Monday, January 31, 2011

Supreme Leader's View of Egypt

Supreme Leader's View of Egypt
31/01/2011


• Egyptian Nation Will Not Tolerate Treachery of its Leaders

"The US is making a mistake. By assembling Arab governments around the negotiation table to conduct such disgraceful talks, the US is intensifying the hatred of the people of those countries towards their governments. Are the people of Arab countries prepared to let their leaders sell the homeland of the Palestinian nation to others? If, God forbid, the leaders of those countries reach such an agreement, the gap between them and their people will be widened. This will further infuriate their people. It will make the Egyptian nation more furious. That wretched Egyptian travels to the US like a beggar to complain about Iran, to another wretched person who himself holds more grudges against Iran than the complainer.

Why do you complain about Iran? Complain about Islam! Complain about your Muslim nation! If that person is supposed to complain about anyone, it is the Egyptian nation that he has to complain about. The Egyptian nation is a Muslim nation. The Egyptian nation has an Islamic background. The Egyptian nation has achieved great honors on the path of Islamic struggle and promoting innovative Islamic thoughts. The Egyptian nation is a valorous nation. There is no doubt that this nation will not tolerate the treachery of its leaders and will confront them.

What does the conflict in Egypt have to do with us? We are happy wherever Muslim people are wakened. We are happy wherever Muslim people clench their fists against the enemies of their religion. We are unhappy and feel responsible wherever Muslim people are beaten. But we are not there to get engaged and wake up a nation such as the Egyptian nation to its duties.

The Egyptian nation has gained a correct understanding. It is based on this correct understanding that the Egyptian youth have stood against a government that is betraying Islamic ideals, the ideals of the Palestinian nation and the destiny of Islamic countries. This has nothing to do with us. This is where they are being mistaken. They are mistaken in that they cannot understand the power and influence of Islam."

Part of a speech delivered by the Supreme Leader to Hajj officials on April 28, 1993

• Muslims were in Isolation

"In Africa, Asia and the Middle East, there are many Islamic countries in which different governments have been in charge. But in all those places, Muslims have been in isolation. For instance, in a country like Iraq, a royal regime was in power. After that, another regime assumed power. That regime collapsed too and it was replaced by another group of people.

This happened again until the Ba'athi regime came to power. In all these exchanges of power, it was Muslims whose empty place was felt. The majority of the people of Iraq are Muslims. But in those developments, there was no trace of their presence. Or imagine a country like Egypt. Of course, in that country there was a society called the Society of the Muslim Brothers. A development took place as a result of which the royal regime collapsed.

After the collapse of the royal regime, a republican and revolutionary regime came to power whose prominent figure was Abdel Nasser. After Abdel Nasser, another person came to power. Then, that person left too and was replaced by another man. During all this time - of course, prior to the victory of the Islamic Revolution - all the developments took place without the presence of the Islamic movement and Islamic elements. Islamic elements had no power at all. At the beginning of the revolution in Egypt, Islamic elements played an influential role. But as soon as the new government was formed, they disregarded the Islamic elements. Some of them were imprisoned, some of them were killed, and some others were dispensed with. Even here, Islam had no presence."

Part of the Supreme Leader's Friday prayer sermons on the 3rd day of the month of Ramadan in the year 1415

• Like the yell that the Iranian nation let out...

"In Egypt a number of young Muslims, a number of Muslim people stand up and shout Islamic slogans, and there is no relationship between them and our people - in terms of ordinary human relationships. But their slogans are so close to our slogans that their wretched and disgraced President says, "These people have been provoked by Iran!" What do we have to do with them? They are Muslims, and they shout Quranic slogans on their own. It is they themselves who feel that they should speak and yell for the sake of God and move forward on the path of God. This is just like the yell that the Iranian nation let out against America and against global arrogance and tyranny during the time of taghut [government not sanctioned by God], and it still lets out this yell."

Part of a speech delivered on November 18, 1992 in a meeting with Basij commanders from across the country

• Shia and Sunni, no different to global arrogance

"To global arrogance, which is opposed to the essence of Islam, Shia and Sunni make no difference. We see how global arrogance pressures Sunni revolutionaries in Palestine and Egypt. These revolutionaries are not Twelver Shia. They are our Sunni brothers. You see how much pressure they exert on these revolutionaries. It does not make any difference to global arrogance. Although global arrogance is opposed to any form of Islam, Islamic denomination and Islamic Ummah, sometimes it sides with one Islamic denomination and makes efforts and spends money against another Islamic denomination. We need to be vigilant."

