Saturday
Jun052010
Iran Document: The Supreme Leader's Speech (4 June)
Saturday, June 5, 2010 at 21:02 
An excerpt from the Supreme Leader's remarks at the Tehran Friday Prayers commemorating the death of Ayatollah Khomeini. Translation by Iran Focus:Today, in the first part of the sermon, I will share some points about the esteemed Imam [Khomeini]. We will study the Imam as a symbol or a criterion. This is important because the main challenge of all sizeable social developments, including revolutions, is to safeguard the principal course of action offered by the said revolution or development. This is the most important challenge for any powerful social change, in the sense that such a change embodies certain goals and is geared to move towards those goals, inviting others to join in. This sense of direction towards the goals of a revolution or social movement must be preserved. Otherwise, that revolution will turn into its complete opposite and operate against its own goals.
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The sense of direction for any revolution serves as its fundamental identity. If the sense of direction were to change and attention is diverted from the main path, then the revolution will not achieve its ends. This is significant because such change is gradual and intangible. It is not as if a 180 degree turn would take place right at the outset. Rather, it starts from smaller angles, and as it continues, the distance between the main path, which is the right one, will increase with such deviations on a daily basis.
Usually, those who seek to alter the identity of the revolution will not have an official flag or will not label themselves as such. They do not act in a way that shows their opposition to the [main] path, and sometimes, they even perform an action or make a statement to show support for the path of the revolution. They are creating a divergence to make the revolution move away from its direction and ultimately bring it down. In order to prevent this wrong direction or deviation from taking hold, there must be certain criteria. If such criteria are in place, and if they are clear and readily observed by the people, then a deviation would never take place. Moreover, if someone were to move in the direction of that deviation, they will be identified by the masses of people. But, if such criteria were absent, then the threat will become serious. Now, what is the criterion for our own revolution?
There is a threat. The enemy, the enemy of the revolution and the enemy of the Imam will not stand by. The enemy is trying to uproot this revolution. How? Through deviations from the path of the revolution. So, we must have a criterion, and the best criterion is the Imam himself and his path.
We must explicitly make reference to the Imam, along with his stance against the arrogant powers, against reactionary movements, against western liberal democracy, and against hypocrites and charlatans. One must make a direct reference to the Imam with regards to such matters. Those who were influenced by the Imam’s outstanding personality, and those who heard his positions, surrendered themselves. We cannot cover up or hide the Imam’s positions, or diminish the power of the ones we deem as too radical, so that certain people would appreciate it.
Those who follow the Imam must know that the Imam would not have joined a coalition that explicitly waves the flag of opposition against the Imam and Islam. It cannot be accepted that the US, Britain, CIA, Mossad, monarchists, and the Monafeqin [pejorative term used by the regime to refer to the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran] are all in agreement about an axis, and then the same axis claims to follow the Imam’s path. This is not acceptable.
Another fundamental point about the path of Imam is that he repeatedly stated that judgment about people must take place using their current circumstances as a criterion. The individuals’ past actions are not of concern. The past comes into play when the current situation is not clear. That is when we would resort to the past to discover how it was in order draw a line to the present. But, if the individuals’ current situation is the complete opposite of their past, then the latter would be irrelevant. This is the judgment that Imam Ali made in the case of Talhe and Zobeyr. You should know that Talhe and Zobeyr were not insignificant figures. Zobeyr had a glowing history, which very few of Imam Ali’s followers shared. After Abu Bakr became the caliph, during the very first days, a number of Muslims rose up during Abu Bakr’s sermon and opposed him. They told him, ‘you are wrong. Ali is right.’ The names of these people have been recorded in history, and it is not just recounted by the Shiites. It is all recorded in history books. One of the people who had risen up to defend Ali’s right was Talha bin Ubaidullah. Such was his background. Twenty-five years separate that day from the day Zubayr pulled out a sword against Ali. Now, our Sunni brothers want to excuse Talhe and Zubayr ibn al-Awwam and say their knowledge could only lead them to that point. Anyhow, whatever the case was, we are not in a position to say what their situation is as they face God. But, what did Ali do with them? He fought against them. He took an army from Medina to Kufa and Basra to fight against Talha and Zubayr. This means that their pasts simply vanished.
