01 March 2026

As Salaamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wa Barakatu

انا لله وانا اليه راجعون

Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed, to Him we shall return – Surah Al-Baqarah 2:157

Dear Brothers and Sisters and friends

Our hearts are shattered on the loss of our beloved Supreme leader Ayatollah Sayed Ali Hosseini Khamenei and senior Iranian officials in the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Our sincere prayers extend to the families of the innocent children and victims of the Iranian nation in the spineless and deceptive air strikes which were carried out yesterday by the illegitimate Zionist entity backed by the United States of America.

These strikes were carried out by the IDF on the compound of the Supreme leader where he and some of his immediate family members reside. Those that were martyred included his daughter, daughter in law, son in law and grandchild.

This dastardly strike occurred, despite the ongoing diplomatic negotiations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States, where it was reported by the Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi, that progress was being made to avert a military conflict.

It is axiomatic that the US / Zionist plot to murder Iran’s supreme leader was an act of State Terrorism and premeditation in the targeting of resistance and political leaders who are against US imperial hegemony and the Zionist belligerent occupation of Palestine.

Indeed, this attack was a repetition of events which initiated the beginning of the 12-day war in June 2025.

And again, US negotiations were a pretext on imposing technical limits of uranium enrichment, Iran’s nuclear programme and now curtailing Iran’s Ballistic missile programme, has been proven to be merely a smokescreen to position US military assets and warships in the region to launch an unprovoked and unwarranted attack against Iran in flagrant violation of international law.

Equally ghastly, was the cowardice strike on an elementary Girls School in Minab the Southern Iranian province of Hormozgan near the strategic sea route of the Strait of Hormuz, where there was a high number of fatalities.

At least 108 children are reported to have been martyred and there are ongoing efforts to remove victims from the rubble. This illustrates the level of cowardice the enemy will go to.

The unashamed support for such an attack again illustrates the enemies moral depravity and hypocrisy in the protection of children rights where once again an Iranian Girls School was targeted as was the case in the previous 12-day war.

I urge the Iranian people to remain steadfast to the principals and values espoused by Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei.

Your historical solidarity and support for the oppressed nations and people in occupied Palestine in aspiring for the realisation of their inalienable right to self-determination, reflects your true worthiness and followers of the prophetic teachings of the Ah Lul Bayt, Imam Hussein and our beloved Prophet – to always resist and to never bow in the midst of oppression.

I urge the Iranian government, its armed forces and the Revolutionary Guard to remain strategic in the defence of the homeland.

The birth of the Islamic Republic of Iran was hard fought and earned as was our freedom during the anti-apartheid struggle.

The integrity of Iranian territorial sovereignty means everything and must be defended at all cost in the midst of the present war.

Never be deterred by your retaliation against those Gulf Arab States who have shamelessly hosted US military bases from which attacks are sustained and carried out against the Iranian homeland.

Your right to self-defence is enshrined and a legitimate right under international law.

But more importantly is our Islamic identity and right to self-preservation and the right to invoke Jihad against a ruthless and oppressive enemy.

This holy war is to uphold truth against falsehood.

We must continue to be steadfast in upholding the values of our martyred leader in this holy month of Ramadan on the path of resisting against all forms of oppression.

Death and defeat to our enemies.

I end with

Surah Al-Baqarah 2:156

“And we will try you with something of fear and hunger, and loss of wealth and lives, and fruits; but give glad tidings to the patient”.

 Surah Al -Baqarah 2:191

“And fight in them in the cause of Allah against them who fight you, but do not transgress. Surely Allah loves not the Transgressors.”

Our message to the aggressors and war mongers –

Not an inch of soil of the Islamic Republic of Iranian territory will capitulate.

Nor shall the will of the Iranian people subjugate to any foreign ruler.

Long live the peoples’ revolution of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Khaeli Mamnoon for your attention.

Br. Attorney Ziyaad Ebrahim Patel

(South African Attorney, International Human Rights Defender and Lawfare Advocate)

Delivered at the IFCA Center Brixton Johannesburg South Africa