Part of a speech delivered on December 26, 1989 in a meeting with a group of clerics

• Torturing Muslim groups in Egypt

"Muslim groups which rise up to defend Islam are easily pressured, tortured and imprisoned by the leaders of those countries, and global powers support these governments. This is true of Egypt today. This is also true of many other countries in the world."

Part of a speech delivered on November 15, 1989 in a meeting with a large number of disabled war veterans and families of martyrs and POWs

• America's support for the dependent Egyptian government

"In Egypt Muslim generations are violently and furiously persecuted by the corrupt and incompetent regime of that country. And the dependent and degraded government of that great country receives encouragement and financial and security support from America."

Part of a message to hajj pilgrims on May 18, 1992

• The people of Egypt love the Holy Prophet's (s.w.a.) household

"Today in Egypt the mosque "Ra's al-Hussayn" - in which they believe Imam Hussein's head is buried - is the gathering place of the emotions of the Egyptian people who love the Holy Prophet's (s.w.a.) household. The Egyptian nation is a good nation. I am not speaking about that great country's regime. The Egyptian people love the Holy Prophet's (s.w.a.) household."

Part of a speech delivered on June 16, 1992 in a meeting with Islamic scholars, seminarians and clerics

http://english.khamenei.ir//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1404

Friday, January 28, 2011

A new ME, based on Islam, in the making

A new ME, based on Islam, in the making
1/28/2011 4:12:22 PM


A new Middle East on the basis on Islam and religious democracy is in the making, Interim Firday Prayers Leader of Tehran Ayatollah Sayyed Ahmad Khatami said on Friday, adding that the ongoing ME developments were aftershocks of the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran.

Addressing the congregational prayers in Tehran University campus, he referred to the development unfolding in Tunisia and Egypt, Jordan and Yemen and said that these incidents should not be viewed as simple issues.

Recalling the statements of the US former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice who once promosed a new Middle East would be developed under the leadership of US and Israel, Khatami said "I clearly announce that an Islamic Middle East is being established on the axis of religion and religious democracy."

"Tunisians pulled down their despotic dictator after 23 years and demonstrations are underway in Egypt," he added.

Referring to the ongoing rallies in Yemen, he said that such developments are inspired by the Islamic Revolution in Iran.

Tunisians held their first Friday prayers after the flee of the dictator to demonstrate the Islamic Revolution's influence on their protests, he added.

http://english.iribnews.ir/newsbody.aspx?ID=12330

Sunday, January 23, 2011

West should take lessons from history: Kashani

West should take lessons from history: Kashani
1/21/2011 4:27:33 PM


Tehran's interim Friday prayers leader Ayatollah Mohammad Emami-Kashani said on Friday that the West should take lessons from the past and get awakened.

Ayatollah Kashani made the remark in his second sermon in this week’s Friday prayers congregation at Tehran University, while touching on the Iran-P5+1 talks that are underway in Istanbul, Turkey.

Hoping that the talks will go on realistically, Ayatollah Emami-Kashani said nuclear energy in Iran is for industrial and scientific purposes and is not weapon-grade.

He said a group of 120 experts of different nationalities have in their visits to Iran’s nuclear sites testified the transparency of the country’s measures.

He hoped that the talks would bear fruits with vigilance of the other party and the West’s envoy.

Commenting on Western sanctions against Iran, Ayatollah Emami-Kashani said the sanctions and pressures would not prevent Iran’s resistant nation to keep going on its path.

Referring to the banning of Hijab in the schools of the Azerbaijan Republic, Tehran Friday prayer leader said: "Azeri people resist the decision of the ministry of education in their country and show their interest in preserving the limits and the glory of Islam."

Commenting on the revolution in Tunisia, Ayatollah Emami-Kashani said: "The Tunisian people resisted the dictator and expelled him. History has shown that the trend of truth would not fade out."

