Ayatollah Khamenei's letter to students at U.S. universities

Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei sent a letter to students at U.S. universities on 30 May 2024. The letter received mixed reaction in social media around the world. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader, commended US students for their protests against the Gaza conflict, acknowledging them as part of the Resistance Front against Israel. In his letter, he affirmed their stance by saying "as the page of history is turning, you are standing on the right side of it."

This letter came more than nine years after Khamenei addressed youth in Europe and North America.

Background

Over the ongoing Israel–Hamas war, pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses erupted across nearly 140 US universities, with students calling for their universities to divest from companies linked to Israel and calling for an end to violence in Gaza. More than 2,000 students were arrested.

Content of the Letter

While describing Israel's actions as "genocide and apartheid", Khamenei asked the students to continue their protests against what he called "brutal Zionist regime". In his letter, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei expressed empathy and solidarity with the students protesting against Israel's attacks in Gaza. He referred to these students as a “branch of the Resistance Front” and predicted their victory with the "permission of God".

Quran's teachings

Khamenei advised the students to “become familiar with the Quran” and highlighted the Quran's teachings on standing up for what is right and not oppressing others. He stated, "The Quran’s lesson for us Muslims and all of humanity, is to stand up for that which is right: ‘So be steadfast as you have been commanded’ (11:112). The Quran's lesson for human relations is: ‘Do not oppress and do not be oppressed’ (2:279)". Ayatollah Ali Khamenei further emphasized that the Resistance Front advances by understanding and practicing these and hundreds of other such commands.

Criticizing the West

In the letter, Khamenai mentioned the history of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and blamed England and America for their financial and military support to Israel against the Palestinians. He wrote that “The Zionist regime used an iron-fist policy against the defenseless people of Palestine from the very beginning and has ever since intensified its brutality, terror, and repression in complete disregard of all moral, human, and religious values.” According to the letter, elites in the West who own major media companies have called the Palestinian resistance "terrorism" and defended Israel as "acting in self-defense." He ended his letter by assuring the students that circumstances are changing and a different fate awaits the important region of West Asia.

Reactions

The letter sparked mixed reactions on social media worldwide. While some users expressed support for Khamenei's message, others criticized it. According to the Jerusalem Post, this letter intensified the heated atmosphere in many universities.

See also

• To the Youth in Western Countries
• To the Youth in Europe and North America
• Axis of Resistance