Sayyed Nasrallah on Imam Khomeini’s Demise: Calls for Constituent Assembly, State Responsible of Hostages

On the 23rd commemoration of the passing away of the late Imam Rouhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Revolution in the world, the Secretary General of Hizbullah His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah delivered a speech during a ceremony held in UNESCO Palace on Friday June,1.

Battle with “Israel” Didn’t End

In his televised speech, Sayyed Nasrallah recalled June 5, 1960 Naksa Day (catastrophic Arab defeat) in face of the “Israeli” enemy as well as the first “Israeli” invasion to Lebanon on 6 June 1982, dubbed by the “Israeli” as ‘First Lebanon War’. “The “Israeli” later dubbed the 2006 July aggression against Lebanon as the Second Lebanon War,” His Eminence mentioned.
He stressed that “the two June commemorations [Naksa and First Lebanon War] urge people in the region to learn from the experiences, mistakes, accomplishments, pains, sufferings, flaws and advantages.”

He further reminded that “the battle with “Israel” has not ended yet, as Palestine is still under occupation, an entire people is still homeless and tortured, thousands of prisoners remain behind the bars, and thousands of martyrs are still in the “Israeli” graveyards.”
“The holy sites are being desecrated and thousands of detainees are still in prisons and the dignity of Palestinian Christians and Muslims is being violated,” Sayyed Nasrallah stated.
His Eminence also commented on the return of 91 Palestinian martyrs’ bodies to their families by saying that “the “Israeli” enemy is monstrous as it intentionally takes hold of the bodies of dead people in order to make the people of Palestine despaired and humiliated.”

“The scene of martyrs’ bodies delivers a strong message, which sheds light on a resilient stage of the Palestinian resistance’s heroism, martyrdom, qualitative operations, and the determination to continue the military operations.”
On this scene, Sayyed Nasrallah recalled the remains of the Lebanese martyrs who are still inside the Zionist entity in addition to the issue of kidnapped Lebanese, and the up-to-date occupied Lebanese land.
“It is the state’s responsibility to address the issue of Lebanese detainees in “Israel”,” His Eminence asserted.

Imam Khomeini: Great Model, State Builder

Moving to the subject of the ceremony, Imam Khomeini, Sayyed Nasrallah stressed that “a day will come when the importance of Imam Khomeini’s role will be recognized as being the cornerstone for all the changes and revolutions that erupted decades later in the region.”
“Imam Khomeini is a great jurist, philosopher and a creative innovative Islamic scholar,” Sayyed Nasrallah added, pointing out that “Imam Khomeini enjoys many glorious characteristics; most importantly that he was the leader of the great Iranian revolution.”
His Eminence confirmed that “Imam Khomeini took up the responsibility of the revolution despite the fact that he was threatened and intimidated and his son was killed and his disciples were persecuted, exiled and killed.”

The Secretary General of Hizbullah recalled the historical moment when the late Imam insisted to take the plane from Paris to Tehran, although there was a risk the plane might be shot down.

“Once the Imam completed the revolution, he succeeded in accomplishing the daring and great mission of building the state,” Sayyed Nasrallah stressed.
Sayyed Nasrallah highlighted that “the Imam belongs to an ideological background and an Islamic thought that emphasizes the existence of the state, the political system, and the governor.”

“Just as the revolution triumphed in Iran, the building of the state began. The Imam and his disciples were ready to build a state and all was prepared. Away from all aspects of selfishness and revenge, Imam Khomeini gave the orders to all the officials and people to preserve all the institutions of the former state, including the army, administrations, and general properties,” His Eminence said.

In this context, Sayyed Nasrallah stated that the Great Imam used to give orders for sake of the Iranian nation. “He never used weapons or orders to threaten people, his statements were the only way to the hearts and convictions of the people.”
“Unlike the US that devastated all Iraqi institutions and particularly the army when it invaded Iraq, the Imam assigned a committee of experts to write a constitution and called on his people to choose the members of this committee. Based on the chosen constitution, the Iranian president was elected,” His Eminence recalled.
According to Sayyed Nasrallah, “the Great Imam sought to build a state and not to rule. Imam Khomeini’s most important accomplishment was to build a modern state that combines authenticity and modernism.”

