Statements of the Supreme Leader of the Revolution in Meeting with Various Segments of the People

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

First, I extend my welcome to all dear brothers and sisters who have come from various parts of the country, from far and near, to form this warm and pure gathering in this Hosseiniyeh.

I congratulate you on the arrival of the blessed month of Rabi' al-Awwal, the month of the birth of the noble Prophet of Islam, Hazrat Muhammad ibn Abdullah, and one of the great historical milestones for all humanity. The first day of Rabi' al-Awwal marks the migration of the Prophet from Mecca to Medina, which is the starting point of the Hijri calendar for Muslims. This month is both Rabi' al-Mawlid (the spring of birth) and Rabi' al-Hijrah (the spring of migration).

These historical memories are very significant and valuable for the Islamic Ummah. Today, even in the so-called modern world, with the arrangements that exist among nations and have never been seen before, the Islamic Ummah and Muslim people around the world continue to draw inspiration from these memories; they learn lessons. In every corner of the world where a Muslim lives, who proclaims "There is no god but God" and "Muhammad is the Messenger of God," the remembrance of the birth of that chosen servant and the best of humans brings joy to their hearts. Love for the noble Prophet of Islam resides in the hearts of every Muslim; thus, we see today that the front of global arrogance seeks to weaken Islam, targeting the blessed existence of the Prophet. The Zionists and the governments under the influence of Zionism, the arrogant powers, and at the forefront, the criminal United States, when they want to confront the Islamic Ummah and oppose Islam, they make the noble Prophet their target. What does this mean? It means that the memory of that great figure, the name of that great figure, the birth of that great figure, the migration of that great figure, the ten-year rule of that great figure in Medina, and every action, teaching, and instruction of that great figure today serves as a lesson for Muslims, if they reflect and contemplate, it is a gateway to life. The Prophet is an inspiration for the Islamic Ummah. Because they know this; because they fear the awakening of the Islamic Ummah; because they are terrified of the power of the one billion five hundred million Muslims around the world, they align against the Prophet. They insult the mercy to the worlds, the source of the greatest blessings for humanity, in their press, in the language of their politicians, in their writings, through their mercenaries. This should awaken us Muslims; we must understand that in the existence of the Prophet, in the personality of the Prophet, in the memories of the life of the Prophet, in the migration of the Prophet, in the jihad of the Prophet, in the conduct of the Prophet, in the verbal and practical lessons of the Prophet, there lies a tremendous treasure for Muslims. If we utilize this treasure, the Islamic Ummah will reach a position where they can no longer bully it; they cannot put it under pressure; they cannot threaten it; this is a lesson for us.

Today, the front of global arrogance is openly and explicitly standing against Islam. It is true that they target the Islamic Republic with their political and propaganda attacks, but their enmity with the Islamic Republic is also because the Islamic Republic has raised the banner of Islam; it has revived Islam in the hearts of the individuals of the Islamic Ummah; it has invigorated Islam; it has honored Islam and has gained honor for itself because of Islam. This is why they oppose the Islamic Republic, they resist it, they are hostile to it. In reality, they oppose Islam - that is, they oppose each and every one of this great Islamic Ummah and the Muslim nations - this must be understood and comprehended deeply by all members of the Islamic Ummah and the Muslim nations.

They mention human rights, they mention democracy, they mention nuclear energy at certain times; they use these as excuses for their enmity, but the reality is something else; the reality is that they know Islam can transform the Islamic Ummah into a great power. They oppose this. They know that the name of the Prophet, the remembrance of the Prophet, the life of the Prophet, the conduct of the Prophet, and the teachings of the Prophet can awaken the Islamic Ummah from lethargy, give it vitality, and turn it into an influential and impactful element on the international stage, granting it dignity; they do not want this; they oppose it; otherwise, who does not know that the Americans are the first enemies of human rights? By Americans, I do not mean the people of America; I mean the politicians, the leaders, the influential figures, and the operators of the American regime and the Zionist regime, who are the first enemies of humanity. Look at what they are doing in Gaza! Look at what they are doing in the region of Palestine! Look at how they treat the Muslim nations! Look at how they behave with the oppressed nations in Iraq and Afghanistan with cruelty and brutality! Look at their tortures! The President of the United States officially and openly rejects the anti-torture law; this is a very important matter. It means that torture must be legal, that the Americans should be able to freely torture their prisoners, the innocents they arrest in Iraq and Afghanistan and anywhere else in the world. They have taken up the banner of supporting torture, and at the same time, they talk about human rights!

