Statements of His Eminence in Meeting with Participants of the International Media Conference of the Islamic World in Support of the Intifada

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

I welcome all dear brothers and hope that your gathering brings blessings for the Islamic world, especially for the oppressed people of Palestine.

I will address two matters: one regarding the issue of Palestine - which is today the most important issue for the Islamic world - and the other concerning the media and their role and responsibility.

We must not doubt that these days are decisive for Palestine. Indeed, Palestine has been the scene of conflicts between Islam and its enemies throughout our history, and in the last hundred years - particularly in the last fifty years - it has been the frontline in the struggle against the enemies of Islam. In fact, Palestine can be seen as a tableau of significant events in the history of Islam over many centuries. However, what is happening in Palestine today - considering the various aspects of the issue - is almost exceptional. Firstly, the pressures being exerted on the Palestinian people today are unprecedented; secondly, the sacrifices and fierce struggles that the Palestinian people are undertaking today are also unprecedented. We have never seen the Palestinian nation so determined, with their bodies, lives, wealth, children, and loved ones in the arena. This characteristic pertains to this blessed Intifada.

Of course, America and many Western countries provide unwavering and overt support to Israel, trampling on international covenants, and once again it is proven to the world that the perspective of the great powers towards treaties and international organizations is instrumental. They use these treaties and organizations solely for their own interests and objectives, showing no respect for the mentioned treaties and organizations. Certainly, Israel could not and cannot stand today and always without the economic, political, propaganda, and media support of the great powers. The criminal in this matter is not only Israel; primarily, America is complicit in all the atrocities of Israel.

The West and the Western powers have had a mutual interaction since the emergence of the cancerous tumor of Zionism in this region. The duty of Israel has been to safeguard the interests of the aggressive Western powers in the Islamic region; that is, there should always be a permanent threat facing the Islamic countries and the countries of the region, keeping the Islamic nations in a constant state of concern so that they cannot unite and create a cohesive and aligned group to utilize their resources, wealth, and human power for their own interests. Conversely, their duty has been to maintain this cancerous tumor in this region with all their might. Of course, today this role is primarily on America.

At the beginning of the emergence of this problem and great calamity for the Islamic world, there were lapses and no proper measures were taken to confront this issue. Of course, there were prominent figures in Palestine and outside of Palestine whose efforts should not be overlooked - such as the late Izz ad-Din al-Qassam, the late Haj Amin al-Husseini, and the late Sheikh Muhammad Hussein Kashif al-Ghita - all of whom recognized the danger of the existence of the Zionist state and government in this region and warned about it, undertaking struggles; however, the Islamic world and those responsible in the Islamic world could not play their role correctly; thus, there have been fluctuations in the struggle of the Palestinian people against this very dangerous phenomenon over time.

However, the struggle today has two characteristics that have never coexisted in the struggles of the Palestinians and the fight for Palestine: one characteristic is the Islamic nature of this struggle; and the second characteristic is its popular and widespread nature. The combination of these two characteristics has shaken the foundations of the Zionist regime. There is a sense of danger throughout the Zionist entity. They understand and correctly identify that the major and fundamental danger has arisen today. Those who stand against the Zionist entity today are not just a group; they are not political figures who can be persuaded at the negotiating table. You know that at the negotiating table, individuals can be persuaded through various methods - through threats, bribery, and false promises - but when the struggle falls into the hands of the nation and self-awareness arises among the people, and they feel with all their being that they have a duty to stand against the situation, otherwise they will be completely destroyed and trampled; on the other hand, when the strategy of struggle is rooted in Islamic faith and relies on hearts and souls, then the struggle becomes very dangerous for the enemy. Today, such a situation has arisen. The leaders of the arrogant regime of America are angry for this reason and reveal their true nature. What exists in their hearts, which they always hide behind thick curtains of hypocrisy, is now being shown in their statements. Today, the Americans not only support the brutal Zionist regime but also openly support its explicit crimes without any cover or shame. It is not just a matter of terrorism; a great and open crime has been committed; they support this; they support bringing tanks into the streets and alleys; they support the destruction of people's homes. This is the essence of the system of domination. The term "global arrogance" that is repeated in the words of the Islamic Revolution means this.

They label Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Hezbollah as terrorists. Why?! What have they done?! Their crime is that they have defended their honor, homeland, homes, and people. The Americans wish for Israel to kill small children - children like this man's son - before their fathers' eyes, and for no one to protest, say anything, respond, or become angry. The sin of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah of Lebanon, and all true fighters on the battlefield is only that they take practical action in response to such unprecedented brutal aggressions. The crime of the Islamic Republic is that it openly and explicitly defends truth and justice. We have never abandoned the defense of truth and justice for the desires of the arrogant powers. We have never compromised or acted hypocritically in this regard. We have explicitly raised the banner of truth and justice and defended it. This is our crime.

