NAMES OF LOCAL PROMINENT MULLAHS BY CITY

Iran: Highlights: Friday Prayer Sermons, 30 March 2007

Originally published on 3/30/2007 by OSC Report in Persian

Highlights: Friday Prayer Sermons, 30 March 2007

The following are summaries of items posted on the 30 March 2007 IRNA website (http://www.irna.ir/) concerning Tehran, Qom, and provincial Friday prayer sermons.

The temporary Friday prayer leader of Tehran, Hojjat ol-Eslam Seyyed Ahmad Khatami, said that the reform of the society can take place by reforming the family. He said that the spirit of the moral principles of Islam is to train people who have control over their passions. He regarded the disintegration of families a crisis for the West and said that some Westernized individuals are trying to bring the same crisis to Iran.

Regarding the captured British seamen, he said that no third party such as the Security Council or any other country has the right to interfere and should know that interference will complicate the situation and make it more difficult.

He said that British should know that it is no longer the 19th century, when they assumed the posture of an empire; today Britain is a defeated and isolated power and acts as a political middleman for the United States.

He said that Iran is a powerful Islamic country that stands against the United States, which is the master of Britain.

The temporary Friday prayer leader of Qom, Ayatollah Ebrahim Amini, said that the people of Islamic Iran with national unity and Islamic solidarity will stand against the bullying of the enemies and the great powers. He said that world imperialism not only opposes Iran’s scientific and economic progress but fights against any important movement that happens in Islamic countries.

The Friday prayer leader of Khorramabad, Hojjat ol-Eslam ‘Abbas ‘Ali Sadeqi, referred to 12 Farvardin [ 1 April], Islamic Republic Day, as the day of national unity and solidarity and said that on that day the 2,500 year monarchy was overthrown and Islamic religious government was established in Iran.

The Friday prayer leader of Birjand, Hojjat ol-Eslam Hoseyn Sadeqi, said that from the beginning of the Revolution, many ups and downs have occurred but never has Iran had a more successful year than 1385 [ 21 March 2006-20 March 2007].

The Friday prayer leader of Tabriz, Ayatollah Mohsen Mojtahed-Shabestari, said that considering that satellite information indicates that the British sailors intentionally violated the waters of Iran, their trial is the just demand of the worshippers and the Muslim people of Iran.

The temporary Friday prayer leader of Dezful, Hojjat ol-Eslam ‘Azizollah Salehi-Ansari, condemned the violation of Iranian waters by the British sailors and said that any aggression against Islamic Iran is doomed to fail.

The temporary Friday prayer leader of Shahr-e Kord, Hojjat ol-Eslam Seyyed Mohammad Fatemi, said that those who have violated Iranian waters should apologize.

The Friday prayer leader of Ardabil, Hojjat ol-Eslam Seyyed Hasan ‘Ameli, said that the U.S. and British attack on Iraq has thus far brought bitter experiences for the Muslim people of Iraq and their forces should leave the region as soon as possible.

The Friday prayer leader of Ahvaz, Hojjat ol-Eslam Mohsen Heydari, said that the British proved their foolishness with their violation of the territory of Iran.

The Sunni Friday prayer leader of Zahedan, ‘Abdolhamid Esma’ilzehi, asked for the Islamic laws and moral virtues to be strengthened in Muslim society and said that unfortunately the religious instructions are often neglected.

The Friday prayer leader of Abadan, Hojjat ol-Eslam Seyyed ‘Ali Dehdashti, said that the greatest and most important blight of the Islamic world and the Islamic Revolution is disunity, which the enemy is trying to create in any way possible.

The temporary Friday prayer leader of Urmia, Hojjat ol-Eslam Seyyed Mohammad Fakhri, said that the enemies of Islamic Iran have issued many resolutions against the Islamic regime that have had no effect on the will of the Iranian people to continue their path.

The temporary Friday prayer leader of Borujerd, Hojjat ol-Eslam Seyyed Ahmad Musavi, referred to Unity Week and said that it is a good opportunity for as much solidarity as possible and to prepare the grounds for overall development.

The temporary Friday prayer leader of Rasht, Hojjat ol-Eslam Yusef Saddiq-Oryani, said that the recent anti-Iranian resolution of the Security Council was shameful and shocking and that the people of Iran are not afraid of resolutions and sanctions and will never give up their nuclear rights.

The Friday prayer leader of Poldokhtar, Hojjat ol-Eslam Mohammad Taqi Sarafipur, said that the only way for the release of the 15 British marines is for the government of Britain to apologize and to request negotiations with Iran.

The Friday prayer leader of Shiraz, Ayatollah Mohyeddin Ha’eri-Shirazi, referred to the support for the recent plan for dealing with hooligans in the city and said that if a judge is unable to implement religious punishment regarding hooligans he must step aside for a courageous judge to take his place.

The Friday prayer leader of Semnan, Hojjat ol-Eslam Seyyed Mohammad Shahcheraghi, said that the Islamic Republic of Iran does not need to have relations with the British government and it should respond decisively to the threat of the British government regarding the severance of relations with Iran.

The temporary Friday prayer leader of Gorgan, Hojjat ol-Eslam Sheykh Rasul Reza’i, said that the Persian New Year has both national and religious roots and people should not forget to take care of the poor and visit those who are ill in hospitals or at home.

The Friday prayer leader of Arvandkenar, Hojjat ol-Eslam Seyyed Majid Sharafi, said that the unity and solidarity of the people of Iran will neutralize the conspiracies of the enemies of Islam and Iran.

