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Following are excerpts from a sermon by Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, member of the Iranian Assembly of Experts, which aired on Channel 1, Iranian TV on December 12, 2008.
Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami: Some leaders of Arab countries participated in the interfaith conference together with Shimon Peres, the president of the artificial state of Israel, and made small talk with him. The outcome is what you see [in Gaza]. It is well known that the treacherous leaders of some Islamic countries were behind this crime against the Muslims.
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Egypt has closed the Rafah border crossing, tightening the siege. It sent 400 policemen to make sure that the crossing is hermetically closed. Where is your Islam? Where is your humanity? Undoubtedly, the leaders of the Islamic countries, and especially the Arab countries, must be tried as traitors, for all the crimes perpetrated in Gaza and all the occupied lands.
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America's complicity in this crime is clearly evident – the complicity of the current president, Bush, as well as the incoming U.S. president, Obama. [Obama] has sent three of his future cabinet members to Israel, in order to assure them of his support. In his latest statement, he said to the Zionists: "I want you to know that when I say I am a true friend of Israel, I am speaking from the bottom of my heart." Our people were right when they said: America, America, death to your deceitfulness. The blood of our martyrs drips from your fingertips."
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The only way to save Palestine and Gaza is to follow the model set by the resistance of Hizbullah in Lebanon. The Zionists understand nothing but the language of force. Don't pin your hopes on the Islamic countries or the international organizations. I say to the Muslims of the Gaza Strip and occupied Palestine: With all your might, turn the Zionists' day into a dark night.
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[Obama] recently declared: "The proliferation of nuclear weapons in Iran is unacceptable, Iran's support of terrorist organizations, such as Hizbullah, is unacceptable, and we must try to exacerbate Iran's economic problems." He brought up the carrot-and-stick policy. Let me say that these are the words of an immature person – a newcomer who has just come into power, and lives in dreams and fantasies.
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Obama must see that Bush, because of his lies and deception, is leaving the White House in shame. He must pay attention to this, because the people of the world have not forgotten. You declared only recently, in your elections campaign, that Iran has no nuclear weapons, so how come all of a sudden you are scared of the proliferation of Iran's nuclear weapons? This is a lie. This is deception. It is a shame that you are entering the White House with lies and deception.
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In my opinion, . Somebody should make him understand what Iran is and where it stands. Iran is the country of lions and lionesses, which 30 years ago toppled the Shah's regime, which was supported completely by America. This is the same Iran that sent [the Shah] to his grave. This is the same Iran... Hold on, I've almost finished. This is the same Iran that in the past 30 years, has dashed the hopes of all the American presidents, who entertained thoughts of invading Iran. I am referring to Carter, Reagan, Bush Sr., Clinton, and the little Bush. It dashed the hopes of them all.
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It is really impolite for such a great nation to use threats. This is entirely inappropriate for someone who considers himself to be U.S. President.
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We proudly defend the resistance of Hizbullah in Lebanon, and of its courageous mujahid leader, Hassan Nasrallah. They are not terrorists. They are great men, who defend their honor and their liberty.
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For some time, I'm sad to say, the administration of Egypt's Al-Azhar University has been straying from the right path, on account of its ties with the Egyptian government, which signed a peace treaty. Instead of issuing a communiqué against Israel, he issued a communiqué against the Twelver Ja'fari Shia.
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When the Sheik of Al-Azhar was asked in an interview what he though about the situation is Gaza, he replied: "What siege? What crimes? What do we care?" How strange! You are a religious scholar, yet your position completely contradicts the teachings of the Prophet.
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Anybody who hears a Muslim cry for help but does not help him is not considered a Muslim. Yet you say: "What do we care?" Then he shook hands with Shimon Peres. He justifies this by saying: "It would be inappropriate to refrain from shaking hands with [the leader of] a country with which we have peaceful relations.” This really is strange. The Sheik of Al-Azhar should have convinced his government to revoke [the peace treaty], and to say that [Israel] is a state of executioners and murders, and that it should not maintain any relations with that state. Instead, he justifies his actions in this manner.
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The Sheik of Al-Azhar also has a mark of shame regarding Islamic Iran. A while back, he expressed his support of the hypocrites [Mojahedin-e Khalq]. My response is: Do you even know who these hypocrites are? The hands of the hypocrites are soiled with the blood of over 13,000 Muslims – not only Shiites, but Sunnis as well. They have murdered senior religious scholars and important civil servants, yet you support them? Let the Sheik of Al-Azhar have no doubt: I declare, as a religious scholar and teacher, and as a member of the Supreme Council of Religious Studies in Qom, that by taking such a position, you are, in fact, an accomplice to all these crimes.
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The Koran, in the Al-Imran chapter, verse 183, refers to the Jews in the times of the Great Prophet, who lived 500 years after the Jews who slayed the prophet [Jesus]: "Why then did you slay them, if you are truthful?" Imam Sadeq said: Even though 500 years had passed, the [Jews] were still content about the murder they committed. This satisfaction and support makes them accomplices in this crime of slaying the prophets.
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