Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Iran
May 16 2005
Leader of world Armenians meets Judiciary Chief
Arak, May 15, IRNA
Shahroudi-Armenian Archbishop-Meet
The spiritual Leader of the World Armenians Archbishop Jasliq Aram I
Keshishian here Sunday met and conferred with Head of IRI Judiciary
Force Ayatollah Seyed Mahmoud Shahroudi.
Ayatollah Shahroudi during the meeting briefed the top Armenian top
priest of the Islamic Republic’s efforts aimed at providing for the
well being of the religious minorities in Iran, setting example of the
recently passed law on equal blood money for them with Muslim citizens.
He added, “The Islamic Republic of Iran’s ultimate objective,
followed from the day this political system was established here,
was to secure full rights of the religious minorities in Iran, based
on the IRI Constitution and the divine Islamic jurisdiction.” The
Judiciary Chief said, “In order to meet that end, the country’s
judiciary Force, too, has in addition to its routine activities,
pursues a comprehensive research work aimed at full recognition of
the religious minorities’ rights, following which we propose the
related drafts to the parliament to be passed as laws.” He referred
to the Judiciary Force’s readiness to cooperate in establishment of
Minorities’ dispute dissolving councils, arguing, “Problems related
to personal disputes among followers of religious minorities, too,
can be solved at such councils.”
Ayatollah Shahroudi meanwhile asked for presentation of joint plans and
shared planning aimed at boosting the monotheist faiths’ commonalties,
arguing, “unfortunately, some materialist and oppressor world powers
resorting to populist policies, and taking advantage of such phrases
as democracy, human rights, and freedom, violate the rights of the
other nations, and insult the followers of other monotheist faiths.”
He added, “It is the duty of the leaders of world’s great monotheist
faiths to raise against such injustice, boost the commonalties among
followers of various authentic monotheist faiths, and launch an
international campaign aimed at boosting the spirit of monotheism and
promoting the divine ethical values at global level.” The Judiciary
Chief condemned the desecration of the Holy Qur’an by US forces in US
detention camp in Guantanamo, adding, “Islam considers insults against
all monotheist faiths, such as Christianity, as great sins, and equal
to insulting Islam.” He said, “We are, unfortunately, witnesses to
desecration of the Muslims’ Holy Book, and if the religious leaders
of other faiths would fail in dully condemning the move, and in
sympathizing with the World Muslims, they, too, would have to wait
for a day when the intruders would desecrate the other holy texts.”
The leader of the world Armenians, too, during the meeting appreciated
the Islamic Republic of Iran’s moved aimed at securing the religious
minorities rights in Iran, saying, “It will not be possible to fight
against injustice and oppression in the world, unless the world nations
would embrace the true spirit of monotheism, and respect the exalted
ethics promoted in divine faiths.
Archbishop Jasliq Aram I Keshishian conferred with President Mohammad
Khatami in Tehran on Saturday.
The spiritual leader of the World Armenian arrived in Tehran on
Thursday, May 12 for a 14-day visit.
He has already visited Iran for three times.
During his stay in Iran, he will tour the provinces of Isfahan,
Markazi, West Azerbaijan and East Azerbaijan.
He will pay tribute to the founder of the Islamic Revolution the late
Imam Khomeini on Thursday, May 19.