[21 Oct 2013] Pilgrims leaving Mecca after performing Hajj - English
Last Thursday marked the end of this year\'s Hajj pilgrimage. Nearly two million Muslims from around the world performed the last ritual of the...
Last Thursday marked the end of this year\'s Hajj pilgrimage. Nearly two million Muslims from around the world performed the last ritual of the annual event-- stoning the devil. The pilgrims are now leaving the holy city of Mecca, some heading to the city of Medina and others returning to their home countries.
2m:43s
5512
[31 Oct 2013] israeli troops kill Palestinian man in West Bank - English
Reports coming out of the occupied Palestinian territories say Israeli forces have killed at least one Palestinian man.
Ahmad Tazazaa was killed...
Reports coming out of the occupied Palestinian territories say Israeli forces have killed at least one Palestinian man.
Ahmad Tazazaa was killed in a village near the West Bank city of Jenin. The 22-year old is the latest victim of Israeli military attacks on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. About 20 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops in the occupied West Bank this year alone. Israeli troops also made some arrests in the village of Qabatiya south of Jenin. Meanwhile, Israeli troops arrested 12 Palestinians in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Three Hamas officials were among the detainees.
3m:58s
7112
[20 Nov 2013] Over 30 people lose their lives in a fresh wave of terror...
It\'s been another deadly day in Iraq. Over thirty people have lost their lives in a fresh wave of bomb attacks in different parts of the country ....
It\'s been another deadly day in Iraq. Over thirty people have lost their lives in a fresh wave of bomb attacks in different parts of the country .
The deadliest incidents happened in the capital Baghdad. At least 28 people lost their lives in a series of coordinated bomb attacks in several neighborhoods of Baghdad. Many other people were also injured in attacks. In a separate attack, gunmen killed four people in the restive city of Abu Ghraib near the capital Baghdad. At least one person has also died and several were wounded in a car bomb explosion in the southern city of Najaf. A spiraling wave of violence has killed thousands of Iraqis in recent months.
5m:39s
7620
[22 Nov 2013] At least 2 including teenage boy killed in Egypt clashes -...
In Egypt, at least two people have been killed in fresh clashes between supporters and opponents of ousted president Mohamed Morsi.
A...
In Egypt, at least two people have been killed in fresh clashes between supporters and opponents of ousted president Mohamed Morsi.
A 10-year-old boy was shot dead in the port city of Suez and a man was killed in the central city of Minya. Over a dozen people have also been injured. Security forces fired tear gas and plastic-coated bullets to scatter protesters near the al-Azhar University in Cairo. Morsi supporters also rallied outside el-Salam Mosque east of the capital. The protesters say they will press ahead with their calls for an end to the military rule and Morsi\'s re-instatement.
3m:30s
5788
[15 Dec 2013] Turkey sent 47 tonnes of weaponry to Syria insurgents...
Turkey has sent over 47 tons of weaponry to insurgents in Syria since June.
Based on UN records, Turkey has sent varying amounts of guns to...
Turkey has sent over 47 tons of weaponry to insurgents in Syria since June.
Based on UN records, Turkey has sent varying amounts of guns to militant groups in Syria, with the highest reaching nearly 29 tons in September. The Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman initially denied the statistics but later confirmed that the UN numbers were based on previous records from the Turkish Statistics Institute. Back in November, authorities seized nearly 1-thousand rocket heads after searching a truck in the southern city of Adana. At the time, the city\\\'s governor claimed that the operation proved Turkey was not supporting radical groups in Syria.
0m:40s
5578
[19 Dec 2013] US appeals court overturns ruling that 9\\11 victims can...
A US appeals court has put Saudi Arabia back as a defendant in lawsuits, saying it had given support to al-Qaeda prior to the September 11...
A US appeals court has put Saudi Arabia back as a defendant in lawsuits, saying it had given support to al-Qaeda prior to the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001.
