AhlulBayt News Agency: In a cultural and intellectual gathering held in Qana, the Imam Khomeini Cultural Centers Association marked the 47th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, coinciding with the observance of “Martyr Commanders Week.” The event featured speeches, discussions, and reflections on the principles and achievements of resistance movements in the region.
Hojatoleslam Sheikh Akram Barakat, Hezbollah’s Deputy Cultural Official, addressed the audience, which included religious scholars, activists, community leaders, and local residents. The program opened with Quranic recitations before Sheikh Barakat emphasized the tangible achievements and legitimacy of resistance movements.
“Resistance has proven its legitimacy through concrete action,” he said. “It has achieved results beyond what many could have imagined. In 2000, it succeeded in liberating territory, and in 2006, through perseverance and steadfastness, it secured a historic advancement.”
Sheikh Barakat recalled contemporary commentary from a Jordanian intellectual, noting that resistance revived the spirit of a people long weighed down by defeat. “The discourse and actions of resistance inspired a movement across the Arab and Islamic world, posing a serious challenge to U.S. and Israeli interests,” he said.
He warned that, in response, campaigns were launched to distort the image of resistance, often framing it as a sectarian or foreign-influenced agenda. “When Gaza once again rose in 2023, many were misled by deceptive narratives portraying the world—even Muslims—as having abandoned Palestine. Yet the matter fundamentally concerns defending the oppressed, not sectarian division.”
Sheikh Barakat highlighted that those standing with Palestine operate based on belief in Islamic unity, social solidarity, and the teachings of Imam Khomeini. “Their guiding principle is that defending the oppressed is both a religious and moral duty,” he explained. He emphasized that true leadership and governance must remain anchored in Islamic values rather than pragmatism that justifies any means by the end.
“Politics cannot be divorced from ethics,” Sheikh Barakat continued. “The objective cannot be pursued through means contrary to our values. That is why the conduct of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and Imam Ali (peace be upon him) is cited as a model—they avoided expedient methods that conflicted with moral principles, because for them, the end does not justify the means.”
He further stressed that weapons causing indiscriminate killing, particularly of women and children, are categorically rejected, as they violate the sanctity of human life. The core principle, he noted, is that authentic leadership preserves religious and ethical values even under extreme pressure, refusing deceit and treachery regardless of apparent military advantage.
Addressing Western policies, Sheikh Barakat said: “The Western discourse on freedom and values collapses when compared to their actual actions. Figures like Donald Trump reveal the hidden face of Western politics, now laid bare for all to see.”
He concluded by framing the confrontation as more than a military or political struggle: “This is a battle over vision and values—between those who intertwine politics with ethics and religious principles, and those who pursue self-interest and pragmatism even at the cost of destroying moral foundations.”
Turning to current events in Gaza, Sheikh Barakat asked, “Where do we stand? Will we remain neutral, or fulfill our Islamic duty? Neutrality may spare material loss, but it comes at the cost of honor, dignity, and meaning. By defending the oppressed and standing for truth, we preserve our dignity and lay the foundation for ultimate victory.”
This gathering highlighted the enduring role of resistance as a moral and political force, emphasizing steadfastness, principled action, and commitment to defending the oppressed as central to its legitimacy and continued influence across the Arab and Islamic worlds.
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