ZIMBABWE REMEMBERS GRAND AYATOLLAH RUHOLLAH KHOMEINI (R.A)
The Cultural Centre of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Zimbabwe, the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs in Zimbabwe, and the Ahl-ul-Bayt Islamic Guidance Council of Zimbabwe were held under the theme: “Imam Khomeini’s Perspective on the Resilience of the Palestinian People & Global Justice.”. Religious clerics unanimously endorsed Imam Khomeini’s ideals to fight for international justice and an equitable global social order underlined by equality for all.
4 June 2024
The late grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, founder of modern-day Iran, was described as an international stateman whose commitment to the freedom of the oppressed was a gift to humanity and whose legacy continues to influence the world order.
His commitment to the freedom of the Palestinian people continues to influence the people of Palestine to fight for their freedom.
Imam Khomeini’s earlier resolve to rally the friendly Muslim and other members of the international community through the declaration of the last day of Ramadan as Quds day gave impetus to Iran to continue rendering material and ideological support to Palestinian organisations fighting to free the Palestinian people from apartheid Israel.
These views were expressed during a seminar marking the 35th anniversary of the demise of Imam Khomeini held in Harare this Monday, 3 June 2024, where religious clerics were unanimous in endorsing Imam Khomeini’s ideals to fight for international justice and an equitable global social order underlined by equality for all.
The seminar jointly organised by the Cultural Centre of the embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Zimbabwe, the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs in Zimbabwe and the Ahl-ul- Bayt Islamic Guidance Council of Zimbabwe was held under the theme: “Imam Khomeini’s Perspective on the Resilience of the Palestinian People & Global Justice”.
The Guest of Honour at the seminar, Mr Taurai Kundishaya from ZANU PF, Zimbabwe’s ruling party, said Imam Khomeini brought about the restoration of Iran’s sovereignty and total freedom.
He said the grand Ayatollah was also instrumental in enabling other oppressed countries like Zimbabwe to get self-rule through rising against the imperialists.
Mr Kundishaya said his party will always be a friend of Iran and that ZANU PF will also continuously stand with the people of Palestine.
He encouraged the Cultural Centre of the Embassy of Iran to continue with its trajectory of interacting with all Zimbabweans in forums like seminars where important Iranian matters are discussed.
Archbishop Chido Tapera Mapungwana, a leading Christian clergyman, said Imam Khomeini was a very resilient leader who resisted imperialism, fought for the oppressed people of the world and united the world. He said Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini led by example and he left a legacy of inspiring the struggling and oppressed people of the world to fight for their rights and freedom.
Reverend Father Steven Chikondamo, the head of the Social Influencers Organisation said Imam Khomeini had shown a deep sense of commitment and professionalism in serving the people of Iran and all the global people who shared his views.
Sheikh Halid Mwale, a former Iranian student, said Imam Khomeini was revered globally as an international statesman, whose stature and influence will continue to influence the global world perceptions for many years to come. Nationally, Imam Khomeini continues to inspire his country to fight for its rights and freedom.
Bishop Xavier Chitanda, representing the Apostolic and Zionist churches in Zimbabwe, said all world religions must shape humanity just like how Islam reshaped and rebranded Iran under the leadership of Imam Khomeini.
Bishop Albert Chikuni, the president of the Interreligious Association for Peace and Development in Zimbabwe urged the world to embrace Imam Khomeini’s school of thought. He said Imam Khomeini inspired the entire human race through his philosophy of putting his people’s interests first before considering his own personal wellbeing. He said he was more of a servant of the people than being a religious and political leader of Iran with a high global following.
The Cultural Counsellor of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mr Hamid Bakhtiyar spoke of the profound and enduring legacy of Imam Khomeini. He said Imam Khomeini was not only a pivotal figure in Iran, but was a prominent figure and the voice for the oppressed people of the world, especially the struggling people of Palestine.
Mr Bakhtiyar noted that Imam Khomeini in as much as he devoted much of his time to the people of his dear country Iran, he was also preoccupied with the Palestinian issue and other people facing oppression in other parts of the world.
He said Imam Khomeini fought oppression and colonialism, and viewed the responsibility to free Palestine as the moral obligation of every Muslim in the world.
The Cultural Counsellor noted that Imam Khomeini’s resolve to declare Quds day, ie the last Friday of Ramadan, a day that has now earned global status, showed his total commitment to the freedom of the people of Palestine.
Mr Bakhtiyar said that Grand Ayatollah Khomeini advocated for an uprising against the oppressors in order to attain universal global justice. He observed that human dignity was central to the Ayatollah’s human philosophy.
He said Iran’s ideological and material support to the oppressed and struggling people of the world, including Palestine, was influenced by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini.
Sheikh Abdullah Makwinja, the president of the Ahl-ul- Bayt Islamic Guidance Council of Zimbabwe said Imam Khomeini was the brains behind the establishment of interreligious dialogue between Iran and the other religious faith-based bodies in various parts of the world.
He thanked the Cultural Centre of the embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Zimbabwe for following Imam Khomeini’s great footsteps in the promotion of interreligious dialogue and peaceful coexistence between the followers of different faith-based bodies in Zimbabwe.
Rev. Father Johanes Maseko, the Coordinator for the Zimbabwe Catholic Commission for the Laity (ZCCL) in the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference, said all religious people should be emissaries of peace as was espoused by Imam Khomeini.
A local scribe with the Herald newspaper, Gibson Nyikadzino said the people of Palestine were suffering under the brutal Israeli regime and that no sane person would condemn the Palestinians for fighting to reclaim their freedom from Israel.
Sheikh Henry Balakazi said Iran’s support to Palestinian resistance movements has enabled them to resist Israeli aggression up to this day.
Mr. Robson Musarafu, from the Friends of Palestine, said, in remembering Grand Ayatollah Imam Khomeini, Zimbabwe should offer more assistance to the people of Palestine who are under siege and attack by Israel as well as to the many Palestinian refugees scattered across the world.
At the end of the seminar, the Cultural Counsellor, Mr. Hamid Bakhtiyar introduced the Imam Khomeini award competition to prospective competitors, who expressed excitement at the prospects of entering into competition and winning the special presidential prize on offer.
