Hawzah News Agency- Hojatoleslam Seyed Reza Ameli, Dean of the Faculty of World Studies at the University of Tehran, made the remarks Thursday during the closing ceremony of the specialized international session of the sixth World Congress of Imam Reza (AS), held at the Sheikh Tabarsi Hall of the Islamic Research Foundation of the Astan Quds Razavi in Mashhad.
'A Right for All, Not Just Muslims'
Ameli said the fight against the system of arrogance and oppression is a universal right that is not limited to Muslims but extends to all free people of the world.
Referring to the congress's ongoing programs, he noted that the international session was one of the preparatory events for the main congress, which will be held in the future. He added that international pre-congress sessions have been held in various parts of the world in recent years, mostly outside Iran, and that this trend will continue.
The secretary said 70 national sessions are planned as part of the congress, some of which have already been held, with others underway and expected to conclude before the main event.
Translations of Imam Reza's Teachings
Ameli also highlighted the congress's publishing activities, saying translations of works related to Imam Reza's teachings are underway. He noted that the book Danaye Hakim (The Wise Sage) has been translated into Serbian and Portuguese, with efforts continuing to make Imam Reza's thoughts and Ahl al-Bayt (AS) teachings accessible to audiences in other languages.
'Standing on the Right Side of History'
Referring to the common themes raised in the opening, specialized, and closing sessions, Ameli said one shared emphasis was that the fight against the system of arrogance and oppression is a right recognized not only for Muslims, Christians, and Jews but for all freedom-seekers.
Citing letters from the "martyred leader" to young people in Europe and North America, he said the youth were urged to stand on the right side of history — a concept that, while open to interpretation at various levels, shares a common thread of rejecting oppression and the system of arrogance and striving for justice.
Ameli referenced a narration from Imam Reza (AS) regarding the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (AJ), which emphasizes restoring rights to their rightful owners, saying this shows that one of the key functions of the reappearance, in the view of Ahl al-Bayt teachings, is confronting oppression and restoring people's lost rights.
'World Needs De-Arrogance, De-Oppression'
He said today's world faces widespread oppression, and humanity needs to rid itself of arrogance, oppression, and colonialism — not only in political structures but also in attitudes and human relations.
Turning to the situation in Gaza, Ameli said witnessing the martyrdom of thousands of children, the hunger of millions, and people deprived of the most basic necessities — enduring cold, heat, pressure, and loneliness — challenges the human conscience.
"No human being familiar with truth and human dignity can remain indifferent to this situation," he said.
Palestine and the Islamic World
Hojatoleslam Ameli noted that the Islamic Conference was established in 1967 with the Palestinian issue at its center, but that many Islamic countries gradually distanced themselves from the cause. He said the "martyred Imam" was among the leaders who seriously pursued support for the Palestinian people.
He added that the resistance movement in Lebanon, Yemen, Palestine, and Iraq — along with its supporters in various countries — emphasizes the idea of standing against oppression and defending the rights of nations.
The dean noted a growing gap between the approach of some governments and the demands of their people, as publics in many cases have emphasized supporting rights and resisting oppression.
'Power Must Defend Rights, Not Oppress'
Ameli said the "martyred leader" emphasized the need for a strong Iran but did not seek power for oppression — rather, the goal was to confront bullying and defend rights.
He said a strong Iran must be built in the fields of science, civilizational values, economic capacity, and social and popular capabilities. Scientific and technological power, economic strength, and national cohesion are key elements of the country's authority, he added.
Referring to public participation in support of resistance, Ameli said the presence of Iranians in the streets and the repetition of resistance slogans show the continuation of a public belief, transforming these concepts into a kind of ongoing remembrance in society.
'Struggle Against Arrogance'
Asked what the martyred leader struggled against, Ameli said his struggle was first and foremost with his own self — self-purification and the struggle against the ego were key pillars of his individual and social conduct, strengthening his faith and integrity.
At another level, he said, the struggle was directed at the centers of global arrogance. Just as Imam Khomeini considered America the symbol of arrogance, the martyred leader identified the US system of arrogance as one of the main axes of global domination.
Ameli questioned the purpose of numerous US military bases in regional countries and extensive military deployments in Islamic nations, saying that from the martyred leader's perspective, confronting the sources of US and Israeli domination in the region was a central axis of the struggle.
He added that fighting corruption, striving to cleanse Islamic society of it, and establishing justice were other key emphases of the martyred leader.
'New Islamic Civilization Based on Justice'
Hojatoleslam Ameli said civilization encompasses a set of values and desirable human affairs, with justice, security, beauty, ethics, and human dignity among its key elements.
A new Islamic civilization cannot be based solely on material progress but must include spiritual and human values, he said, adding that justice and human dignity must be reflected in social, political, and economic structures.
Referring to the martyred leader's emphasis on the Islamic Ummah, Ameli said some of his final speeches stressed the concept of the Islamic Ummah as a single body transcending geographical borders — a vision that views the Islamic world as an interconnected whole whose nations' issues and destinies are inseparable.
He concluded by saying that the path of strengthening Iran in science, technology, modern capabilities, social capacities, and the Islamic Ummah must continue, with the issue of human rights and dignity pursued across various dimensions. He also called for reforming international institutions with a divine and human-centered approach.
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