A scientific-cultural meeting titled "The West in the Thoughts of Ayatollah Khamenei" was held at the Cultural Council of the Embassy of Iran in Nairobi, attended by a group of Kenyan intellectuals, university professors, cultural elites, students, and enthusiasts.

At the beginning of this meeting, Ghorbanali Pourmarjan, Iran’s cultural advisor in Kenya, stated that the purpose of holding this meeting was to explain the views of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution about the "West" from an intellectual, cultural, religious, and civilizational perspective .

He stated that some political terms have a deep historical, cultural, and civilizational burden, and their correct understanding requires an analysis of the language of great religious and cultural figures in every era.

Pourmarjan added : Ayatollah Khamenei, as a prominent jurist and thinker in the Islamic world and a figure who has spent more than sixty years of his life in the scientific, religious, cultural, and political fields, has presented precise and strategic views on the "West," the understanding of which is of particular importance for today's young generation and elites.

He noted: "A study of the thoughts of Grand Ayatollah Khamenei over the past five decades shows that His Holiness has analyzed Western civilization from legal, political, cultural, ethical, human, and spiritual dimensions. Within this framework, the Western view of man, woman, religion, science, freedom, human rights, family, development, and ethics has been critically and analytically examined."

Dr. Pourmarjan stated: "From Ayatollah Khamenei's perspective, the intellectual foundations of the West have been formed on the basis of materialism and a break from spirituality. Although Western countries have made significant progress in science, technology, and economics, these advances have been accompanied by a decline in spirituality and human morality. " Referring to the issue of human rights from the leadership's perspective, he added : " The Supreme Leader of the Revolution believes that the West has a selective and dual approach in dealing with the issue of human rights; in such a way that the violation of the rights of an individual in Europe or America is reflected globally, but silence is maintained in the face of heinous crimes against the people of Palestine or Myanmar. This is because Western human rights are based on materialistic and racist thinking, not on the divine dignity of man."

Citing the noble verse 13 of Surah Al-Hujurat, Pourmarjan reminded that Islam considers all humans from different tribes and races to be equal and introduces the only criterion of superiority as "piety. "

He emphasized: "In the view of Ayatollah Khamenei, human nature naturally tends toward spirituality and goodness, but Western civilization, by promoting materialism and egotism, has distanced man from this divine nature and placed him on the path of moral and spiritual decline."

Abdul Qadr Abdul Nasser, a scholar in the field of Islamic thought, delivered his speech on the topic of “Culture, Islamic Identity, and Cultural Jihad in Imam Khamenei’s Thought.” While reviewing parts of the Supreme Leader’s statements, he considered culture “the soul of society and the axis of human identity,” and stated: “A healthy culture is like the air that society breathes, and its pollution makes everyone vulnerable.”

Abdul Nasser added: "From Ayatollah Khamenei's perspective, Islamic culture is based on the two foundations of science (knowledge) and humanity (humanism). Science leads to the growth and awareness of society, and humanity is the guarantee of justice, kindness, and human dignity. "

He also listed five basic principles of leadership in the field of culture and emphasized that "cultural jihad" is a continuous effort to revive Islamic culture and confront the intellectual and moral dominance of the West; an effort that began during the time of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and has continued in the contemporary era under the leadership of Imam Khamenei.

Sheikh Ali Samoja, a Nairobi-based religious scholar and head of the Nairobi Shia Network, suggested that before analyzing Imam Khamenei’s views, it is necessary to clarify the terms “us” and “the West.” He asked who constitutes “us,” stating that the term primarily refers to Muslims—those who adhere to the principles of Islam and strive to live by Islamic principles.

He said the term may also include "our countrymen," which would expand the discussion to broader social spheres.

A roadmap for observing authentic Islam from the perspective of the Supreme Leader of the Revolution

Sheikh Ali Samoja explained that the “West” is not limited to geography alone, but refers to a set of intellectual and cultural paradigms based on secularism and materialism. He added that understanding these definitions is essential to appreciating the significance of Imam Khamenei’s views and their relationship to contemporary global issues.