The result of these behaviors by the politicians and leaders of America has been that your "Death to America" today rises from the hearts of the Muslim nations - from the depths of their hearts. All of them say the same thing. Once, it was only the Iranian nation that had awakened and shouted "Death to America"; today, across the world - in the Islamic world, even among non-Muslims - wherever this unfortunate President of America travels, you see what demonstrations people hold against him; they burn his flags; they shout "Death to America"; they create effigies of him and burn them. And these people claim to support human rights?!

Their audacity also drives more people around the world and oppressed nations to enmity and hatred against them. This kind of person who supports torture, who supports the military occupation of countries, who supports dropping bombs on nations, who supports discrimination both inside and outside America among the people, and then talks about democracy! Talks about human rights! This is what truly makes nations aware of the reality of this germ of corruption - that is, global arrogance; it makes them understand what these policies are pursuing.

Today, you, the Iranian nation, should know that you are not alone in the world. This slogan that you shout is the slogan of the hearts of all Muslim nations and many non-Muslim nations. This has happened due to your steadfastness, your resistance, and your courage, the Iranian nation. The nations of the world have understood the truth; the veil of hypocrisy has been lifted from the arrogant powers. They also know; they know that the Iranian nation is the leader of this great movement of the Islamic Ummah; they know this, and therefore, they have directed their hostilities towards Iran.

Whatever brings dignity, power, prosperity, and comfort to Iran and Iranians, they are hostile to it; one of these is the elections that our people will experience in a few days when they go to the ballot boxes. They are hostile to your elections; they are hostile to the very principle of elections; they are hostile to the enthusiastic and widespread presence of the people in the elections; they are hostile to the selection of the best individuals who are advocates of the rights of the people and committed to Islamic principles and values; why? Because they know that these elections, the widespread presence of the people, and the presence of suitable and deserving individuals in the parliament are against their interests; therefore, they oppose it. They oppose in every way they can; they propagate, they launch radio stations, they think they can dissuade people from participating in the elections - they are working under this illusion - but the result, God willing, will be completely the opposite.

Just last week, America said: We want to obtain a resolution against Iran from the Security Council to keep the people of Iran away from the ballot boxes. Just think about it; these people then claim to support popular sovereignty and democracy! Well, the presence of people in elections anywhere in the world is popular sovereignty; what else does democracy mean? But because they know that the Iranian nation creates power for itself with its enthusiastic presence in the elections, they want this not to happen. Of course, it has been clear from now, and it has been evident throughout these thirty years that whenever the enemies of this nation tried to prevent people from participating in an election and propagated against it, the people have participated even more enthusiastically. This time will be the same, God willing.

The people know that their presence in the elections is the source of their power and international prestige. They do not want this. They want the people not to participate in the elections so that this would be a sign of the people's disaffection from the Islamic system and that the Islamic system would be weakened through this, allowing them to exert pressure on the nation, the country, and the government.

They know that the enthusiastic presence of the people in the elections empowers the people, and they can no longer execute their plans regarding Iran. They want this not to happen. They have mobilized all their propaganda apparatus to dissuade people from participating in the elections. Their agents, unfortunately, are also present; besides their radios and various propaganda means, sometimes they are found here and there inside as well, to dissuade people from the elections. They create doubts about the great services that have been rendered in the country. Who can deny the great services that the government and parliament have provided to this country? The tremendous works that have been done, and the works that, God willing, the people will gradually see the fruits and results of. To divert these from the eyes of the people and to dissuade them, they say whatever they can and have against the government, against the parliament, against the officials, to discourage the people. Or, for example, they create doubts about the elections themselves, whether these elections are free, whether they are not free? Whether there will be manipulation in these elections, whether there will be fraud? I can assure you completely that the elections - both in this upcoming round that will take place in a few days, God willing, and in previous rounds - are conducted correctly. For these reasons, we have said, and we repeat: Participation and presence in the elections for the people is both a political duty and a religious duty. This is like a person strengthening their body with vitamins and nutritious foods; when the body is strengthened, microbes can no longer penetrate it; if an enemy attacks, it can defend itself. This is the most important issue regarding elections; that is, the presence of the people.

The Iranian nation, as it has shown in these thirty years, has entered every time there has been a test to demonstrate national power. Whether it has been a march, a demonstration, an election, or presence in the fronts during the sacred defense - wherever it has been a manifestation of national power - the Iranian nation has participated with awareness and courage. And this is why, over the thirty years that have passed since the revolution, your country, your nation, your government has become stronger day by day; the ideals of the revolution and the foundations of the revolution and the values of the revolution have become more alive in it.