The Friday prayer leader of Ilam, Hojjat ol-Eslam Mohammad Naqi Lotfi, said that among the conspiracies of the enemies that can be seen at the present time in Iraq and Afghanistan is the fact that in certain countries some of the followers of Islamic sects accuse people of heathenism and dualism and issue decrees to shed their blood.

The Friday prayer leader of Arak, Ayatollah Ahmad Mohseni-Gorgani, said that the recent illegal resolution of the Security Council should be condemned and cannot be an obstacle to the scientific and peaceful nuclear activities of Iran.

The Friday prayer leader of Mahneshan, Hojjat ol-Eslam Amir Rashtbari, said that instead of apologizing to the people and country of Iran, the British government is engaged in creating a commotion.

The Friday prayer leader of Kashan, Ayatollah ‘Abolnabi Namazi, condemned the aggression of the British boats on Iranian waters and asked the officials not to retreat by any means regarding this issue.

The temporary Friday prayer leader of Chabahar, Hojjat ol-Eslam Mohammad Hasan Heydarabadi, said that the creation of joint educational and research centers between the Shiites and Sunnis will have a great effect on familiarizing them with each other’s views and preserving unity.

The Friday prayer leader of Kerman, Hojjat ol-Eslam Seyyed Yahya Ja’fari, said that while the United States with the support of France, Britain, and Germany announces that Iran does not have the right to have peaceful nuclear energy, the warehouses of the opponents of Iran are full of weapons of mass destruction, which they have used in certain countries.

The Friday prayer leader of Zanjan, Hojjat ol-Eslam Seyyed Ya’qub Musavi, said that the Islamic Republic of Iran was established with the vote of over 98% of the people and the result of the bloodshed of the martyrs and the leadership of Imam Khomeyni.

The Friday prayer leader of Isfahan, Ayatollah Seyyed Yusef Tabataba’inezhad, said that the ideology of the prophet’s family is that of justice and love and those who engage in insulting language will impede the path of God and the progress of this ideology.

The Sunni Friday prayer leader of Kish, Haj Ya’qub Shams, said that Unity Week is the week for the solidarity and brotherhood of all Islamic sects and Muslims in the world.

The temporary Friday prayer leader of Saveh, Hojjat ol-Eslam Hasan Qorbani, emphasized the observance of Islamic veiling by young girls and said that unfortunately sometimes improper scenes in the society can be witnessed and improper veiling has spread.

The Friday prayer leader of Gachsaran, Hojjat ol-Eslam Seyyed Farajollah Musavi, said that on 12 Farvardin 1358 [ 1 April 1979] more than 98% of the people in a referendum voted for the regime of the Islamic Republic, which disappointed the Revolution’s enemies.

The Friday prayer leader of Karaj, Hojjat ol-Eslam Gholamreza Karimi, said the solidarity of the people and the officials of the Islamic regime is necessary to neutralize the threats of the enemies.

The temporary Friday prayer leader of Shahr-e Rey, Ayatollah ‘Abbas ‘Ali Akhtari, asked the officials of the country to deal decisively with the seamen who have violated Iranian waters.

The Friday prayer leader of Hamadan, Ayatollah Ghiyasoddin Tahamohammadi, said that Islamic Iran is decisive and determined to gain access to peaceful nuclear energy.

The Friday prayer leader of Qasr-e Shirin, Hojjat ol-Eslam Hoseyn Ebrahimi, said that 12 Farvardin 1358 was the day the Iranian people decisively rejected the United States and world imperialism and chose the regime of the Islamic Republic.

The temporary Friday prayer leader of Yasuj, Hojjat ol-Eslam Seyyed ‘Ali Saleh Musavi-A’zam, referred to the anniversary of the start of the guardianship of the Imam of the Age and said that many of the signs of the advent of the Imam of the Age ("end of times") can be seen in the society today, including men and women wearing each other’s clothing, the spread of prostitution and lack of restraint, not paying attention to religious obligations, and the increase in the slaughter of innocent people.

The Friday prayer leader of Bandar ‘Abbas, Ayatollah Gholam’ali Na’imabadi, referred to the violation of Iranian waters by the British forces and said: The capable hands of the children of this nation punished imperialism.

The Friday prayer leader of Khomeyn, Hojjat ol-Eslam Seyyed ‘Ali Hoseyni, said that not only will the resolutions fail to create an obstacle but they will increase the unity and resistance of the people.

The Friday prayer leader of Shahrud, Hojjat ol-Eslam Mahmud Torabi, said: Access to peaceful nuclear energy is more important for our country than the nationalization of the oil industry, especially for the Islamic world not to need Western countries in the future in regard to energy.

The Friday prayer leader of Kermanshah, Ayatollah Mohammad Hoseyn Zarandi, said that there is excessive waste in Iran and if the people stop this waste and are frugal, the roots of poverty will be eradicated.

The Friday prayer leader of Bojnord, Ayatollah Mehmannavaz, said that the plans of the United States in the Middle East have failed and that country is concentrating on creating disunity among Muslims; therefore, the followers of Islam should be alert and united.

The Friday prayer leader of Sari, Ayatollah Nurollah Tabarsi, referred to the statements of the leader regarding the anti-Iranian resolution of the Security Council and said that today unity is the only secret to overcoming such mischievous acts.

The Friday prayer leader of Bushehr, Hojjat ol-Eslam Asadollah Imani, said that Security Council Resolution 1747 against Iran will have no effect on the progress of the Islamic Republic of Iran