Zionist regime, apartheid regime in all respects: Ayatollah Akhtari

News Africa and Arab countries

Wednesday, 03 August 2022

Stating that the Zionist regime is an apartheid regime in all respects, the head of the Presidential Committee for the Support of the Islamic Revolution of the Palestinian People said, “Strengthening the cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Africa can play a significant and influential role in confronting global imperialism.”

In a meeting with Zwelivelile Mandla Mandela, the grandson of Nelson Mandela, the late anti-apartheid leader of South Africa, in the office of the Presidential Committee for the Support of the Islamic Revolution of the Palestinian People, Ayatollah Mohammad Hassan Akhtari stated, “The Islamic Republic of Iran has a special respect for the Africa and African people, especially African revolutionary figures. Also, the late leader of Iran, Imam Khomeini (r.a.), respected the people and revolutionary figures of Africa.”

“The authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khamenei, are interested in Africa, African figures and their struggles. Even before the victory of the Islamic Revolution, Iranian officials were interested in the African struggles and supported their people. Today, we believe that the Islamic Republic of Iran should have more relations with African countries,” he added.

“The late Mandela, the great and victorious African leader, is highly respected by the people of Iran. The struggles in South Africa during apartheid are unforgettable and remain in history. All the nations and freedom seekers of the world believe in the people of Africa and the late Mandela,” emphasized the head of the Presidential Committee for the Support of the Islamic Revolution of the Palestinian People.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has grown and progressed significantly after the victory of the Islamic Revolution. Supporting the deprived and oppressed has been one of the slogans of the Islamic Revolution. God willing, bilateral cooperation can be influential, especially in legal and international issues,” he added.

“Bilateral relations have always been expanding, and the Islamic Republic of Iran cares a lot to these relations,” Ayatollah Akhtari said “It is necessary to expand the cooperation between the two countries. We believe that the US imperialism and its allies are still oppressing Africa, and they are still looting the wealth of the African people.” 

“One of the commonalities of the Islamic Republic of Iran and South Africa, is the fight against global imperialism. One of the important issues is the defense of oppressed people whose rights are being violated by the US and Europe. One of these issues, is Palestine and supporting its oppressed people. For about 70 years, the Palestinian people have been suffering from the bombardment, cruelty, and brutality of the usurping Zionist regime, and they have sacrificed in this way,” he further stated.

“In the true sense of the word, the Zionist regime is an apartheid regime in all respects,” the head of the Presidential Committee for the Support of the Islamic Revolution of the Palestinian People added, “This regime does not respect any of the international and legal foundations. So that now, contrary to the resolutions of international organizations, it continues its crimes such as continuing the occupation and settlements, imprisoning, and killing the oppressed people of Palestine, all of which violate all international laws.”

“Killing children is one of the crimes of the Zionists. This criminal regime deprives the Palestinian people of medicine, food and even infant formula, and meanwhile the US and Europe do the same to African people,” he added.

“You can play a good role in the fight against the Zionist regime and strengthening the relations between Iran and South Africa. The Presidential Committee for the Support of the Islamic Revolution of the Palestinian People is planning to hold a conference in defense of Palestinian children in October this year. I invite you to participate in this conference to talk about the problems of African people especially African children,” Ayatollah Akhtari said.

In this meeting, Zwelivelile Mandla Mandela, the grandson of Nelson Mandela, the late anti-apartheid leader of South Africa stated, “My grandfather, the late Nelson Mandela, spoke of being inspired by Imam Khomeini (r.a.), the late leader of Iran, in his struggle against apartheid. He had the support of the Iranian people in his struggle for freedom. At that time, the Islamic Republic of Iran was the first country to declare South Africa an apartheid regime, which was very valuable to us.”

“We use the experience of fighting against the tyrant apartheid regime. We are still fighting for the decolonization of southern Africa and African Continent as a whole. President Mandela made it very clear that America’s enemies are not our enemies. Therefore, we know our friends, like the Islamic Republic of Iran, in the dark days. We are still trying to remove the last traces of colonialism from the Western Sahara of Africa. We always like the Palestinian people. My grandfather considered the issue of Palestine to be the greatest issue of the time. Therefore, in a meeting with the people of Gaza in 1995, he said, “Our freedom (in South Africa) is not complete without your freedom”,” he added.

“Now we support pro-Palestinian civil activists. We seek to mobilize to support the Palestinian cause, especially in Africa. In this regard, we will be very happy to exchange culture and students,” noted Nelson Mandela’s grandson.

“There are many fields to cooperate, especially in scientific, student and technical fields. With the will of the governments, proper measures can be taken to save African people from poverty and poor livelihood,” said Zwelivelile Mandla Mandela in the end.

Africa AhlulBayt (a_s_) World Assembly Ayatollah Akhtari Mandela