Celebrating the blessed month of Ramadan, a group of university professors, academic elites and researchers met with the Leader of the Revolution, Ayatollah Khamenei on Wednesday evening June 21, 2017.
At this meeting Ayatollah Khamenei dubbed al-Quds Day as the day to fight hegemonic arrogant system that seeks to dominate nations, adding "the Quds day is approaching; it is an extremely important day; it is not only about defending an oppressed nation who are driven out of their homes; we are indeed fighting against an oppressive and cruel political system."
He further described support for Palestine as supporting the Truth, saying “today defending Palestine equates to defending the truth. It is a much broader issue than just defending Palestine; today's fight against the Zionist regime is a fight against arrogance; it is a struggle against the hegemonic domineering system."
Ayatollah Khamenei urged everyone to commemorate the International Al-Quds day, adding "the Quds Day should be valued. The demonstrations on Al-Quds Day are very important."
Addressing the academia and researchers attending the meeting, the Leader of the Revolution asserted that the issues related to the UNESCO 2030 agenda should be elaborated on by professors; "some individuals say that the UNESCO 2030 agenda is not binding; this is a superficial perspective. If any part of the agenda is not followed, it will later be assessed as a negative point which will consequently deprive the nations from certain concessions," he added.
Ayatollah Khamenei described explanation and elaboration as an important duty of professors and academic elites and went on to say, “explanation and elaboration are one of the duties of the professors. The UNESCO 2030 agenda should be elaborated on; it is an important issue. The Sustainable Development agenda is a part of the general UN directive which entails the 2030 Education agenda."
He went on to say, “what is being designed in the sustainable development agenda is an intellectual, cultural and practical system for the whole of the world. UNESCO serves here as a mediator and a showcase. However, there are hands behind the United Nations that set up an intellectual, cultural and practical system for all nations of the world, compelling them to act upon it.”
Ayatollah Khamenei slammed the UN for seeking to dominate the nations through such agendas, adding “this is improper and flawed; what right do they have to comment on countries and their traditions and opinions? [What right do they have] to decide what the nations must act upon?”
The Leader urged university professors to find their role in developing universities and protecting values of the revolution. He further said, "the main point in my speech today is about the responsibility of professors and teachers. Professors play an important role in the academic environment. You influence the youth’s spirits, hearts and minds and encourage them to contemplate and move ahead."
Elaborating on the impact university professors can have on the intellectual growth of students, Ayatollah Khamenei said "if a professor is responsible, positive and optimistic, if they have a strong will-power and a desire to improve the country, his role will be very effective. The opposite is also true. A professor who holds cultures of other countries in high esteems but does not believe in his country’s values and values of his ethnic identities [can play a role contrary to that of a professor with the above mentioned positive qualities.]"
The Leader concluded, "our professors should find and define their role in the development of universities on one hand, and protecting the values of the Revolution on the other hand."