The federal appeals court in New York City has revived claims by families of victims of the attacks. Another court had previously ruled that Saudi Arabia was protected by a legal privilege which says foreign countries can\'t be sued in American courts. The US says nearly three thousand people were killed in the attacks. It says most of the attackers were Saudi nationals who hijacked planes and flew them into the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington.
4m:25s
6636
[24 Dec 2013] Attacks come shortly after Palestinian sniper killed...
Israeli warplanes have bombarded the Gaza Strip, killing at least two Palestinian and wounding several others.
Eyewitnesses say Israeli...
Israeli warplanes have bombarded the Gaza Strip, killing at least two Palestinian and wounding several others.
Eyewitnesses say Israeli warplanes targeted the southern city of Khan Yunis. Two more strikes were reported in the east of the Gaza city and another in the center of the impoverished enclave. The attacks come shortly after a Palestinian sniper shot dead an Israeli along a border fence in the north of the coastal enclave. The incident seemed to be in retaliation for the recent killing of Palestinians in Gaza by Israeli forces. The Israeli military shot and wounded a Palestinian in northern Gaza on Monday. Another Palestinian was wounded by Israeli troops on Friday in southern Gaza, a day after a young Palestinian was killed and four others injured by Israeli fire.
0m:39s
6617
[29 Dec 2013] Syrian army retakes control of Layramoun in north of...
Syrian armed forces continue making advances in Aleppo. The army has managed to retake a number of buildings in the district of Layramoun in the...
Syrian armed forces continue making advances in Aleppo. The army has managed to retake a number of buildings in the district of Layramoun in the city\\\'s north.
The area is considered the northern gateway into Aleppo. The army\\\'s advances stop foreign-backed militants from smuggling weapons into Aleppo from the northern part of the city. The achievement is the latest in a series of military operations against insurgents who receive military aid from their supporters in Western countries and their regional allies, especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
0m:31s
6029
[30 Dec 2013] President Putin orders tight security as second blast hits...
Russia\'s President Vladimir Putin has ordered security to be stepped up across the nation as a second bombing rocks the southern city of...
Russia\'s President Vladimir Putin has ordered security to be stepped up across the nation as a second bombing rocks the southern city of Volgograd.
After holding an emergency meeting, Putin issued special instructions for Volgograd which has witnessed two deadly blasts since yesterday. At least 14 people have been killed and over two dozen others wounded in an explosion that ripped through a trolley-bus. The incident follows Sunday\'s bombing at the city\'s main train station which left over a dozen people dead and wounded scores more. There\'s been no claim of responsibility for either of the attacks which come ahead of the Sochi Winter Games scheduled for February. Russian officials have described them as terrorist attacks.
0m:40s
5455
[30 Dec 2013] Fighting between Iraqi police, gunmen leaved over a dozen...
Clashes between police and gunmen at an anti-government protest camp in central Iraq have left over a dozen people dead.
The violence came after...
Clashes between police and gunmen at an anti-government protest camp in central Iraq have left over a dozen people dead.
The violence came after security forces were deployed to dismantle the camp in the city of Ramadi in Anbar province. Police sources say the clashes broke out when gunmen opened fire on security forces. At least ten gunmen and three policemen were killed. The defense ministry says the decision to remove the protest camp came after a deal reached between the ministry, tribal leaders and local government. Now, there are also reports of heavy gunfire in the city of Falouja in the same province. Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki had repeatedly vowed to remove the one-year-old camp accusing protesters of stirring strife and sheltering al-Qaeda-linked militants.
4m:32s
5785
[30 Dec 2013] 44 Iraqi MP resign after security forces dismantle...
In Iraq, 44 members of parliament announce their resignation after security forces dismantle an anti-government protest camp.
The lawmakers are...
In Iraq, 44 members of parliament announce their resignation after security forces dismantle an anti-government protest camp.