“The Imam was keen on Palestine and al-Quds since the beginning of the revolution,” he added, and noted that “Nothing changed the Imam’s mind regarding Palestine that remained his strategic cause which he was never ready to compromise.”

Building A Strong State: The Main Aim

Based on the Iranian experience, Sayyed Nasrallah urged the Lebanese sides to build the state that “we all agree that it doesn’t exist.”
In parallel, His Eminence reitereated Hizbullah’s support for building a strong state: “If we want Lebanon to remain united, safe and able to address its economic and social crises, we need a strong state,” he declared.

“We must support the state and its institutions if we want Lebanon to remain unified in this region that is facing the threat of division,” the Secretary General of Hizbullah said.
His Eminence also stressed that his statements aren’t the slogan type.
“We, in Hizbullah, believe in this approach and we are educating our cadres accordingly,” he affirmed and highlighted that “Lebanon can’t bear partitioning or federalism and its future can only be secured through a real, capable state ruled by law rather than factional affiliations.”

He further warned that “any political party or organization can protect itself or its leader, but they can neither protect the Lebanese people or the country on their own,” he added.
Sayyed Nasrallah hailed the state as the only salvation of all Lebanese divisions by stating: “Experience has proven that civil peace is the result of an integrated process that comprises culture, law, education and politics.”
“The only side that should be in charge of these elements is the state and its institutions,” he asserted.

On the state’s security level, Sayyed Nasrallah clarified that “once a certain Lebanese party imposes its autonomous security over a certain are, this would result in counterproductive dangers.”

“The state is the only side that can protect its people,” His Eminence emphasized, and reminded of the previous era “when some Lebanese parties tried to implement the slogan “the security of the Christian community is above all else”.”
“However, no one was able to protect the entire society,” he recognized.

A Constituent Assembly

Regarding President Michel Suleiman’s call for national dialogue, the Secretary General of Hizbullah welcomed the step calling for the discussion of the reasons behind Lebanon’s problems.

On this level, Sayyed Nasrallah called on Suleiman to hold a national dialogue conference, and not just a national dialogue session.
“Why don’t we form a committee of experts? Why don’t the Lebanese people vote and choose the members of this constituent assembly?” Sayyed Nasrallah wondered.
He further urged “the national assembly to discuss the Taef Accord, a new social contract or a non-sectarian system since just as the country faces a problem; some people ask to implement Taef while others object.”

“A national assembly can work to return Lebanon to the right path,” His Eminence viewed. Sayyed Nasrallah also tackled the 25th anniversary of the assassination of former Prime Minister Rashid Karami. “The late statesman assassination led to a great loss,” he stressed as he reitereated Hizbullah’s solidarity with Karami’s family.
“Justice must be accomplished,” His Eminence affirmed.

To Abductors: Free Innocent Men

The Secretary General of Hizbullah also addressed the issue of the 11 kidnapped men in Syria.
“From the first moment of the incident, we have said that the abductees are Lebanese citizens and that, therefore, the state is responsible for their dignity and freedom,” he highlighted.

His Eminence stressed that “as political parties, we are helping the state.”
“The state and the top officials are exerting serious efforts to reach a happy ending,” he said.

His Eminence praised the relatives of the abductees for their patience and self-restraint. He also called them to give more time to the state to enable it of reaching the desired result.
In parallel, Sayyed Nasrallah sent a direct message to the abductors: “Yesterday, you announced that you do not have a problem with the Shia sect, you should prove it.”
“Those are pilgrims who must return to their families. If your problem was with me, there are a lot of means and ways to resolve it. We can resolve it the way you want, whether through war or through love and peace,” His Eminence stressed.
Moreover, he told the kidnappers that “having a problem with Hizbullah or the Amal Movement over political views of what is happening in Syria is one thing, but taking innocent people hostage is a great injustice.”

“May God grant these innocents freedom and provide us all wisdom in dealing with the various issues,” Sayyed Nasrallah concluded.