12 October 2025
TEHRAN – ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
Good day to everyone here, (and) to all who are attending and all the special guests, to the organisers who have given this invitation which we have honoured.
Ayatollah Akhtari and others who have taken the time to arrange this important conference. On the 8th international conference in solidarity with Palestinian children and youth. We bring greetings and salutations to the beloved Prophet Muhammad Sallalahu Alayhi Wasallam and his holy household.
Allah Subhana Hua Taala says in (Surah 2: verse 190 of the Quran, “and fight in the way of God with those who fight you but aggress not; God loves not the aggressors.” This is an important verse because we as Muslims are first and foremost responsible for our Islamic obligations in the Holy Quraan.
What is happening in Palestine is a nightmare; it is a genocide, a war crime, and religious crimes being committed against a defenseless civilian population against our Muslim brothers and sisters and children.
I’m not going to speak about all the atrocities but the example of Dr Alaa Najjar and her husband, both medical doctors. (Husband Dr. Hamdi al – Najjar killed / martyred). Dr. Alaa Najjar is left as a survivor; nine of her children were martyred in one attack (on her home) in Gaza. She is left as a survivor and her one son.
As a Human Rights Lawyer and Lawfare advocate, I’m predominantly involved in fighting the injustices committed by the Israeli Defence Force, the IDF and the recruitment structure that happens in South Africa and other countries where Jewish nationals and youth go and serve in the IDF and commit egregious crimes and then come back to their countries, like South Africa and enjoy our democratic constitutional values.
At this point in time there’s an important case that I brought in South Africa, as South Africa is hailed on the international stage for its case in the ICJ and the ICC.
South Africa, however, has a serious disconnect nationally where it fails to prosecute its own nationals (and) citizens or hold to account those companies (institutions) and entities that facilitate the recruitment of IDF soldiers and commit these crimes we see in Gaza.
I also want to talk about this concept about the recognition of the Palestinian State. The French President made a few remarks which were very concerning at the UN General Assembly where he said that there was no space at the table for Hamas, which is a globally recognised political resistance and revolutionary movement.
A movement whose proven track record resists colonial apartheid and belligerent occupation and advocates the attainment of the Palestinian right to self-determination. Macron says very clearly that Hamas was vanquished on the military front as we neutralised it’s leaders and decision makers. It must also be vanquished politically to be completely dismantled. These are the statements of the French president, supported by the PM of the UK in the recognition of Palestine as a state. He says there is no role in government, no role in security, we have already prescribed and sanctioned Hamas and we’ll go further. And that is directed to sanction other Hamas members in the coming weeks. And this is supported by the PA.
Brothers and sisters this is absolutely unacceptable that the PA (Palestinian Authority) together with Saudi Arabia and western countries, are going to ask the UN to recognise the Palestinian state.
To (already) recognise a Palestinian state that has existed already historically.
Due to shortness of time, I want to say three things. I read a verse in the Holy Quran, but in International Law, the right of resistance is closely related to the right self-determination.
It is purely legitimate and legal to use armed struggles and all means available in terms of the UN Article.
Reference is made hereto:
(A/RES/47/82 – the right of self-determination and the granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples. This resolution, like other foundational documents such as the UN Charter, affirms the universal right of all peoples to freely determine their political status. It also reaffirms legitimacy of the struggle of peoples for independence, territorial integrity, national unity and liberation from colonial domination, apartheid and foreign occupation, in all its forms and by all available means).
To fight against oppression, colonisers, to fight against belligerent occupation and the illegal Zionist entity, we must never accept this narrative of the West that fighting or that the right of resistance equates to terrorism.
Global state terrorism is permitted and perpetrated by the US who aids and abets Israel in these horrendous crimes we have witnessed in the last 2 years.
And in conclusion I say to the martyrs we have lost in Gaza, in Yemen, in Lebanon and in the Islamic Republic of Iran, where genocide is now trite and accepted internationally that Israel is committing genocide and Palestinians are entitled (for) their right to return and restitution of whole of their land pre-1948.
The blood of the Palestinians and the martyrs murdered by the IDF in the region does not permit frugal penance in recognition of a Bantustan that continues to strip Palestinians of their fundamental (human) rights to life, dignity, safety, and security.
Yesterday we went to the Al Qasr complex, and we saw where the late Ayatollah Khomeini and the present Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei were detained.
From the Al Qasr Complex to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela and his comrades were detained, imprisoned and tortured, these were crimes against humanity.
But they never sacrificed for a Bantustan or for a small state. They fought and fought until complete liberation was attained.
I leave you with these words of (Omar) al – Mukhtar, the Libyan (freedom) fighter who said when 2 Italian prisoners were captured, one of his fellow colleagues said, “let’s do to those prisoners what they have done to us.”
To which (Omar al Mukhtar – known as the Lion of the Desert) responded that “they will never be our teachers.” He also said as a freedom fighter that we will continue to fight and if we don’t fight the next generation will fight, it’s all or nothing until the day of liberation.
Shukran Jazeelan for your attention.
May Allah Subhana Hu Taala bless you all and your families and may Allah grant freedom and liberation to the people of Palestine and Gaza and the people of the Middle East.
In solidarity with the Sumud Flotilla who were hijacked in international waters, we say “From The River To The Sea, Palestine Will Be Free” but “From the Sea to The River Insha’Allah Gaza will be free”
Assalaamu Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu
Click Here To Watch Attorney Ziyaad Patel’s Speech in Tehran.