What are the values of the revolution? The values of the revolution, first and foremost, are the strengthening of faith and piety in the hearts - which is the source of all actions and struggles - social justice, fighting against corruption, the freedom of the people in choosing, and the non-imposition of individual, party, and governmental opinions on the people, so that people can think freely, act freely; within the framework of Islamic regulations. Religious democracy means this. These are the values of the revolution and the foundations of the revolution. Therefore, you who want to go to the ballot box and vote, your goal should be to form a parliament that adheres to these foundations and values of the revolution. A representative should be religious, trustworthy, committed to social justice - establishing justice throughout the country - and detesting corruption in any sector and among any class of officials, committed to the dignity of the Islamic Republic; the parliament should be such a parliament. We have passed through seven terms of the Islamic Consultative Assembly. In the Islamic Consultative Assembly, it has sometimes happened that individuals have come who opposed the assembly under the name of "Islamic"! In the first term, when the discussion was about what to name the assembly - which was proposed as "Islamic Consultative Assembly" - some stood up and said it should not be "Islamic"! Well, this is not a representative of the Iranian nation. The Iranian nation has made sacrifices for Islam. The Iranian nation seeks its greatness, dignity, power, comfort, and prosperity in Islam. Some have emerged who opposed the name "Islamic" for the assembly! Well, this is not desirable. Or some individuals in another assembly decided to legislate according to the wishes of the opponents who said to dismantle the nuclear energy program, to compel the government not to pursue nuclear energy! This also happened in one of our assemblies. This is not what the Iranian nation wants. But in this very assembly - the one currently in power - they passed a law and compelled the government to pursue nuclear energy and remove the obstacles in its way. We have had all kinds.

We must be vigilant; all members of the nation must be vigilant. A trustworthy representative is one who is committed to Islam, committed to justice, committed to national interests, and has a clear boundary with the enemy. If this does not happen, that representative will not be a good representative; they will not truly represent the nation. Fortunately, in our country, the political groups that exist are almost all, except for a small minority, in agreement regarding the foundations of Islam and the revolution; however, the boundaries must be clarified. Some have a weak boundary with the enemy; some consider the enemy's interests. The interests of the nation must be considered, the interests of God must be considered, not the interests of the enemy. The enemy is the enemy; no matter how much you consider them, no matter how much you retreat, they will advance. If your trench against the enemy is not a strong trench, they will penetrate. This is what the enemies want. One of the indicators is this. People everywhere in the country should pay attention to this indicator.

Those whose boundaries with the enemy and the agents of the enemy are vague are not suitable for entering the parliament. Those who should be there are those who have a clear boundary with the enemy. I have said this before, and I repeat it now; search for them; seek help from God, seek help from informed, trustworthy, and honest individuals, to know whom you should send to the parliament; then the parliament will be one that can embody and realize the ideals of the nation in the true sense of the word; just as, thanks be to God, we have seen assemblies that either entirely or by a decisive majority have acted in this way; they have passed good laws, compelled governments to work. God willing, the eighth parliament will be one that helps good works, that assists what the officials and executors and the government have been assigned to do, God willing, opens the paths, passes suitable laws for the nation, and oversees.

The dignity of the parliament consists of legislation and oversight; they should pass good laws so that the executors have the freedom to work for the people, to serve - well, thanks be to God, our governments have been servants, this government in particular has very good activity and effort - and they can do what they want to do for the people; this is one side, and on the other side, there must be oversight; there must be oversight over all governments. A person must be under oversight; both the oversight of their conscience and the oversight of their legal monitors; and they must know that they are under the watch of God, the Almighty, and divine oversight. This is what makes a good parliament.

We hope that God, the Almighty, helps us, the Iranian nation, and all our dear people in various cities - whether in Tehran, in different provinces and cities; whether in rural areas and remote regions - so that all, God willing, can participate in this election with enthusiasm, with motivation, and with the intention of seeking closeness to God, and God willing, the result of this public participation will first be the dignity of the Iranian nation and the awe of the Iranian nation in the eyes of the enemies, and it will prevent the enemies' incitements, and secondly, a completely beneficial parliament for the nation and useful for achieving the ideals of the revolution and the values of the revolution will be formed, and God willing, the help of Hazrat Baqiyatullah (may our souls be sacrificed for him) will encompass all of us, and the pure souls of the martyrs and the pure spirit of the Imam who opened this path for us, the Iranian nation, may God willing, be gathered with the Prophet and his saints.

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