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 at the IRIB International Conference Center in Tehran, Ayatollah Seyyed Mohammad Reza Modarresi Yazdi, a member of Iran’s Guardian Council, said the humanitarian catastrophe in Syria, Lebanon, and Gaza exposes the hollowness of Western slogans about freedom.
“The West, which claims to be the center of freedom, has in practice done nothing but deceive the world. For years, they have subjected nations to bombings, siege, starvation, and endless aggression—yet remain silent when the most blatant violations of human rights occur,”
Ayatollah Modarresi stated.
A Conference on Rights Rooted in the Leader’s Intellectual System
The international conference was convened with three objectives:
- To analyze the intellectual foundations of Ayatollah Khamenei’s views on national rights and legitimate freedoms;
- To outline a model of rights and freedoms derived from the Leader’s teachings;
- To propose mechanisms for safeguarding these rights within the framework of Islamic governance.
Consultation: A Core Principle of Islamic Governance
Ayatollah Modarresi underscored that consultation (shura) is a fundamental pillar of Islamic political thought.
Citing the Qur’anic verse, “And their affairs are conducted by consultation among them,” he stressed that public participation lies at the heart of Islamic governance.
“Even the Holy Prophet (PBUH), despite possessing perfect intellect, was commanded to consult with the people. In the battles of Badr and Uhud, he accepted the majority’s view so long as it did not contradict divine revelation,”
he said.
Iran’s Guardian Council member noted that within Islamic tradition, the collective wisdom and majority decision hold decisive weight when no explicit divine ruling applies.
Islam: A Faith That Balances Freedom With Moral Responsibility
Ayatollah Modarresi emphasized that Islam recognizes broad human freedoms while setting boundaries to preserve rational, ethical, and social wellbeing.
He explained that many hardships imposed on earlier nations were lifted through Islam, citing Qur’anic verses that affirm the Prophet’s mission to permit what is wholesome and prohibit what is harmful.
Western Freedom: A Contradiction Exposed by Reality
Turning to Western political discourse, he sharply criticized its double standards.
“Those who claim to defend freedom and human rights have imposed hunger, thirst, blockades, and relentless bombardment on innocent people in Syria, Lebanon, and Gaza. What freedom do they speak of while these atrocities continue under their watch? Is this not a clear violation of every human right they claim to protect?”
he asked.
Ayatollah Modarresi said international organizations echo Western slogans about human rights and women’s rights, yet consistently fail to defend actual victims of aggression and occupation.
Islamic Law: Restrictions for the Protection of True Freedom
He explained that Islamic rulings—whether related to lawful earnings, ethical boundaries, or the hijab—aim to preserve authentic human freedom, not restrict it.
“The foundation of religion is ease, and God desires ease for His servants. Islamic limitations exist to protect moral health, societal stability, and true freedom,”
he added.
Piety: Liberating Humanity From All Forms of Servitude
Concluding his remarks, Ayatollah Modarresi emphasized the role of piety as a liberating force.
“Piety frees the human being from all servitude other than to God. The goodness of this world and the next is attained only through piety, and without it, humanity will find no real good,”
he said.
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