Iran's Khamenei alerts youth against West's contradictions

(AGI) Tehran, Nov 30 - Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah AliKhamenei, wrote an open letter to his country's youth in thewake of the Paris terrorist attacks in which he definesterrorism as "the common pain between you and us" and alertsthem against the "contradictions of Western policies". In theletter released by his office, Khamenei wrote: "Anyone who hasbenefited from affection and humanity is affected and disturbedby witnessing these scenes - whether it occurs in France or inPalestine or Iraq or Lebanon or Syria." He continued: "Igenuinely believe that it is only you youth who by learning thelessons of today's hardship, have the power to discover newmeans for building the future." In the letter, the secondafter the one written in January following the terroristattacks on the Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo and the koshersupermarket, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republiccondemned the contradictions of Western policies. He especiallyquoted "the role of the United States of America in creating,nurturing and arming al-Qaeda, the Taliban and theirinauspicious successors," in addition to supporting the stateterrorism of Israel. "The military invasions of the Islamicworld in recent years - with countless victims - are anotherexample of the contradictory logic of the West," he added. "In my opinion, the first step in creating security and peaceis reforming this violence-breeding mentality. Until doublestandards dominate Western policies, until terrorism - in theview of its powerful supporters - is divided into 'good' and'bad' types, and until governmental interests are givenprecedence over human values and ethics, the roots of violenceshould not be searched for in other places," Khamenei added. Hewrote on: "I consider the imposition of western culture uponother peoples and the trivialization of independent cultures asa form of silent violence and extreme harmfulness". In thisscenario, "Fissures have to be sealed, not deepened. Hastyreactions is a major mistake when fighting terrorism which onlywidens the chasms. Any rushed and emotional reaction whichwould isolate, intimidate and create more anxiety for theMuslim communities living in Europe and America- which arecomprised of millions of active and responsible human beings-and which would deprive them of their basic rights more thanhas already happened and which would drive them away fromsociety- not only will not solve the problem but will increasethe chasms and resentments." Khamenei launched an appeal: "Iwant you youth to lay the foundations for a correct andhonorable interaction with the Islamic world based on correctunderstanding, deep insight and lessons learned from horribleexperiences." (AGI) . .