In another part of his speech, Tehran Friday prayer leader condemned terrorist acts against pilgrims of Imam Hossein (P.B.U.H.) shrine in Karbala, Iraq, in the days leading to the anniversary of Arbaeen.

http://english.iribnews.ir/NewsBody.aspx?ID=12241

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Shah fled Iran

Shah fled Iran


January 16, 1979 remains in the mind of the Iranian people as a golden day when the then despotic ruler of Iran, Muhammad Reza Shah Pahlavi fled the country, faced with nationwide demonstrations and opposition.

The then winter season seemed to have gown warm as the people saw themselves at last free from a 50-year spell of despotism started by the Pahlavi regime in Iran.

The feat was completed fourteen days later when Imam Ruhollah Mousavi Khomeini, the leader of the Islamic Revolution, returned home from 15 years of exile to lead the events to the eventual victory of the Islamic Revolution in the country.

Pahlavi wore crown in 1941 after British troops occupied Iran and forced his dictator father, whom they regarded as no longer fit to serve their colonial interests in Iran.

In the early 1950s, a national movement was commenced in a bid to nationalize oil industry in Iran which interests were largely monopolized by Britain. The movement was led by Ayatollah Kashani and Dr. Mohammad Mosaddeq. They could convince the Parliament to nationalize Britain's extensive oil interests in Iran. Mohammad Reza, who maintained close relations with Britain and the United States, opposed the decision. Nevertheless, he was forced by the nationwide demands in 1951 to appoint Mosaddeq premier.

In August 1953, Mohammad Reza attempted to dismiss Mosaddeq, but the premier's popular support was so great that the shah himself was forced out of Iran. A few days later, British and U.S. intelligence agents mongered a coup against Mosaddeq, and the shah returned to take power. This time, Shah turned dictator, holding a tight grip over power. He repealed Mosaddeq's legislation and became a close Cold War ally of the United States in the Middle East.

In 1963, ordered by his master, the dictator launched a westernization scheme, dubbed "White Revolution" in a bid to implement US- and British demanded reforms which largely countered Islamic values. That was the time when Imam Khomeini started his opposition to the regime. In 1964, the dictator exiled Imam Khomeini. Nonetheless, the dictator could not stop the streaming flow of revolution.

The dictator continued his anti-religious plans, namely by replacing the Islamic calendar of Iran with a pre-Islamic one in 1976 after an extravagant celebration of what he called the 2,500th anniversary of the pre-Islamic monarchy in Iran.

Nationwide protests increasingly grew over his anti-Islamic moves and people came to streets to shout their anger and protests. The dictator however grew more repressive, using his brutal secret police force to suppress public opposition.

Discontent also grew among the poor and middle classes who saw that his western-ordered economic reforms dubbed White Revolution had only benefited the ruling elite.

In 1978, anti-shah demonstrations broke out in Iran's major cities.

On September 8, 1978, the shah's security force fired on a large group of demonstrators, murdering hundreds and wounding thousands. There were suspicions that the dictator had been ordered to annihilate the revolutionary movements through a bloodbath.

But the people never quit as they found Imam Khomeini as their savior. Demonstrations continued as did the regime's repressions.

Faced with growing nationwide protests, the dictator fled the country on January 16, 1997 in the hope that he would come back like his previous flight. The dream however was never fulfilled. Following his flight, people took to streets to celebrate.

Shah traveled to several countries but none admitted him as they were facing the fury of a nation or were opposed with his repressive ruling. The dictator was finally sheltered by his master, the United States in October 1979. The dictator died two years later in Egypt.

The people, furious over the relentless interference of the United States in the domestic affairs of Iran, stormed the country's embassy on November 4. The move, called by Imam Khomeini as a second revolution, led to the confiscation of many documents which revealed how the dictator had taken orders from America.

The documents were then published in several volumes, called documents of the Den of Espionage.

http://english.iribnews.ir/IranVision_body.aspx?ID=304

Friday, January 14, 2011

IRI shattered Israeli invincibility myth - Seddiqi

IRI shattered Israeli invincibility myth - Seddiqi
1/14/2011 4:38:18 PM


IRI Intelligence Ministry once more shattered the Zionist regime's invincibility myth, Tehran provisional Friday prayer leader Hojjatoleslam Val Moslemin Kazem Seddiqi said, referring to the recent busting of a Mossad spy network in Tehran.

Hojjatoleslam Seddiqi pointed to arrests by the agents of the Intelligence Ministry of culprits behind the murdering of Iranian scientist Masoud Ali Mohammadi and said the regime has already been defeated in the field of information and secret systems.