This was Imam’s criterion. [In 1979] there were some people who were on the plane alongside Imam and came to Iran from Paris. There were executed during the Imam's time for treason. There were also some who had contacts with Imam during the periods he was in Najaf and later in Paris. They were treated cordially by the Imam at the beginning of the revolution. But, later, their positions and deeds led Imam to reject them....
Reader Comments (17)
"Another fundamental point about the path of Imam is that he repeatedly stated that judgment about people must take place using their current circumstances as a criterion. The individuals’ past actions are not of concern."
There is no better example of this than Montazeri, first a devoted follower, subsequently a designated successor, and finally a traitor.
http://www.baabeilm.org/khomeini/montezari.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.baabeilm.org/khomeini/montezari.pdf
Samuel
One man's "traitor" is another man's "freedom fighter"
You appear to believe that whatever came out of Khomenei's mouth was/is sacrosanct.
Was Khomenei a God? - No!
Was Khomenei a Prophet? - No!
What was Khomenei? - he was a man, capable of erring, capable of sin, capable of evil, like all other men.
Barry
Hmmm, does this mean this regime started out rotten and is following the path to even worse and we have no right to deny the mullahs their ill-gotten gains? Ok everyone, just bow down and bury your heads in the sand. We don't want to upset the path of this disaster.
Oh, and in his current circumstances we should love the SL because he released 81 prisoners. Let's not think about the thousands he's jailed in the past year and are still in jail. Those that he hasn't had hanged that is.
Are we ever going to hear a speech from Iran that does not refer to "arrogant powers" otherwise commonly known as the enemy? These Islamist stooges seem to know no other language than the language of oppossing the imaginary enemy hiding behind every corner. Its always motivation through fear that they must be rally around the system and protect it. For once are we ever going to hear a leader the supreme leader ever talk about domestic issues like the economy or just plain human rights? Probably not because to air those is an admission of error and of course god's chosen one can't be wrong. Thus in the absence of and critical thought its always the "other guy" speech and lets sweep everything else under the carpet! I simply see this as yet another "support me or else speech because if you do not it will mean doom."
Bill
Franz Kafka wrote his famous novel " The Trial" around 1925. I would like to know how he knew then that a place like the Islamic Republic of Iran would exist in the future. Scary!!
Barry
It is waste of time to analyse the speech of SL and his thugs, because they are telling the same nonsense since 30 years. They blame Iran and its citizens with theire backward behavior.
But one thing became clear in the speech of Khamenei, either you do what we want or we kill you. But 22 Khordad is not far, and we will demonstrate them, what a real Iranian is.
Samuel frequently claims that Montazeri was a "traitor". But what is a traitor? Certainly Regimes like the current Iranian regime are accustomed to calling anybody who opposes them as traitors. Here http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jun/06/sri-lanka-sarath-fonseka" rel="nofollow">http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jun/06/sri... is a similar situation currently occurring in Sri Lanka.
Was Colonel Claus Philipp Maria Justinian Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg a traitor to Germany during WW2 - or merely a traitor to the Nazi regime???
There are so many parallels between the Nazi regime and this Islamic Regime - they keep popping up all the time, even when I am not looking for them.
Stauffenberg is now remembered as a hero - as will Montazeri . Samuel, you are on the losing side of history.
Barry
Barry,
You are perhaps right, at least I had many deja vus, watching modern films about the Third Reich. The main difference though is that this "Islamic Republic" hasn't set up death camps for a purposefully selected part of its citizens, murdering millions. She also lacks the German effectiveness in persecuting this minority and political opponents, but for the rest the events resemble one another.
My favourites on this list of heroes are all those journalists and writers, who fought and died for the freedom of expression and still are languishing in jail. One fine day we will remember those who were killed and honour the living, and this day is getting nearer and nearer...
ma bishomarim
Arshama
P.S. I love the cangaroo on your gravatar, very Australian ;-)
Barry,
Wasn't aware of this guy or his prediction. Amazing though!! However when one studies Islam it becomes apparent a theocracy will come into power at some point in time. Some are good others are bad but the problem they all have is that they all end making the people serve the system--least of all they are by nature dictatorships because it is usually ruled by a religious elite. The people are the reduced to cannon fodder to keep the system afloat.
Thx
Bill
Bill
Of course, Kafka wasn't thinking of Iran when he wrote his novel http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Trial" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Trial
But the basic synopsis " it tells the story of a man arrested and prosecuted by a remote, inaccessible authority, with the nature of his crime never revealed either to him or the reader." -- is appropriate to the Regime in Iran. It could also apply to other Dictatorships - the USSR and China come to mind.
