Friday Sermon at Tehran University by Ayatollah Jannati: Those Who Came to Help in New Orleans Began Looting and Raping, "Shame on America, Death to America"

Following are excerpts from a Friday Sermon delivered at Tehran University by Secretary of the Iranian Guardian Council, Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati. The sermon was aired on Iranian Channel 1, on September 16, 2005.

Jannati: People who have money left (New Orleans) even before the events. Those who stayed behind were the wretched poor who couldn't leave. They stayed, and became the victims of the storm and the flood. For some time, nobody came to their aid, and even when people came to help, they began to loot instead of helping. They looted the property in the houses and elsewhere. Instead of helping, they stole. Afterwards, even more agonizing things happened: rapes. There were cases of rapes there. They went to help them. Shame on America, and death to America.

Crowd: Death to America

Jannati: Brother, this force is rotten from the core. It's decaying from within. So far, it has kept its appearance by making a lot of noise.

[...]

I advise my brothers and sisters in Iraq: Do your best to prevent the enemy from taking control of your spirit, killing it, or crushing it. If the bodies are crushed and killed but the spirit remains, society will keep its dignity, pride, and abilities. The issue of the Shiites and Sunnis must not arise. Those who kill are the enemies of Islam - Shiites and Sunnis. They have no friends but America, Israel, and their interests.