Seddiqi criticized the international community for not taking any stance against Israel after it was known the perpetrators behind the killing were trained inside 'Israel'.

"The Zionist regime has been basically established to tear the heart of nations by its horn and massacre innocent people," Hojjatoleslam Seddiqi added.

Seddiqi said the Zionist regime is against free expansion of science and does not tolerate those who seek the progress of their country. "This is a blot on the record of the regime and its supporters," he added.

http://english.iribnews.ir/NewsBody.aspx?ID=12139

Salman-e Farsi

Salman-e Farsi


Thursday, January 13 was the demise anniversary of Salman Farsi or Salman the Persian (Radhiallah Anhu), the Iranian devout intellectual and ascetic who accepted Islam and played a prominent role in the advance of the Divine aspirations of the noblest messenger of Allah, Hazrat Muhammad (S.A.).

Salman grew up in the town of Isfahan central Iran, in the village of Jayyan. His father was the Dihqan (chief) of the village. He was the richest person there and had the biggest house. His father loved him, more than he loved any other.

Salman early in his life was devoted to the Magian religion, so much so that he attained the position of custodian of the fire, which they worshipped. His duty was to see that the fire remained aflame.

Salman’s father had a vast estate, which yielded an abundant supply of crops. He himself looked after the estate and gathered harvest. One day as he went about his duties as Dihqan of the village, he said to Salman "My son, as you see, I am too busy to go out to the estate now. Go and look after matters there for me today."

On the way to the estate, Salman passed a Christian church and heard voices rising in prayer. He was attracted. He did not know anything about Christianity or, for that matter, about the followers of any other religion.

When he heard the voices of the Christians, he entered the church to see what they were doing. He was impressed by their manner of praying and felt drawn to their religion. He thought "This religion is better than ours. I shall not leave them until the sunsets."

Salman asked and was told that the Christian religion originated in Syria. Salman managed to send a message to the Christians, asking them to inform him of any caravans going to Syria. Before long they contacted him with the information he wanted. When he reached Syria, he asked regarding the leading person in the Christian religion and was directed to the bishop of the church.

He went up to him and said: ‘I want to become a Christian and would like to attach myself to your service, learn from you and pray with you.’

The bishop agreed and Salman entered the church in his service. After the death of the bishop, the local people appointed another man in place of the first.

Salman stayed on, in the service of this person who replaced him. The new bishop was an ascetic who longed for the Hereafter and engaged in worship day and night. Salman was devoted to him and spent much of the time in his company.

Before he passed away, Salman said to him, “O so and so Priest! The time has come for you to witness Allah Ta'ala's decision (meaning death). I swear by Allah, I have never adored anyone as much as I have adored you! So what would you instruct me to do? And who can you recommend for me to see?”

He replied, “O son! I do not know of anyone except for a certain man living in the city of Mosul. Go to him, for you will find that he is similar to me.”

A short while after he passed away, Salman arrived at Mosul and found the priest he had been sent to, and indeed, he was very much like the one before him in terms of simplicity and striving. After he passed away, Salman was referred to another priest who in turn sent him to a priest in Ammuriyah (Ameria, near Rome), before his demise.

Salman stayed by this Roman priest and decided to make a living. Eventually he managed to acquire some sheep and cows.

When the priest's death was near, Salman told him of his story and asked him for his advice just as he had asked those before him.

He said: “There is nobody following our ways of life I can send you to. Nevertheless, your life seems to coincide with the era of a messenger who will arise from the Haram. His migration will be to a city full of date trees. He will eat food provided it is a gift and not a donation. If you can reach that city, then do so, because you are very close to his era.”

Months later, a group of Arab leaders from the Kalb tribe passed through Ammuriyah. Salman asked them to take him with them to the land of the Arabs, in return for whatever money he had. They agreed to take him along. When they reached Wadi al-Qura (a place between Syria and Madinah), the Arabs broke their agreement and made him a slave and sold him.

Salman worked as a servant for the man to whom he was sold and asked God to guide him through the ordeal.

Salman was again sold this time to a nephew of the former 'master', belonging to the tribe of Banu Qurayzah. This nephew took Salman with him to Yathrib, the city of palm groves, which is how the Christian at Ammuriyah had described it.

