By: Dr. Sabiu Adamu FPCPharm
Every generation believes that it lives through unprecedented times. Yet every generation eventually discovers that the real struggle has never changed. It is the struggle between justice and oppression, truth and falsehood, compassion and cruelty. What changes are merely the faces of the actors and the sophistication of the instruments they employ.
It is against this backdrop that the words of Imam Ruhollah Khomeini (q.s.) deserve renewed reflection.
Long before the digital age transformed politics into a twenty-four-hour global spectacle, he issued a warning that many dismissed as ideological rhetoric. Today, however, his observations invite sober consideration.
He declared:
«"We are living in an era in which the fate of oppressed and captive nations lies in the hands of a group of criminals who are dominated by a savage nature."»
Whether one agrees entirely with Imam Khomeini's political outlook, is secondary. The enduring question is whether the international system has succeeded in protecting the weak from the powerful. Recent decades suggest that this question remains painfully relevant.
Across the globe, entire populations continue to endure war, occupation, economic sanctions, forced displacement and humanitarian catastrophe. In many conflicts, civilians—not soldiers—pay the highest price. Children lose their homes before they learn to read. Hospitals become battlefields. Refugee camps become permanent cities of despair. These are not isolated tragedies; they are recurring features of a world that often struggles to translate lofty principles into practical justice.
Imam Khomeini (q.s.) offered another unsettling observation:
«"The world, in our time and in similar eras, has been afflicted by governments in which nothing but the law of the jungle prevails. We live in an era where criminals are praised and endorsed instead of being reprimanded and punished."»
His phrase, "the law of the jungle," evokes a world where might determines right. Although modern civilisation prides itself on international law, multilateral diplomacy and global institutions, many observers question whether these ideals are applied consistently. International responses to conflicts often appear influenced by strategic interests, economic alliances and geopolitical calculations. Similar actions committed by different actors may provoke markedly different reactions.
Such perceptions erode confidence in the international order. Justice, to retain its moral authority, must be seen to operate without fear, favour or selective application.
Perhaps Imam Khomeini's most controversial statement concerns international human rights institutions:
«"We live in an era in which so-called human rights organizations have become guardians of the unjust interests of the super-criminals, defending their oppression and that of their associates."»
This criticism should not be interpreted as a wholesale rejection of the ideals of human rights. On the contrary, genuine human rights remain among humanity's greatest moral achievements. The challenge lies in ensuring that these principles are defended universally rather than selectively. Whenever human rights become subordinate to political convenience, their credibility suffers. The oppressed begin to wonder whether justice is truly universal or simply another instrument of international influence.
Modern media further complicates this reality. We now witness suffering in real time. Images of destroyed neighbourhoods, grieving families and displaced communities travel instantly across continents. Yet the same technologies that reveal truth can also conceal it through selective reporting, misinformation and competing narratives. In such an environment, discerning truth requires intellectual humility, careful investigation and moral courage.
The crisis confronting contemporary civilisation is therefore not merely political; it is profoundly ethical. Scientific progress has exceeded moral progress. Humanity has developed astonishing technologies capable of connecting billions of people, yet remains divided by prejudice, greed and the pursuit of domination. Economic prosperity coexists with widespread poverty. International declarations proclaim human dignity while millions continue to live without security, justice or hope.
The Qur'an repeatedly reminds believers that oppression can never be the foundation of lasting peace:
«"Indeed, Allah commands justice, excellence and generosity to relatives, and He forbids immorality, wrongdoing and oppression." (Qur'an 16:90)»
Likewise, Allah says:
«"O you who believe! Stand firmly for justice as witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves, your parents or your relatives." (Qur'an 4:135)»
These verses elevate justice beyond politics. They transform it into a sacred obligation that transcends nationality, ethnicity and ideology.
History demonstrates that civilisations rarely collapse because of external enemies alone. More often, they decline when injustice becomes normalised, when truth is sacrificed for expediency and when the suffering of others ceases to disturb the collective conscience. Every society must therefore ask itself difficult questions. Do we condemn oppression consistently, or only when it serves our interests? Do we defend human dignity universally, or selectively? Are our institutions guided by principle or by power?
The relevance of Imam Khomeini's reflections lies not in encouraging despair but in awakening moral responsibility. His words challenge governments to exercise power with restraint, international institutions to uphold justice impartially and ordinary citizens to refuse indifference in the face of human suffering.
The future of civilization will not be determined solely by military strength, economic wealth or technological innovation. It will ultimately depend upon whether humanity rediscovers the timeless virtues of justice, compassion, accountability and respect for the sanctity of every human life.
As long as oppression exists anywhere, the struggle for justice remains unfinished. The warning of Imam Khomeini (q.s.) is therefore not simply a critique of his own era; it is an enduring invitation for every generation to examine its conscience and decide whether it will stand with power or with justice.
References
- The Holy Qur'an (16:90; 4:135).
- Imam Khomeini (q.s.), Sahifeh-ye Imam (Collected Works).
- United Nations, Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948).
- United Nations Charter (1945).
- Amnesty International. Annual Report (various editions).
- Human Rights Watch. World Report (various editions).
- International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Reports on International Humanitarian Law.
- John Rawls (1971). A Theory of Justice. Harvard University Press.
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