The Americans have revealed their true nature. The President of America, in his recent speech, speaks like someone thirsty for human blood! He threatens and accuses countries and nations. The whole world knows that the great Satan is America; this is a statement based on evidence. The title "Great Satan" for America was not an arbitrary designation. Look at the history of the past thirty or forty years; America has done the most sabotage against popular and independent movements. The most character assassinations of virtuous and pious figures in the world have been carried out by the CIA. The most support for anti-popular regimes in the world has come from America. The most sales of weapons and deadly arms in the world have been made by America. The most plundering and looting of nations' wealth has been done by America. These are acts of devilry; thus, they are the greatest of devils. Of course, other devils in the world also commit such acts, but none are as devilish as America; thus, it is truly the Great Satan. This Great Satan, which all nations - I do not say all governments - acknowledge its devilry, accuses the Islamic Republic of devilry! We take pride in the fact that the most despised of the devils in the world speaks to us in this tone. We are never pleased with the praise and glorification of the leaders of the American regime. He accuses our country's officials of not being elected by the people! In the Islamic Republic, all the leaders of the country are elected by the nation; and that too, not a dry and merely procedural election to have done something; it is an absolute maximum election accompanied by intense emotions. These inexperience and ignorance regarding the realities of nations are the very things that America has been slapped and beaten for until now and will continue to be. The inexperienced officials of America today are bringing their great country closer to the edge of the abyss of collapse with these words and actions moment by moment. They have not caught a whiff of spirituality, humanity, and human rights. They act with the utmost severity and violence against oppressed nations, especially against those nations that do not submit to them and do not kneel; if they could, they would do the same as the Zionist regime is doing to the Palestinian people today. But they cannot, and they are mistaken in their assessment of their own power.

The Zionist regime, with the support of America - two elements entirely devoid of spirituality, truth, justice, and humanity - seeks to bring the Palestinian nation to its knees and force it to retract its rightful claims and not speak out; and of course, it will not succeed. The characteristic of today's struggle and the Palestinian Intifada is that the Palestinian nation has truly risen.

Now we come to the role of the media and propaganda. This scene of struggle is a public scene. Everyone has a duty to play a role according to their ability throughout the Islamic world. Today, the world is one of media and propaganda and explanation. Today, before you stands the news empire of the enemies of the Islamic world, which is largely under the control of the Zionists. Today, a one-way highway of news and analysis flows from the media towards the public opinion of the world - including the public opinion of Arab and Islamic countries and Muslims themselves. From the very beginning of their work, the Zionists have turned to news and propaganda media. One of their policies has been to seize the world's propaganda media. Today, it is like this. From the very beginning, they chose a propaganda tactic that was very important and decisive and has been influential until today; that tactic is victimhood. For the sake of victimhood, many stories and myths were fabricated; news was created, and tireless efforts were made. Today, even in the utmost brutality, the same propaganda continues; that is, the most important work of the Zionists in the world of propaganda is victimhood. They raised the issue of the psychological concerns of Jews and said that because Jews have been under pressure for centuries, they are psychologically anxious and need psychological security. The Zionists brought up the issue of psychological security in negotiations with the leaders of Western countries and later in their discussions with Islamic and Arab countries, saying that we need psychological security and it must be provided. What does this psychological security mean? It has no specific meaning and no end. Any action that is to be taken, if it is not in their favor, can be neutralized under the pretext of psychological security. They have convinced many in the world that they need psychological security and that it must be provided.

Meeting Israel's demands regarding psychological security is more difficult than relinquishing land. When you lose land, you know what you have lost; but when you want to meet Israel's demands regarding psychological security, you do not know how far you must submit and how many concessions you must make. This concession-making has no end; it must be done repeatedly. Europe's experience in this regard is instructive. The German government paid one hundred fifty billion marks as compensation to the Jews; however, the compensation to the Jews from Germany is still not complete; they are still demanding compensation! What the Jews did with Germany has been done to some extent with other European countries - such as Austria, Switzerland, France, and even until a few years ago with the Vatican. Everyone must pay compensation; this compensation is never-ending!

In the psychological aspect, the Israelis have very significant activities. All politicians, journalists, intellectuals, officials, and elites in the West must bow their heads in reverence before the memorial of the crematorium; that is, everyone must emphasize a story whose authenticity is uncertain and consider themselves indebted to that story. These are the methods they have in propaganda, all directed towards "victimhood."

Of course, in another part of the world, relying on the stories mentioned in the Torah and the claim that this is the land given to the children of Israel, they have aligned many Christians with them. As I have seen in some statistics, they have managed in some countries - primarily in America - to create millions of non-Jewish Zionists as a backing for public opinion through these advertisements! They have been doing this propaganda work for years. Today, this propaganda continues with even greater intensity.

Of course, they have made the utmost exploitation of events that occurred - such as the incident of September 11 in New York and Washington - and managed to push the issue of Palestine to the margins of the events of the Islamic world. In this regard, the Zionists received one hundred percent support from America. However, no one has the right to question or protest the burning of the lives of Palestinian women and children in countries that claim to be free, nor to mention the atrocities being committed against the Palestinian nation today.