At that time the Noblest Messenger of Allah Hazrat Mohammad (PBUH) was inviting people in Makkah to Islam but Salman did not know of this because of the harsh duties slavery imposed upon him.

When the messenger reached Yathrib after his hijrah from Makkah, Salman was on top of a palm tree doing some work. Salman’s new 'master' was sitting under the tree. A nephew of Salman’s 'master' came up and said, ‘May Allah declare war on the Aws and the Khazraj (two main Arab tribes of Yathrib). By Allah, they are now gathering at Quba to meet a man, who has just today, arrived from Makkah and who claims to be messenger.’

Salman felt light-headed upon hearing these words and began to shiver so violently that he had to climb down, in fear that he may fall. He quickly swung down from the tree.

Salman himself narrates:

I left the house for a while, making inquiries. I asked a woman I met from the city whose entire family had become Muslim. She showed me the way to the messenger.

When it was evening, I took some food with me and went to the messenger. The messenger was in Quba at the time.

I said "Word has reached me that you are a very pious man, and that you have some travelers in your company. I had some charity and thought that you would be most deserving of it. This is it; you may have some to eat.”

The messenger withdrew his hand, not eating from it, but told his Companions to eat. At the time, I thought "This is one of the characteristics my Mentor told me of".

On my way back, I saw that the messenger was heading to Madinah. Thus, I took the food to him, saying "I saw that you were not eating from this charity. As a matter of fact, I presented it as a gift and not charity."

This time, the messenger also ate with his Companions.

The honesty of the messenger Prophet was one of the characteristics that led Salman to believe in him and accept Islam.

Salman was released from slavery by the messenger who paid his 'master' a stipulated price, and who himself planted an agreed number of date palms to secure Salman’s manumission.

After accepting Islam, Salman would say when asked whose son he was "I am Salman, the son of Islam from the children of Adam."

Salman's role in Islam

Salman was to play an important role in the struggles of the growing Islamic movement. At the battle of Khandaq, he proved to be an innovator in military strategy. It was he who suggested digging a ditch or khandaq around Madinah to keep the invading army at bay. When Abu Sufyan, the leader of the Makkans, saw the ditch, he said, ‘This stratagem has not been employed by the Arabs before.’

Salman participated in all of the other campaigns of the messenger thereafter.

Salman became known as "Salman the Good." He was a scholar who lived a rough and ascetic life. He had one cloak, which he wore and slept on. He would not seek the shelter of a roof but stayed under a tree or against a wall.

Later, as a governor of Al-Madain (Ctesiphon) near Baghdad, Salman received a stipend of five thousand dhirhams. This he would distribute as sadaqah (charity donation).

He lived from the work of his own hands. When some people came to Madina and saw him working the palm groves, they said "You are the leader here and your sustenance is guaranteed and yet you do this work?"

"I like to eat from the work of my own hands," he replied.

As a scholar, Salman was noted for his vast knowledge and wisdom. Imam Ali (PBUH) said of him that he was like Luqman the Wise.

Salman had knowledge of both the Christian scripture and the Quran in addition to his earlier knowledge of the Zoroastrian religion. Salman in fact translated parts of the Quraan into Persian during the lifetime of the messenger. He was thus the first person to translate the Quran into a foreign language.

According to the most reliable account, he died in either 31 or 34 A.H, at the age of about 250 years, during the caliphate of Uthman, at Mada'aen (Ctesiphon).

http://english.iribnews.ir/IranVision_body.aspx?ID=303

Sunday, January 9, 2011

IR Leader urges people to keep vigilance

IR Leader urges people to keep vigilance
2011/01/09 - 18:13


Islamic Revolution Leader Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei told a large gathering of people from the Qom province Sunday that the Iranian nation by passing through different divine tests in the past 32 years is now stronger than ever and will keep the path towards the peaks of prosperity and perfection.

The meeting was held on the 33rd anniversary of the historical uprising of people in Qom against the ousted regime of Shah.

Ayatollah Khamenei said the event showed the Qom people are at forefront of any revolutionary scene, adding that the uprising was a slap in the face of the Shah regime and the world arrogance and set the stage for the Islamic Revolution victory.

Ayatollah Khamenei noted that enemies have proved to be sensitive towards the people and the religious school of Qom because they have showed a sublime sense of responsibility in every revolutionary scene. Ayatollah Khamenei also noted that the enemy's reaction towards the responsible presence of people during his visit months ago to the religious city was another token of the sublime spirit of the people as well as the frustration and vulnerability of the enemies.