The lawmakers are demanding the withdrawal of the army. Earlier in the day, clashes broke out between gunmen and police in the central city of Ramadi where the camp was located. Three policemen and ten gunmen were killed. The violence also spread to the nearby city of Fallujah. The lawmakers are also calling for the release of detained MP Ahmed al-Alwani who backs the anti-government protesters. On Saturday, security forces raided Alwani\\\'s home. Deadly clashes broke out after his guards opened fire on the police. Seven people -- including the MP\\\'s brother, five guards and a security force member - were killed before Alwani was taken into custody.
1m:51s
6447
[03 Jan 2014] Dozens of al Qaeda linked militants killed in anti terror...
At least 62 al-Qaeda-linked militants have been killed in clashes with Iraqi security forces backed by local tribesmen in the western province of...
At least 62 al-Qaeda-linked militants have been killed in clashes with Iraqi security forces backed by local tribesmen in the western province of Anbar.
A tribal leader says the militants from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant were killed in Ramadi and a district east of the city. Earlier reports said the security forces were in control of most of the areas in Ramadi. They also managed to gain control of some more areas in the nearby city of Fallujah. The two cities in Anbar province have witnessed clashes between security forces and al-Qaeda-affiliated militants over the past several days. The violence broke out after the army removed an anti-government protest camp in Ramadi on Monday. Authorities said the camp was used by al-Qaeda-linked militants.
4m:25s
7689
[08 Jan 2014] The Iraqi prime minister promises to eliminate al-Qaeda...
Nouri al-Maliki has, in a televised speech, demanded that the militants in Anbar province surrender. He\'s also promised to be lenient on them in...
Nouri al-Maliki has, in a televised speech, demanded that the militants in Anbar province surrender. He\'s also promised to be lenient on them in case they turn themselves in. Iraqi troops have besieged Fallujah as they prepare for a major offensive to drive the militants out. But concerns about the lives of the city residents have complicated the operation. Meanwhile, Iraqi forces together with local tribesmen have reportedly taken control of 90 percent of the city of Ramadi in the same province. Local tribesmen have joined the army over the past week to reverse the surge of the al-Qaeda militancy. In the neighboring Babil province, government forces have arrested an al-Qaeda-linked leader and destroyed a militant camp in an airstrike.
5m:41s
5845
[08 Jan 2014] Qaeda Linked militants defeating FSA insurgents in Raqqah...
Infighting between rival insurgent groups is raging on in Syria. Opposition sources say that foreign-backed militants have seized the headquarters...
Infighting between rival insurgent groups is raging on in Syria. Opposition sources say that foreign-backed militants have seized the headquarters of al-Qaeda-linked insurgents in the northern city of Aleppo.
The sources added that members from several insurgent groups have taken control of a children\'s hospital in Qadi Askar district that is the headquarters of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Aleppo. Meanwhile, other reports from Syria say at least 20 militants have been killed in a car bomb near the northern city of Dakoush. The attack was reportedly carried out by militants from the I-S-I-L. The recent tension among militant groups fighting the Syrian government has been the deadliest since the conflict began in the war-torn country back in March 20-11.
3m:49s
5727
[21 Jan 2014] Iraqi forces are pressing on with their offensive against...
Iraqi forces are pressing on with their offensive against al-Qaeda-linked militants in the western province of Anbar.
Troops-- backed by Sunni...
Iraqi forces are pressing on with their offensive against al-Qaeda-linked militants in the western province of Anbar.
Troops-- backed by Sunni tribesmen-- continue their attack on insurgents who are in control of some neighborhoods in the city of Ramadi. Reports coming out of the area say a dozen security personnel have been injured by militant snipers during the operations. Over the past weeks, security forces have been fighting militants around Anbar\'s provincial capital, as well as and the nearby city of Fallujah. The militants are considered to be behind a surge of deadly violence across the country.
0m:31s
6571
[26 Jan 2014] Insurgents in Syria demand complete end to siege of parts...
Insurgents in Syria have expressed doubt about the implementation of a new deal reached at the Geneva peace conference, under which the government...
