Hawzah News Agency- Seyyed Ali Akbar Ojaqnejad made the remarks at the 12th International Conference on “American Human Rights from the Perspective of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution,” held at the Jamkaran Mosque near the holy city of Qom.
Congratulating Muslims on the advent of the holy month of Ramadan, he said the designation of “American Human Rights Week” by Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei serves as a reminder of the “crimes of the hegemonic system driven by domination and the trampling of nations’ rights.”
“Black Record” of US Policies
Hojatoleslam Ojaqnejad asserted that the United States and its allies have carried out numerous hostile actions against the Iranian nation over the past decades, urging intellectuals and writers to expose “the true face of false claimants of human rights” throughout the year.
“Today, the banner of human rights is held by those who are themselves among its greatest violators,” he said, accusing Western powers of instrumentalizing the concept of human rights to pressure and undermine independent nations.
Support for Terrorism and Regional Conflicts
The cleric criticized Washington for backing terrorist groups, naming Daesh and al-Qaeda among examples, and criticized US support for Israel in what he described as continued crimes in Palestine, Lebanon, and Gaza.
Referring to Israel as a “regime sustained by foreign backing,” he said a government that supports such policies “can never credibly claim to defend human dignity.”
Historical and Contemporary Violations
Ojaqnejad cited a series of incidents as evidence of US human rights violations, including:
- The 1993 siege of the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas.
- Racial discrimination against African Americans inside the United States.
- Abuse and torture of detainees at prisons such as Abu Ghraib during the Iraq war.
- US support for Saddam Hussein during the 1980–1988 Iran–Iraq war.
- The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II.
- Civilian casualties during the Vietnam War and the US-led invasion of Afghanistan.
He also pointed to sanctions imposed on Iran, describing them as “illegal and inhumane,” and criticized Washington for playing a role in the assassination of anti-terror commanders, including General Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.
According to the cleric, such actions form part of a documented record that contradicts US claims of defending global human rights standards.
Unilateralism and International Law
The Jamkaran custodian criticized Washington’s unilateral withdrawal from international treaties and its disregard for multilateral mechanisms, arguing that the failure of international legal institutions to respond decisively has emboldened further unilateral actions.
“The global community must demonstrate sensitivity and take appropriate measures in response to these violations,” he said.
Call for Global Awareness
Ojaqnejad called on governments, civil society organizations, and academic elites to explicitly condemn Israeli crimes against journalists and civilians, and to hold specialized forums to raise global awareness about terrorism and the violation of nations’ rights.
He noted what he described as a growing level of awareness within universities in the United States and Europe, saying the current global climate presents an opportunity to present “the authentic message of Islam and the Qur’an.”
Referring to a letter addressed by Iran’s Leader to Western youth in recent years, he said the message — urging young people to seek knowledge directly from the Quran and not rely solely on mainstream narratives — demonstrates the importance of engaging global audiences at a critical historical juncture.
“The present circumstances,” he concluded, “must be utilized to advance justice, restore genuine human dignity, and prepare the ground for a future defined by peace and moral order.”
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