Imam Khamenei: Destruction of Islamic Monuments in Mecca and Medina Must Be Stopped Immediately

Local Editor

Leader of the Islamic Revolution His Eminence Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei slammed the massive destruction of Islamic monuments attributed to the Prophet Muhammad [PBUH], Imam Ali [AS], the caliphs and fighters of the early years of Islam on the pretext of expanding Hajj.

During a meeting with a group of Hajj organizers and officials, the Imam stressed that the annual Hajj pilgrimage demonstrates the power of the Islamic nation and boosts contacts among Muslims.

Imam Khamenei further noted that the gathering of Muslims at one specific time and place to carry out the Hajj pilgrimage conveys such important political message which is “the necessity for boosting communication and synergism among Muslims,” while demonstrating the power of the Islamic nation.

The Imam then listed the main political and necessary messages that must be conveyed to the entire Muslim world during the Hajj pilgrimage as the following: "Establishing contacts with all Muslims through the Hajj," "conveying the message of the Islamic Revolution to pilgrims from other countries and answering their doubts in this regard," "laying the ground for bolstering the Islamic Republic of Iran's contacts with other Islamic countries," and finally "promoting brotherly coexistence among all Islamic sects" were the main political and necessary messages that must be conveyed.

“The Hajj must be a source of credit and prestige for the Islamic Republic. Therefore, the political aspect of the Hajj must not be forgotten and the Abrahamic Hajj – that is, the Hajj as performed after the Islamic Revolution – must be different from the Hajj before [the Islamic Revolution] and the Hajj that is performed by those countries that know nothing about the fundaments of Islam and the Islamic Revolution,” the Imam added.

The Imam Khamenei also strongly criticized extensive destruction of Islamic monuments like those, which are attributed to Prophet Mohammad [PBUH] and Imam Ali [AS], under the pretext of developing the Hajj.

“While various countries carefully protect their historical monuments and sometimes even fake certain artifacts to show off their history and their past, many Islamic monuments have been so far destroyed in [the Saudi cities of] Mecca and Medina,” the Imam said.

Imam Khamenei also urged the Iranian Hajj officials to come up with initiatives and contact counterparts in other Islamic countries to prevent destruction of the remaining Islamic monuments in Saudi Arabia.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team