The Nairobi-based religious scholar stressed that understanding Imam Khamenei’s views is crucial because the leader is not just a political figure but also one of the foremost Islamic jurisprudents and philosophers. He argued that through Ayatollah Khamenei’s thoughts, one can see a more realistic and authentic image of Islam – one that establishes the connection between faith and government, morality, culture and social justice.

Accordingly, he believes that Imam Khamenei's views provide a valuable framework for interpreting Islam's approach to facing modern challenges, as well as providing guidance for distinguishing Islamic and Western ideological positions.

He emphasized that Imam Khamenei’s teachings and views should not be limited to Iran or the Shiite community, but rather should be seen as part of a global Islamic vision. He stated that these views call upon all humans to resist oppression, pursue justice, uphold human dignity, and live on the path of divine guidance.

 

He urged scholars, students, and researchers to study the works and speeches of such leaders not only as political material, but also as a rich source of spiritual and moral wisdom that can help reform society and explain cultural differences .

Ms. Scola, a professor at St. Paul Christian University and head of the theology department at this university, was another speaker at the meeting, who considered Imam Khamenei's prominent thoughts to have arisen from the heart of religion and to be applicable to both Islamic and Christian concepts.

Ali Gholampour, the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Kenya, also gave a speech on the topic of "us and the West from the perspective of Imam Khamenei." He said: "Islam is the main pillar of policies and the foundation of all thoughts and decisions in the Islamic Republic of Iran system, and it is the basis for determining the position and type of approach to every actor, including the West. "

He stated: The Islamic Revolution is the second most important pillar of this system, which not only shapes the dynamics of the system but also determines the nature of its developments, trends, and relations, especially towards the West.   Independence and freedom from foreign influence, honor, resistance, steadfastness, Islamic and moral values, real human rights, and human dignity are among the most prominent characteristics and strategic principles of Imam Khamenei's political thought and philosophy.

Gholampour stated: "Distrust and confrontation with arrogant powers are the main axis of his thinking. From Imam Khamenei's perspective, the West, especially the United States, is not simply a political rival but an arrogant, corrupt, and hegemonic force that seeks to dominate the world. The term "global arrogance" or "Great Satan" regarding America expresses his symbolic view of the evil nature of the West.

He stated: "Resistance economy is a policy for economic self-sufficiency and immunizing the country and people against the hostile behavior of the West, especially sanctions and political pressures. In his view, reliance on the West is a form of new colonialism that threatens the independence of the revolution. "

Continuing his speech, our country's ambassador referred to opposition to Zionism and imperialism as one of the fundamental principles of Imam Khamenei's political and strategic thinking, and said: "The cultural invasion and soft cultural influence of the West through the media, art, and materialistic values ​​is a serious threat to the Islamic and revolutionary identity of nations. Countering this soft war requires constant vigilance from the government and the people in order to preserve the cultural and value independence of society."

 

He stated: "What has been stated is only a part of the important elements in explaining Imam Khamenei's view of the West. His words reflect a deep distrust of the United States and the West; a distrust that is rooted in a history full of broken promises and hostile behavior."

Gholampour noted: All nations should recognize the nature, consequences, and effects of Western civilization, be proud of their Eastern and Islamic identity, and strive to preserve and strengthen their cultural and value heritage. Some may think that Ayatollah Khamenei's views on the West are merely emotional, political, or theoretical; but the truth is that before the victory of the Islamic Revolution, he closely witnessed Western-oriented policies in Iran and became familiar with their depth. In addition, as a prominent jurist and religious thinker, he has extracted his jurisprudential, philosophical, and political foundations from the Quran and Islamic teachings. Fifty years of political experience in interacting with the East and the West have shaped his view of the West; a view that is clearly visible in global policies and approaches today.

In the final part of the meeting, participants, including university professors, Islamic scholars, Christian priests, the former Kenyan ambassador to Sudan and the current head of the Kenya Public Service Commission, the former deputy director of the National Museum of Kenya, representatives from the universities of Nairobi, Tangaza, St. Paul's, the Khoja Itna-Ashhari community, cultural elites, and youth from various scientific and social movements, expressed their views and raised their questions on various aspects of the Supreme Leader's thoughts