Shahriari described Imam Khomeini’s vision of Velayat-e Faqih (Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist) as the continuation of divine authority through the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the Ahl al-Bayt, calling it a transformative doctrine in the Muslim world. He recalled the Imam’s famous statement, “I would not trade a single hair of the poor for all the palaces of the rich,” as a reflection of his commitment to social justice.
He linked economic deprivation to cultural impoverishment, citing the plight of Palestinians as a contemporary example of “deliberate cultural subjugation” by oppressors. Shahriari argued that eliminating poverty must remain at the top of the Islamic Republic’s priorities, noting that pre-revolutionary Iran suffered from severe underdevelopment in basic infrastructure, which has since improved dramatically.
The Secretary-General stressed that oppressed are not inherently weak but are made to appear so, and that their faith gives them resilience.
He praised Imam Khomeini’s steadfastness against the Shah’s regime and said this spirit of resistance has been internalized by Muslim nations, as seen in the recent 12-day conflict with Israel, when Sunni scholars issued thousands of statements in support of Iran’s leadership.
Shahriari concluded that Imam Khomeini’s doctrine of a “government of the oppressed” has evolved into a global unity discourse, grounded in three core values: human dignity, regional security, and global justice.
He called for solidarity across faiths, including Christians standing alongside Muslims against Israeli actions, and reaffirmed loyalty to the revolutionary legacy and the current leadership of Ayatollah Khamenei.
(Source: taghrib News)