The IR Leader said the reaction of the world of arrogance towards the Islamic Revolution in the past 32 years was another sign of enemy's vulnerability as well as the significance of the Iranian people's movement.

"The formation of the Islamic system in Iran offered a new path based on true Islam. The arrogance could not tolerate the issue, hence its oppositions to the Islamic Republic of Iran," the IR Leader added.

Ayatollah Khamenei said the nation has successfully elevated itself in material and spiritual issues thank to its success in divine tests.

Ayatollah Khamenei then touched on the 2009 political sedition following the presidential elections, saying, "In God's favor, the people got awakened and took to the scene and thwarted the big sedition," Ayatollah Khamenei said, noting that the dimensions of the complex sedition have yet to be known.

Ayatollah Khamenei said foreign plotters were the main perpetrators in the 2009 sedition, adding that the individuals who are described by people as 'leaders of sedition' were actually a puppet in the hand of the main plotters who sought to remove the Islamic Republic and change the system.

"They sought to remove the Islamic Republic and religion as a whole from the Iranian community and then set up their favorable government," Ayatollah Khamenei said.

"They had also planned for another likely state of affairs, namely to push the country to riots in case they could not gain their initial goals, and then create a cartoon-like imitation of Islamic Revolution," Ayatollah Khamenei said, adding that the nation made a precise understanding of the situation and dismantled the sedition.

The IR Leader regarded the success of the Iranian nation in this grand and complicated examination as paving the way for highlighting the line of religion and Revolution in the country and the increasing strength of the Islamic system, saying: "The increasing strength is in fact the divine prize for the success in this examination."

Ayatollah Khamenei called on all individuals and officials to keep vigilance and to correctly detect main issues from subsidiary ones and avoid treating the subsidiary issue as main ones.

"Lacking insight and failing in divine examination leads to decline and deterioration of society," Ayatollah Khamenei said, noting, as an example, that people's failure in divine examination in Imam Ali's (P.B.U.H.) era and his martyrdom in the altar of worship by the hand of the most wicked one led to the martyrdom of Imam Hossein (P.B.U.H.) and his comrades in the Karbala incident.

He regarded the current high position of the Iranian nation and their success in local and global issues as the outcome of their success in different examinations, saying: "The enemy has made a lot of efforts to stop the Islamic system from continuing the path of progress through economic pressures and false and ample propaganda and through making other governments and nations scared of the Islamic Republic of Iran but has failed."

Referring to the failure of US policies in issues of Palestine, Lebanon, Afghanistan and Iraq, the IR Leader added: "The Americans present the Islamic Republic of Iran as the main cause of their failures while they have been defeated by the awakening and the right policy of nations."

"The effect and strength of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the region and among nations is a spiritual effect because the Islamic system causes the awakening of nations and it is in such a situation that America makes all its efforts to prevent the current Iraqi government from coming to power but because of the awakening of people this government came to power and America could not do anything," Ayatollah Khamenei stressed.

The IR Leader regarded the will and determination of people and officials for taking this path as good and strong, stressing that the path of progress would be successfully continued provided the people remain awakened and avoid underestimating the enemy.

"All individuals especially the youth, Alims, academics and officials should keep and double their vigilance," he added.

"The officials' awakening is to serve the people and keep integrity among them. This would be a thorn in the enemies' eyes," the IR Leader concluded.

http://www.leader.ir/langs/en/index.php?p=contentShow&id=7723

Friday, January 7, 2011

Jannati lauds Asian aid convoy to Gaza

Jannati lauds Asian aid convoy to Gaza
1/7/2011 3:19:37 PM


Leader of Tehran's Friday prayers Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati lauded the Asian Aid Caravan to Gaza and said," We should be happy of the event and thanked the God, because breaking the five-years siege of Gaza is a success."

Ayatollah Jannati said that the Gazans were blockade by both Zionist regime and Egypt.

Ayatollah Jannati also felicitated New Year to all Christians across the globe.

Ayatollah Jannati pointed to ban on Hijab in Azerbaijan Republic's schools and said," We condemn the anti-Islamic move and urge the Azeri government to review the issue."

http://english.iribnews.ir/NewsBody.aspx?ID=12031