In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

[The Holy Quran Sura Baqarah (2), Ayah 156]

The appalling crimes of the Zionist regime in Gaza and the massacre of hundreds of oppressed men, women, and children, has once again revealed the true nature of the bloodthirsty Zionist wolves, who had been hiding behind a veil of deception during the past few years. This event has again revealed-to those who are not vigilant and prepared to compromise at any price-the threat posed by the presence of these warring infidels (kafer-e harbi) living in the heart of the lands of the Islamic Ummah.

This tragic event is unbearable for all Muslims, nay, for any moral and honorable human being living anywhere in the world. However, what is even more tragic and unbearable is the cowardly silence of some Arab governments that claim to be Muslims-which only encourages the enemies. What could be more tragic than the fact that so-called Muslim governments-which should have supported the oppressed people of Gaza against the occupying, infidel (kafer) and warring (mohaareb) Zionist regime-have acted in a way that the criminal Zionist officials have become insolent enough to declare that these Arab governments support and are in agreement with this great tragedy?

What explanation do the heads of these countries have before the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.)? How will they justify their inaction to their own peoples, who are undoubtedly bereaved by this tragedy? Surely today, the hearts of the people of Egypt, Jordan, and other Muslim countries are bleeding because of this massacre, which follows the long siege of Gaza during which food and medicine were kept away from its people.

Being an accomplice in this great crime, the criminal Bush administration-which is going through the last days of its disgraceful rule-made the US regime even more disgraced than before and added more pages to its war crimes record. European governments once again proved the falsity of their claims regarding their support for human rights through their indifference and through their support for this great tragedy. They have shown that they are part of the anti-Islam and anti-Muslim camp.

I ask the ulama and clergy of the Arab world and the heads of Egyptian Al-Azhar University: is it not time you felt alarmed for Islam and Muslims? Is it not time you fulfilled your obligatory duty of warning against evil and fulfilling your obligation of "saying what is right to the oppressive leader"?

In order for you to feel responsible, do you need a clearer proof than what is happening in Gaza and Palestine? These events prove the collusion and collaboration of warring infidels (kafer-e harbi) with the hypocrites (munafeqeen) of the Islamic Ummah and are aimed at suppressing Muslims.

I ask the media and intellectuals of the Muslim world, especially the Arab world: until when are you going to continue neglecting your duties and responsibilities as media and intellectuals? Can the disgraced western human rights organizations and the so-called Security Council be disgraced any further?

All the Palestinian mujahideen and the faithful people of the Muslim world are obliged to defend the children, women, and defenseless people of Gaza by all possible means. Those who are killed in this sacred and legally sanctioned defense are martyrs, and their souls will be associated with those of the martyrs of the Battles of Badr and Uhud, before the Holy Prophet of Islam (s.w.a.).

The Organization of the Islamic Conference must fulfill its historic duty in these critical times and form a unified front-without petty considerations or any passivity-to oppose the Zionist regime. The Zionist regime must be penalized by Muslim governments. The Zionist heads must be personally tried and penalized for their crimes and the prolonged siege imposed on Gaza. These goals can be fulfilled through solid determination of the Muslim nations, and in this critical period, politicians, ulama, and intellectuals shoulder the heaviest responsibility.

Due to the tragedy in Gaza, I hereby announce Monday as a day of public mourning and I call on the government officials to fulfill their duties with regard to this tragic event.

"And soon those who do injustice, will know to what final place of turning they will be turned."
[The Holy Quran, Sura as-Shu"ara (26): Ayah 227]

Sayyid Ali Khamenei