Insurgents in Syria have expressed doubt about the implementation of a new deal reached at the Geneva peace conference, under which the government has agreed to let women and children leave besieged districts of the city of Homs.
Insurgents operating in the city have called for a complete end to the siege of the areas, which have been under a blockade since June 20-12. They also say they want guarantees from the UN or the International Committee of the Red Cross that the people leaving the areas will not be arrested by Syrian forces. Earlier, UN and Arab League special envoy on Syria Lakhdar Brahimi said Damascus has agreed to let women and children leave the areas. The agreement was reached on the third day of the peace talks between the Syrian government and the foreign-backed opposition in Geneva.
4m:30s
6175
[25 Feb 2014] World longest on foot protest underway in Pakistan - English
These are helpless families of hundreds of missing Pakistani nationals. They have traveled all the way from southwestern city of Quetta. Each day...
These are helpless families of hundreds of missing Pakistani nationals. They have traveled all the way from southwestern city of Quetta. Each day they cover at least 25-kilometer long distance.
So far they have covered over 2000 kilometer long distance by foot from October last year onwards. Their final destination is capital city Islamabad ---just few hours walk from this main road. This is the longest ever protest undertaken in the world through an unprecedented journey on foot. But it is not meant to register name in Guinness Book of the World Record.
2m:5s
5615
[28 Feb 2014] Several protesters killed, dozens injured in Egypt...
Egyptian security forces have once again attacked anti-government protesters joining rallies in several cities, killing four protesters.
Dozens...
Egyptian security forces have once again attacked anti-government protesters joining rallies in several cities, killing four protesters.
Dozens of others were injured as security forces fired tear gas and shots at protesters in the capital Cairo, Alexandria and the canal city of Suez. Several demonstrators were also wounded when thugs attacked supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi in the northern city of Damietta. The clashes erupted when anti-government protesters joined rallies after Friday prayers to denounce plans by Defense Minister Abdul Fatah Sisi to run for president. They are also angry over a presidential law issued on Thursday that installs the defense minister as the supreme commander of the military council. Egypt has been the scene of weekly protests since the country\'s first democratically- elected president was ousted last July.
3m:25s
4988
Supreme Leader Speech in Meeting with Hajj Officials - Sayed Ali...
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
First of all, I would like to welcome all the dear brothers and sisters and the glorious...
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
First of all, I would like to welcome all the dear brothers and sisters and the glorious officials who render many services in one of the outstanding arenas of the Islamic community - that is to say, the arena of hajj and visiting the House of God and the enlightened city of Madina. I hope that you will benefit from this great achievement in the hereafter. I hope that your actions and efforts in this auspicious arena will be so sincere that your performance sheet in the hereafter shines, like the sun, with the light of purity and sincerity. I express my gratitude to the honorable gentlemen for the efforts that they have made in the arena of hajj. The things that they have done - whether in cultural, spiritual, moral and educational areas or in practical and organizational areas - should really be appreciated.
What is important is that we should know hajj is one of the strong points of the holy religion of Islam. Although there are not a few strong points in Islamic sharia, hajj plays an outstanding role because of the characteristics which it enjoys and which we are more or less familiar with. In fact, we can say that hajj is a source of power for the Islamic community and the Islamic Ummah. The day when we Muslims from different countries and with different denominations manage to achieve intellectual growth so much so that we can form the Islamic Ummah in the real sense of the word - unfortunately, we Muslims have not managed to achieve this moral, political and intellectual growth until today - and the day when we Muslims from eastern parts to western parts of the world of Islam manage to form one single ummah although we may have different governments, we understand how hajj can be a source of power, strength, transcendence and dignity for this Islamic Ummah.