Considering this propaganda method and the psychological understanding one gains of the enemy, the entire body of officials and media operators in Islamic countries must feel their responsibility and adjust their path. This is a vital and important task. Today, not only for the Palestinian nation but for the Islamic world, this is a vital task and a heavy duty.

As an example, I can present the experience of southern Lebanon - which friends are aware of - as a model. The faithful and fighting youth of Lebanon managed to utilize the lever and factor of propaganda in the best and most appropriate way in the great movement they undertook against the Zionists; they were able to accurately reflect the element of resistance and sacrifice to the Islamic world; thus, the enemy becomes weary. The entire Islamic world understood what the resistance in southern Lebanon was doing and what it aimed to achieve. There, propaganda was employed in a good and correct manner. The self gained spirit, the enemy's spirit weakened, and they became weary. This is the work we must always do. The Islamic world is always in struggle and under attack. This piece of the Islamic world is currently in the clutches of the Zionists; they attack it day and night; therefore, we must make maximum use of the media in favor of this issue.

It is necessary to devise a fundamental strategy for propaganda against the usurping Zionists. It is not enough to tactically express parts of the victimhood in every situation. A general propaganda strategy must be determined and acted upon throughout the Islamic world in a unified manner.

We do not have the major media of the world at our disposal; however, what we do have is not insignificant. We must make maximum use of our resources and assets - which belong to the Islamic world. Everyone is responsible and obligated in this regard. Intellectuals, politicians, poets, writers, artists, and academics are responsible. These are the influential classes; these are the ones who can properly feed the media. You who have gathered here, your gathering itself is a significant event. In this gathering, you can lay the foundation for a coordinated media movement throughout the Islamic world. This is a feasible task. Why do we not utilize our tools?

Many writers and intellectuals of the Islamic world protest to the leaders of some Islamic countries and governments that do not behave appropriately towards the Zionists, asking why they do not use oil and wealth and political leverage against the Zionists? Of course, this protest is valid, and in our view, this criticism is correct; however, the same question can be posed in the realm of intellectualism, writing, and academia: why is the vast scientific and intellectual capital not being utilized as it should be? Sometimes a poem or a piece of writing has an impact that many funds and wealth cannot create. One day, a Palestinian poet recited a poem that incited the hearts of the Arab world to revolt - this was in 1967 or 1968 - sometimes a good media tactic or a coordinated propaganda movement can have a greater effect than closing the oil taps.

What we need today is for those who are engaged in struggle to gain spirit and know that their future is promising. Unfortunately, sometimes the opposite is seen. The propaganda apparatus of the West tries to shatter this hope. In recent months, when the Intifada needed support and assistance the most, it was observed that in the Islamic world, some pens were drawn to topics that were poisonous for the Intifada. They spoke of the incapacity and weakness of the Intifada; these are poisons. The meaning of these statements is that the Palestinian nation has no way other than submission and falling to the ground before the Zionists.

Of course, America and Israel think of nothing less than absolute submission, but they are the enemy and, of course, they are mistaken. This is something that will not happen. They are only satisfied with the absolute submission of the Palestinians; their behavior with the Palestinian side has once again proven this. They are not willing to give any concessions to the Palestinian side. They want to use the Palestinian side as a tool for destroying the Palestinian Intifada. They are not satisfied with anything less than this. We must not assist in the submission and discouragement of the Palestinian nation; we must express the truth. The truth is hope and a new horizon and the shaking of the knees of the Zionists and the neediness and helplessness of the supporting powers of the Zionists in the face of the general movement of a nation that relies on its faith. That nation, which moves united and relies on its faith, is not defeatist. We must clarify these truths to create more hope in the hearts of those who are in the midst of the battlefield. The task of the media is to ensure that the psychological groundwork for resistance is established.

Today, in the world, the Zionist media presents the repeated and daily aggressions of Israel in a fleeting manner. If they could, they would not even present this; however, their media interests require them to present it; but very fleetingly, very superficially, very incompletely, and selectively; however, they present the operations of the Palestinians, which are in defense of their existence, honor, homeland, and land, in such a way that it seems Israel is the victim! The true victim, which is the Palestinian nation, is portrayed as a terrorist and criminal; however, the brutal and savage aggressor is depicted as the victim. Today, the media of the world does this; politicians also repeat these statements in their remarks.

The Islamic media system and the Arab media system must behave in such a way that it does not imply that they are distanced from the battlefield. You are in the midst of the field; whether you want it or not. Today is a day when every action we take will have an impact on the future of history and will be recorded. We hope that the entire Islamic world understands this issue with all its dimensions clearly and acts according to its responsibilities.

We hope that God Almighty bestows His blessings and grace upon the Palestinian nation and the Islamic world and grants them His mercy and support. We see the horizons bright. With steadfastness, we predict a good future for the Islamic world and Palestine. We believe that the death of the Islamic world and its ultimate humiliation and disgrace will be the day it retreats and submits to the greed of global arrogance and Zionism. We hope that God never brings such a day and such a situation for the Islamic world.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.