Remarks of Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Nourmifidi in the Final Session of the “Rule of Expedience” Lecture on the Occasion of the Crimes of Zionism and Their Proxies (May 12, 2021)

It is true that this is not a public tribune; however, because I am genuinely unsettled, and because I believe this is the least we can do regarding the situations in Afghanistan and Palestine, I am raising these points.

The chain of these events in the Islamic world all indicates the depth of the hatred, enmity, and hostility of the Zionists and Global Arrogance toward Muslims. For them, it makes no difference whether a Muslim is Shi’a or Sunni. What matters to them is preserving their interests, plundering resources, and dominating Islamic countries. If they commit those crimes against Palestinians in Palestine, violate Al-Aqsa Mosque, and slaughter Muslims, it shows that if given the opportunity, they would leave no trace of Islamic heritage. If they possessed the power and found the opportunity, they would show no mercy to any Muslim, except for those who surrender and submit to their will. The events that have occurred in Palestine over the past two or three days, resulting in the martyrdom and injury of a large number of Muslims, demonstrate the depth of the Zionists’ malice toward Muslims and their First Qiblah. If they feel that the hands of Muslims are empty of the tools of resistance, they will increase their suppression.

Some imagine that by reconciling with the Zionist regime, these problems will decrease, and they will respect the sanctuaries of Muslims more. Currently, several Islamic countries have outwardly reconciled with Israel out of fear; but did these reconciliations bring anything other than imposition, humiliation, and further suppression? On the other hand, whenever Muslims stand united against them, they fall into a state of passivity. Therefore, the only way to prevent these transgressions against Islamic holy sites, Muslim homes, and Islamic countries is steadfast resistance and valiant defense against their aggressions. The actions taken by the Palestinian resistance against Israel over the past day or two have put their hollow power on display and shown that this is a highly vulnerable and fragile power. Indeed, by their own admission, within a period of two days, they became deeply embroiled in an internal and external war that they lacked the capacity to control or confront.

On the other hand, in Afghanistan, one truly cannot comprehend how a human being can sink to a level where they commit such crimes like beasts, or worse than beasts. Even the most predatory animals do not behave this way toward the offspring of other animals and do not harm them in this manner. What occurred in Afghanistan is malice directed against Islam and Shi’ism, aiming to isolate Islam and Shi’ism through these means.

This crime is a genocide. Our astonishment is at the human rights defenders, international organizations, and ostensibly civilized countries that occasionally claim to advocate for human rights in Islamic countries, yet have not taken—and will not take—any appropriate or necessary action regarding these events.

Indeed, these heartbreaking and tragic scenes that one witnesses from this incident in Afghanistan are intolerable to anyone. These scenes are so painful that if someone possesses even a shred of humanity within themselves, they will not remain silent in the face of these crimes.

We are certain that the hand of God will take revenge on the murderers and those who spilled this innocent blood. Without a doubt, sooner or later, this will happen, and the perpetrators of these crimes in both Palestine and Afghanistan will be punished for their actions. However, our expectation is that the free-thinking people of the world, thinkers, and followers of divine religions will all stand hand in hand against these anti-human crimes and take serious action against them. The root of these crimes, without a doubt, is directly or indirectly Global Arrogance. One must not be negligent of the fact that we must fight the root and the cause; otherwise, these effects will manifest daily in one form or another. The roots and causes must be eradicated.

I pray to Almighty God, by the right of these shed bloods in this month—in the month of worship, mercy, servitude, and the descent of blessings—that He, God willing, grants patience to the families of these martyrs, bestows upon them the tolerance and capacity to bear this tragedy, and, God willing, brings the perpetrators of these crimes to the punishment for their shameful deeds