthusiasm and heightened awareness in the Islamic ummah, which has led to a great development among regional nations and given rise to uprisings and revolutions, confounded the calculations of the dominating regional and international devils, great uprisings that broke down the barriers of despotism and arrogance and overcame the forces which were guarding them.
There is no doubt that great social developments have always drawn on historical and civilizational foundations and have been the product of the accumulation of cognizance and experience.
The emergence of great and influential Islamic intellectual and jihadist figures over the past 150 years in Egypt, Iraq, Iran, India, and other Asian and African countries set the stage for the current situation in the Muslim world.
Likewise, the developments in the nineteen fifties and sixties in some of these countries, which led to the establishment of regimes that mostly leaned toward materialistic thought and ideologies and as a result fell into the trap of arrogant and colonialist Western powers, were educative lessons which played a major role in shaping the popular and profound thought that is currently prevalent in the Muslim world.
The saga of the great Islamic Revolution of Iran, which was aptly described by Imam Khomeini as the victory of blood over the sword and led to the establishment of the lasting, powerful, brave, and progressive system of the Islamic Republic, and its impact on the Islamic awakening, is also a long story, which deserves a thorough investigation and discussion.
All in all, the realities unfolding in the Muslim world are not isolated incidents detached from historical roots and social and intellectual context, so the enemies and superficial people cannot describe them as a transient tide and trivial incidents and snuff out the flame of hope in the hearts of nations through providing biased and diversionary analyses.
In my brotherly talk, I want to focus on three key points: (1) a brief glance at the nature of the uprisings and revolutions; (2) the great dangers and threats on the path; and (3) proposals to remedy shortcomings, avert dangers, and counter threats.
(1) In regard to the first point, I believe that the most important factor in these revolutions has been the people’s substantial and pervasive presence on the scene of combat and jihad.
There is a big difference between such a presence and an uprising led by a military group or by armed combatants before the eyes of indifferent people.
Now people are inventing the slogans, setting the goals, identifying and pursuing the enemies, and outlining the desired future, so they will not allow the corrupt and irresolute elite to deviate from the right path and make compromises, and will prevent the infiltration of enemy elements.
When the movement is popular, the revolution may come to fruition with delay, but it will not be superficial and volatile.
It is clearly recognizable that the main principles of the current revolutions in Egypt and other regional countries are the following:
- Restoring the national glory and dignity which had been destroyed during the rule of corrupt dictators and the political hegemony of the United States and the West;
- Raising the banner of Islam, which is the people’s deeply held belief and enduring attachment, and achieving psychological security, justice, and prosperity under the banner of the Islamic shariah (Islamic law);
- Resisting the influence and hegemony of the United States and Europe, which have inflicted the severest damage and humiliation on the people of these countries over the past two decades;
- Campaigning against the occupying Zionist regime and its fake government, which… has been used as a tool to sustain their devilish hegemony and drive a nation out of their historical homeland.
Undoubtedly, the United States, the West, and the Zionists are displeased with the fact that the revolutions in the region are based on these principles, so they will make every effort to deny the realities on the ground, but denial will not change the realities.
The fact that these revolutions are popular movements is the most important factor which has shaped their identity.
The foreign powers, which have made every effort and resorted to every ploy to save the despotic, corrupt, and subservient rulers and only withdrew their support when the will of the people left no hope for them, have no right to claim a share in the victory of the revolutions.
(2) With regard to the issue of dangers and threats, I should first say that although there are dangers, there are ways to remain immune to them.
The dangers should be identified so that we do not become perplexed and hesitant when we face them and know how to deal with them.
We were faced with these dangers after the victory of the Islamic Revolution and identified and experienced them, and through the will of God, we survived under the leadership of Imam Khomeini and with the aid of the people’s insight and devotion.
I categorize the potential threats in two groups: the ones that are rooted in our weaknesses and the ones that are directly planned by the enemies.
The threats categorized in the first group are like thinking that after the downfall of the dependent, corrupt, and dictatorial rulers, the job is done.
The first danger is that we revel in the feeling of victory and as a result our motivation and determination fade away.
Fearing the apparent might of the arrogant powers and being afraid of the U.S. and other interventionist powers are other potential threats that should be avoided.
Trusting the enemy and falling into the trap of their smiles and promises is another great danger, which especially threatens the leaders and intellectuals.
Another threat is becoming too proud and thinking the enemy is ignorant. Bravery should be mingled with prudence and caution.
Creating discord and turning revolutionaries against each other to undermine their struggle is also a great calamity that should be avoided.
The threats categorized in the second group are the ones that have previously been experienced by regional nations after the occurrence of various incidents.
The first potential threat is that the elements that show commitment to the U.S. and the West come to power.
After the inevitable collapse of the subservient lackeys, the West is trying to retain the systems and the main levers of exercising power… to maintain its dominance.
If they face people’s resistance and vigilance, they propose various deviant models… which will again plunge the Islamic countries into the trap of cultural, political, and economic dependence on the West.
As we know from experience, if this tactic also fails, they will resort to methods like creating chaos, inciting terrorism and civil war between followers of various religions, tribes, and parties and even provoking war between neighboring countries and nations.
In addition, they impose economic blockades and sanctions and freeze the national assets, and launch fierce propaganda campaigns.
Their purpose is to make the revolutionaries frustrated, disappointed, perplexed, and regretful.
Assassinating righteous and influential scientists or slandering them and buying out weak-willed people are also methods that are commonly employed by the Western powers.
(3) In conclusion… I will provide you with some pieces of advice based on our own real world experience in Iran and comprehensive studies concerning other countries.
I advise people to stay on the scene… and know that God is always present to help you.
As another piece of advice, regularly review the principles of your revolutions. The slogans should be purified and should be adapted to Islamic principles.
Never trust the U.S., NATO, and criminal regimes like Britain, France, and Italy that have divided your homelands among themselves for a long time and plundered your countries.
Do not trust them and do not believe their smiles. Conspiracy and betrayal are hidden behind their smiles and promises.
Another important piece of advice is to avoid religious, ethnic, racial, tribal, and border conflicts. Recognize the differences and deal with them. Understanding among Muslims of all denominations is the key to salvation.
Creating a (political) system is your main task. It is a complicated and difficult task. You should not allow models such as secularism, Western liberalism, radical nationalism, or leftist Marxist inclinations to be imposed on you.
The ultimate goal should be the creation of a united Islamic ummah and a new Islamic civilization based on religion, intellectuality, wisdom, and morality.
The liberation of Palestine from the ferocious claws of the Zionists is also a great goal.
There are two important points:
First, one of the demands of the nations that staged revolutions and liberated their countries is participation in the management of their countries’ affairs through their vote. And because they are faithful, their desired model is a system of Islamic democracy, which means the rulers would be elected by the people’s vote and the rules governing the society should be based on the Islamic shariah.
The second point is that Islamism should not be confused with reactionaryism, factionalism ignorance, and extremist prejudice.
Source: mehrnews.com
