Hawzah News Agency- Speaking at the closing ceremony of the International Conference on “The Rights of the Nation and Legitimate Freedom in the Intellectual System of Ayatollah Khamenei,” held Wednesday at the IRIB International Conference Center in Tehran, Hojatoleslam Abdul Hossein Khosropanah said the West’s intellectual and political framework—rooted in secularism and Enlightenment-era humanism—has created profound contradictions in its approach to rights, freedoms, and global governance.
“Why Does the West Destroy Families and Support State Terrorism?”
Referring to the Supreme Leader’s scholarly critiques of Western civilization, Khosropanah said Iran has both the right and responsibility to challenge Western narratives.
“We ask—based on reasoning and evidence—why the West destroyed the institution of the family. Why did it turn women into consumer products? And why does it continue to support state terrorism with double standards? This intellectual system claims moral superiority, yet its practices tell a very different story,” he said.
Three Core Goals of the International Conference
The international gathering focused on analyzing and elaborating upon key dimensions of Ayatollah Khamenei’s political and intellectual framework. Organizers outlined three primary objectives:
- Reviewing the Leader’s thought on the rights of the nation and legitimate freedoms.
- Defining a desired national system of rights and freedoms based on his teachings.
- Developing mechanisms for safeguarding these rights and enhancing them through practical governance.
Rights Rooted in Monotheistic Realism, Not Secular Convention
Hojatoleslam Khosropanah emphasized that, in contrast to the West’s “conventional” understanding of rights—shaped by subjective humanism—the intellectual system of the Iranian Leader is grounded in “realism and monotheistic truth.”
“All rights expressed in the Qur’an and Sunnah are rooted in divine realism. Therefore, in Islamic thought, right is inseparable from duty and truth,”
he said.
Legitimate Freedom: A Human, Moral, and Rational Concept
Elaborating on the concept of legitimate freedom, the senior official stated that the term “legitimate” serves as a necessary qualifier.
“Freedom, when understood in the human dimension, is by definition legitimate. In contrast, secular paradigms—emerging from humanism—remove religion from defining rights and freedoms. This creates a view of freedom disconnected from purpose, morality, and responsibility.”
He added that in the Iranian Supreme Leader’s thought, true freedom is defined as freedom from external oppression and internal enslavement, enabling citizens to choose, critique, participate, and develop within a moral framework.
Religious Democracy as ‘Popular Rule of Law’
Turning to governance, Khosropanah said the intellectual system of Ayatollah Khamenei produces a clear model:
“The model of governance in the Leader’s thought is the popular rule of law. Religious democracy is not a slogan; it is a unified, lived reality shaped by the will of the people.”
Practical Instances: Women’s Rights, Scientific Progress, Justice
The Secretary highlighted various examples where the Supreme Leader has articulated specific rights—rooted in monotheistic realism and rational freedom—within the framework of religious democracy. These include:
- women’s rights, expressed in the “Third Model of Women,”
- the right to scientific development,
- the software movement,
- scientific independence,
- and rights articulated in the “Second Step of the Revolution,” such as social justice, anti-corruption efforts, and cultivating hope and future-oriented thinking.
A Framework for Diplomacy and Global Legal Discourse
Khosropanah said this intellectual system provides a comprehensive basis for cultural diplomacy and what he called the “jihad of explanation.”
“These ideas are not slogans. They are rooted in reason and wisdom, addressing a world marred by dualities, oppression, and arrogance—where we see, for example, the people of Gaza suffer unspeakable atrocities while international organizations remain silent, blind, and indifferent.”
Calling Out Western Hypocrisy
He reiterated that the Supreme Leader’s critique of the West is grounded in precise scholarship and a deep understanding of global politics.
“With this coherent intellectual system, rooted in divine realism and human dignity, we have every right to challenge the West’s destructive cultural models and its support for state terrorism. Today, the Islamic Republic has something profound and undeniable to say to the world.”
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