Today, the Islamic Republic should adopt such an outlook towards hajj. It should regard hajj as a means of power. What kind of power? By power, do we mean materialistic, political, military power or soft power such as cultural or linguistic power? The answer is no. The power of hajj is far beyond this. As well as showing the political and cultural power of the Islamic government, hajj provides a source of spiritual power. That is to say, it builds human beings from the inside, prepares them to overcome difficult obstacles and opens their eyes to realities which cannot be seen and felt without being present in the arena of hajj. By performing hajj rituals, one can understand a number of spiritual and educational realities of Islam. Hajj plays such a role.
One of the requirements of hajj is that hajj pilgrims should behave in a brotherly - in the real sense of the word - way towards one another in the arena of hajj and this great Islamic obligation. They should not look at one another as outsiders and enemies. They should see themselves as people who are moving towards one goal, who pursue one thing, who revolve around one pivot.
Allah the Exalted says, \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"Let there be no obscenity, no wickedness and no quarreling in the Hajj.\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" [The Holy Quran, 2: 197] The meaning of \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"no quarreling\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" is not that we should not quarrel with the enemy. On the contrary, hajj is the manifestation of quarreling with the enemy. Some narrow-minded and pessimistic people say, \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"There should be ‘no quarreling\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\' during hajj pilgrimage. Why do you hold a detestation ceremony during hajj pilgrimage?\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" The enmity which is reflected in this ceremony means enmity towards polytheism and atheism. This is one of the most fundamental principles of Islamic life. The kind of enmity which should not exist in hajj pilgrimage is enmity between brothers and believers and enmity between people who believe in monotheism. This enmity should not exist. Not only should we Muslims express in words that we have no enmity towards one another, but also we should feel this from the bottom of our hearts.
This is the exact opposite of what the enemies of Islam are trying to do in the Islamic community. You should pay attention to this. The existence of differences between Islamic denominations and between Shia and Sunni Muslims will not create any problem as long as these differences are confined to ideological differences. One person may believe in something and another person may believe in something else. Problems arise when these ideological differences lead to behavioral differences, confrontation, hostility and enmity. The enemies of the world of Islam are after creating such a situation and hatching such a plot.
They have properly understood that the Zionist regime can breathe easily if Islamic denominations in the world of Islam start confronting and fighting with one another. They have understood this truth perfectly and properly. On the one hand, they form groups which engage in takfirism - not only do these groups anathematize and curse Shia Muslims, but they also anathematize Sunni denominations - and on the other hand, they hire a number of mercenaries to add fuel to the fire of discord. You know and have heard about this plot. They provide these groups and mercenaries with different means of mass communication. Where do they do this? They do this in America and London. The kind of Shia Islam which is promoted from London and America is useless for Shia Muslims.
Shia leaders - particularly the leaders who emerged after the victory of the Islamic Revolution - our Imam and other leaders placed great emphasis on preserving the unity of the Islamic Ummah and behaving in a brotherly way towards Muslims. This is while a number of people - who interfere in the affairs of Muslims for no reason - are after fueling the fire of discord. This is the thing which the enemy wants. This is the thing which the enemies of Islam - who are neither Shia nor Sunni - like to pursue. We should understand this condition properly and we should pay attention to it.
Another important point is that Muslims should share and exchange their original Islamic cultures and their Islamic experiences with one another. This is another strong point of hajj and another source of power for it. We may have heard different things about such and such an Islamic country. But, hearing is different from sitting and talking directly to an individual from an Islamic country. This individual can also compare what he has heard about our dear Islamic Iran with what he sees in you and hears from you. This way, he can discover the truth about Iran.
There are an enormous number of propaganda campaigns against the Islamic Republic. There are a large and surprising number of media networks who propagandize against the Islamic Republic with different methods. When a young individual from such and such an African, Asian, Arab or non-Arab country goes on the Internet, watches such and such an international channel or reads such and such an international newspaper, how can he or she understand that what such media networks say is false? Your presence in hajj and in this international arena gives you the opportunity to reveal the truth not only in words but also in action. It helps you to speak the truth about Shia Islam, the Islamic Revolution and the events which are happening today.