There were a number of these kind of novels written in the early part of the 20thC - such as Animal Farm and 1984 by George Orwell.
They were a prediction of what was/is to come if we are not vigilant and strong.
Barry
"The main difference though is that this "Islamic Republic" hasn't set up death camps for a purposefully selected part of its citizens, murdering millions."
YET! - That is why I say that 2010 in Iran is 1933 in Germany (and not say 1939). It is still early days in the trajectory of the Iranian Regime - similar to the German regime in 1933, this Regime does not yet have full power within the country( neither did Hitler) - but unless stopped within 6 years!!!
Barry
Baz,
To quote you: "similar to the German regime in 1933, this Regime does not yet have full power within the country( neither did Hitler) - but unless stopped within 6 years!!!"
Sorry, but I have to contradict you. In 1933 Hitler just took over the power (Machtergreifung) in Germany, but this regime is already in power for 31 years! After 31 years in power 6 years more or less don't make such a big difference ;-)
On a positive note it is to be said even after 31 years this regime hasn't only failed to have full power within the country, but is constantly loosing it, especially due to its loss of legitimacy. The main reason for this development is that this regime betrayed the people from the very beginning, replacing a dictatorship by another, instead of establishing the proposed freedom, which was the main cause for the revolution of 1979.
Now that all promises about "Islamic" justice, "Islamic" equality, and "Islamic" welfare have proved as a series of big lies, a majority of Iranians is turning its back to this hypocritical system, adopting their initial demands again. "Where is my vote?" is an expression of this initial demand for a free and democratic society, hijacked by a bunch of fundamentalist, reactionary and inhumane mullahs.
Moussavi is right to use the word "cult" in reference to the regime, but he has been a long time part of this "cult" himself...
Arshama
Arshama
I agree with you - and we are really only arguing "semantics" :)
It is true that Hitler only came to power in 1933 - and it took him some time after that to consolidate that power . IRI came to power 31 years ago - thought that they had consolidated their power and now see that they have not (yet) . Hopefully they will never consolidate their power. Probably not- because they seem to have inherent contradictions and power struggles within their organization. I guess my argument is more that the world needs to ensure that they do not consolidate that power (ever). Else the potential for another world cataclysm is there if they ever do.
Barry
Hi Barry, one week ago there was a discussion on EA about the same issue.
You will find it at the end of the comments
http://enduringamerica.com/2010/05/28/friends-or-obstacles-iran-human-rights-us-concern/#comment-53137888" rel="nofollow">http://enduringamerica.com/2010/05/28/friends-o...
Hi Gunniy
Thanks for that - I have been away and missed the later part of that discussion.
I guess that no situation is directly and exactly comparable to a past historic situations. We can only hear echos of the past - and sense that a similar situation exists today. Remember that similar is not the same as.....
I will admit that my thoughts that today's Iran is 1933 Germany were formed in the past. After Hitler took office in 1933, he successfully consolidated his power. I do recognise now that , it appears that the opposite is happening in Iran. The current Iranian Regime took power in 1979, and appeared to be consolidating that power (slowly) - but it has all fallen apart in recent years, and especially the past 12 months. My fears regarding the danger of Iran to the wider World are not as strong as they were. Iran is now a "nuisance" to the World - but could still present a great danger. Quite apart from the civil rights issue in Iran - I have other reasons to wish to see the Regime's demise.
Barry
Barry,
You may know this already but Hitler had a fascination with Islam even stating he wished it was the religion of German people. He loved the supremacy and warrior focus of Islam. It should also be noted Mein Kampf is actually a best seller to this day in many parts of the Islamic world. Oh and almost forgot the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem in the 1940's actually met with Hitler and Eichman about the Jewish problem in Palestine.
As for the regime I do have to agree with Arshama that the regime is quite a ways off from what Hitler did. They may have the same intent but the big difference is they lack the power to make it happen. I also would find it hard to see them endorsing wholesale genocide which is forbiden by Islam---the catch is if the people resist then technically it could happen because they wouldn't be considered innocents. I would have to imagine if Iran ever ruled Israel you would see wholesale slaughter because the Jews will never submit and be Dhimmis again.
Thx
Bill
Bill
"They may have the same intent but the big difference is they lack the power to make it happen."
I hope you are right - but also believe you are right
Barry