'Islamic uprisings Imam Khomeini legacy'

A senior Iranian cleric has hailed late founder of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ruhollah Khomeini for awakening Muslims across the world against arrogant powers.

Speaking ahead of the anniversary of the influential leader's passing on Friday, Hojjatoleslam Kazem Seddiqi described Imam Khomeini as a role model for people all over the globe in their quest for “perfection and freedom.”

“He had no fear of the Eastern or Western powers,” he told crowds of worshippers in the capital, Tehran, noting how Ayatollah Khomeini “disgraced the fabricated Zionist Regime [of Israel] besides fighting global arrogance,” IRNA reported.

“He dubbed the most powerful military in the world (the United States) 'the Great Satan' and stated that 'the US cannot do a damn thing',” Hojjatoleslam Seddiqi recalled.

Tehran's interim Friday Prayers leader also highlighted how the Muslim world has come to appreciate Ayatollah Khomeini's emphasis on jihad, martyrdom, and formation of an Islamic government as the basics of Islam.

“Today this ideology has moved the world and in Egypt and Tunisia and other Muslim countries they speak of jihad and martyrdom, which proves Muslims have this awakening from the late Imam,” Hojjatoleslam Seddiqi pointed out.

The cleric noted that more than two decades after Ayatollah Khomeini's passing the movement he led has not come to an end and that his vision is being pursued stronger than ever before.

“In this period, all enemy plots against the Iranian nation have been foiled and this nation is moving forward stronger than before,” he said.

“We witness other nations joining the Iranian nation in this path,” he added, referring to comments by Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, who said the wave of Islamic awakening in North Africa and the Middle East will eventually sweep through Europe.