Another important and crucial point about hajj is the thing which I referred to earlier: strengthening spirituality in our hearts and souls. My dear ones, we can put up a resistance in the arenas of jihad for the sake of God only if our hearts are filled with faith in God and reliance on Allah the Exalted. It is not possible to move forward without spirituality. It is not possible to take difficult paths without a strong faith. Without reliance on Allah the Exalted, it is not possible to ignore the superficial power of powerful countries and see the real power. Reliance on God, faith and belief in God\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s promises are necessary. These things can be achieved in hajj. When people go on hajj pilgrimage they \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"Witness the benefits (provided) for them.\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" [The Holy Quran, 22: 28] These benefits are not only material benefits. There are otherworldly, spiritual and psychological benefits as well as material benefits in hajj pilgrimage. This is the significance of hajj.
Well, today you can see that besides creating intellectual, psychological and ideological discord among Muslims throughout the world of Islam, the enemies fuel the fire of war as well. See how they fuel the fire of war in our neighboring countries with the pretext of Shia and Sunni differences. They do this in different ways in our neighboring countries such as Pakistan, Iraq, Syria and Bahrain. Even when the problem is not about Shia and Sunni, they say that it has occurred because of Shia and Sunni differences. I have given many examples in this regard. The enemies are prepared to set the region on fire for their own political interests. Superpowers are like this. They are not afraid that an explosion may take place in such and such a neighborhood of an Iraqi city and they are not afraid that 50 people may be killed in this explosion. They are not afraid that certain events may happen in Syria, Egypt or other countries which may turn them into a ruin. Superpowers - such as America and countries like America - do such things for their own illegitimate interests. We hope that the Americans are serious about their new outlook on Syria. We hope that it is not another political game.
It is several weeks that they have been threatening the region to wage a war and create a serious conflict for the sake of the interests which they have defined for themselves. And they consider it legitimate to defend these interests no matter if they jeopardize the interests of ten other countries and nations. They are such people. They do not care about justice and the interests of human beings. They refer to such interests as national interests, but these are not really their national interests. Rather, these are the interests of the Zionists and the enemies of humanity. These are the interests of capitalists who have proved during the last 70, 80 years that they are not committed to any human principle and value. But they call it national interests and they are prepared to fuel all kinds of wars and fitnas for the sake of these proclaimed national interests.
It is several weeks that they have been trying to cause great controversy by threatening the region with a war and bombardment. Well, if they are serious about their recent outlook, this means that they have turned back from the wrong path which they have been taking during the last few weeks. We hope that they are serious. This is the condition of the region and the world.
The Islamic Republic takes a look at all these issues with open eyes and with its full attention. What we have understood is that as a nation with a total population of 70, 80 million people and with a sensitive geographical location in the world, we should strengthen our position by adopting the right outlook and by benefiting from our Islamic power. We should let the entire humanity see our lofty and human goals which have originated from Islam and we should invite all human beings to cherish the gift which Islam has offered to human beings. This is our responsibility. I have repeatedly said that strengthening the country from the inside is possible primarily with firm faith, unity of the people, appropriate actions by the officials of the country, cooperation between the people and officials and reliance on Allah the Exalted. That is to say, we should benefit from rationality, spirituality, reliance on God and diligence. Undoubtedly, this will influence the conditions of the region as it has influenced the region so far.
I hope that what Islam wants for the Islamic Republic, people throughout the world, Muslims and non-Muslims will be achieved with your presence in different arenas - including your presence in the arena of hajj which manifests your rationality and your clear outlook. I hope that your presence in such arenas will bring about communal happiness.
I ask all of you to pray for us. I hope that this year you will experience a good hajj pilgrimage and I hope that you, all Iranian hajj pilgrims and all the pilgrims who visit the House of God from throughout the world will benefit from divine blessings and mercy. I hope that your hajj pilgrimage will be accepted by God.
Greetings be upon you and Allah\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s mercy and blessings
12m:37s
37620