Friday Prayers: In memory of Ayatollah Khomeini

This Friday, Friday prayers' leaders across Iran marked the anniversary of the death of Ayatollah Khomeini, founder of the Islamic Republic. They paid tribute to the leader of the revolution, emphasizing the need to adhere to Ayatollah Khomeini's doctrines, particularly his anti-Americanist and anti-Imperialist attitude, at a time when the government of Hassan Rouhani seems reluctant to flare up tensions with the United States.

In Tehran, Kazem Seddighi praised Ayatollah Khomeini for reviving a version of Islam that breathed life, power, dignity, and independence back into the life of Iranians and battled against imperialism, injustice and corruption. "A secular Islam does not see religion as a solution, but Ayatollah Khomeini did not think in that way," he added. In Isfahan, Ayatollah Tabatabaeinejad warned of the enemy's desire to transform Ayatollah Khomeini into a "sanctified, superficial figure", devoid of his revolutionary drive. Ahmad Alamolhoda in Mashhad echoed similar concerns, slamming 'criminal enemies' outside the country and "political opportunists" inside Iran for their attempts to attempt Ayatollah Khomeini as an exclusively historical figure whose teachings are not applicable to contemporary circumstances.

Inauguration of the new term in the Assembly of Experts, the body in charge of monitoring and electing the Supreme Leader, and Majles, the parliament, was also addressed by Friday prayers' leaders. In Tehran, Kazem Seddighi praised the new assembly for its revolutionary orientation, and for electing Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, a man who "the enemy fears", as its speaker. Seddighi also addressed inauguration of the new parliament, urging the legislators to follow Velayat-e Faghih, the Supreme Leadership. In Isfahan, Ayatollah Tabatabaeinejad also expressed satisfaction with composition of governing boards in the new Assembly of Experts and Majles, the parliament. This, according to Tabatabaeinejad, proved that elected figures "do not allow those approved by enemies of the establishment to take control of affairs".

IRD/66