Shabbir Hassanally: UN A Mercenary Outfit for United States

TEHRAN (FNA)- Political analyst Shabbir Hassanally says the UN has become “a means to legitimize the corruption and excesses of the American regime on humanity”.

Mr. Hassanally, in an exclusive interview with FNA, said that the UN is totally complicit with the genocide of the Yemeni people, and it is possible that the situation in Yemen “would be the final nail in the coffin of the corrupt and impotent United Nations.”

The analyst also said that the Saudi-led coalition’s deliberate targeting of civilians is aimed at making the Yemeni people move against the resistance movement.

Shabbir Hassanally is an Islamic Scholar and political analyst. Mr. Hassanally lectures at various Islamic Centers from time to time and is currently working on a book on the commonalities between Zionism and Wahhabism – from a political and hegemonic perspective, as well as examining historical parallels between the two. He also consults on subjects related to human rights, activism, Islam, anti-sectarianism, and Islamic politics, economics, the Palestine issue and issues affecting Muslims across the world.

FNA has conducted an interview with Shabbir Hassanally about the ongoing Saudi war on Yemen and possible motives behind the war imposed on the impoverished Arab country by Saudi Arabia and its western allies.

Below you will find the full text of the interview.

Q: What do you think of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Yemen caused by the Saudi war and the blockade on the country?

A: The humanitarian crisis, which is exasperated by the inaction and complicity of the United Nations against Yemen is without a doubt a criminal activity, and perhaps even the last nail in the coffin of any credibility that the United Nations had.

The pandering of the UN to the Zionist Entity historically has led to the UN being unable to – or perhaps unwilling to – prevent the Arab Zionists from perpetrating the most horrific of crimes on Yemen and getting away with them, without so much as a slap on the wrist by the so-called “civilized” international community. 

The UN was built on the notion of “Never Again” following the atrocities we are told happened during the Second World War; that the world would never allow mass genocide to take place; yet here we are, for the umpteenth time, witnessing a genocide that the UN facilitates.

Q: What are the Saudis’ objectives in their war on Yemen?

A: The Saudi’s wanted to ensure that Yemen was prevented from exercising its right to be independent, to choose its own government and to control its own natural resources and indeed its own destiny. 

The Saudi regime knows that Yemen is a strong, powerful country, with people who have great honour and dignity, and that given the control that Yemen has over the Bab al-Mandab Straits, it could potentially be a threat to both Saudi Arabia and its Zionist siblings occupying Palestine.

The stated objectives were to “reinstate” the “legitimate” government of AbdurRabuh Mansour Hadi, but this is invalid as Mansour Hadi had voluntarily resigned – not once but twice, and was no longer the President of Yemen. What he was, was a slave of the Saudi and Zionist project, and as a result, he committed the greatest treason upon those who he professes are his own people.

Q: It seems that the Saudis expected an easy-to-win combat when they first stepped into the war. What do you see as the reason for Riyadh's continued failure in Yemen?

A: The primary reason for the catastrophic failure of the Saudi-coalition, led by the US/Israel/UK/UAE against Yemen has been the bravery and resilience of the people of Yemen. Their loyalty to the land and to their sovereignty, and their respect and love for the Ansarallah Resistance – who are incidentally made up of more than just the Houthi Tribe (though they are a key component of the Ansarallah movement).

Ansarallah is a popular movement, and everywhere we look, when a resistance movement is built on the popular support it is always successful and victorious. For example:

In Lebanon with Hizbullah

In Iraq with the Hashd ash-Sha’bi (also known as the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU))
In Iran during the early years of Islamic Revolution and during the Eight-Year Sacred Defense with Baseej and Sepah (IRGC)

In Syria with the various Resistance movements that came in to defend Syria from the Takfiri terrorism, such as the Zaynabiyyoun and Fatimiyyoun Resistance Groups, and many other home-grown resistance groups that worked alongside the Syrian Army.

So whenever and wherever you see a genuinely popular movement; something that comes from the people; and is rooted in the dignity of the people and the land; that forms a “Golden Equation” as described by Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah; an equation of the People, the Army and the Resistance – and if examined the above movements; as well as the Ansarallah Resistance in Yemen fully conform to this equation.

The core of the Yemeni Army is with the People and with the Resistance; as a result; since the Golden Equation is complete; there is NO POSSIBILITY for the Zionists – be they Arab or European – of having any sort of success in Yemen (or anywhere that operates on this idea of the Golden Equation). This provides a safeguard for Yemen.

Granted, the enemy will – and sadly is – working to create a monumental humanitarian crisis in Yemen; but this is merely sealing the fate of all those bombing and harming Yemen, and those who supply those criminals with weapons and “logistical support” – sadly like the UK and France.

Q: Why do the US and the UK continue to supply Saudi Arabia with arms despite international criticism regarding civilian casualties?

A: As for why the criminal regimes in Washington and London (neither of which have any sort of real public mandate; since both came to power based on deception and lies, rendering their “election” invalid and void, but I digress); these are regimes based on savage capitalism; they are driven by money and power; and controlled in every facet by the Zionist project. They are also driven by a constant fear of their own impending destruction; a fear that is the staple of the Zionists and is used by them to further their own agendas and as a means to mitigate any potential resistance against them – but again, I digress.

This can be seen in their understanding that the people in Yemen have chosen the path of Resistance, and whenever that path is chosen when the Golden Equation can be found, the people are always successful. And it will be the cause for the destruction of the enemies and those criminals who seek to invade and colonize Yemen. 

They also know that if they allow Yemen to prevail (and of course they cannot stop the inevitable victory of the people of Yemen, they can only try and delay it and cause more deaths and destruction), then the next stop for victory is Palestine; and this will lead to another certainty; the destruction and end of the Zionist entity occupying Palestine.

For this reason – amongst others – the US and UK, who are the parents of the Zionist entities – both the one occupying Palestine and the one occupying Arabia – are making sure that they arm their two rabid children – “Israel” and “Saudi Arabia” to the hilt – and ensure that they can thwart any attack.

Alongside that they constantly and indeed pathologically choose to point the finger of blame on the Islamic Republic of Iran for somehow provide support and weaponry to the people of Yemen; who are incidentally under what is essentially a hermetic seal and complete blockade. Nothing can get in and nothing can get out without the permission of those engaged in the blockade and “police” the same. Something attested to by the UN which is itself a party to the blockade and does nothing to prevent or lift it.

So, considering this complete blockade of Yemen, how would Islamic Iran or any other party for that matter get any military equipment or missiles into Yemen?!

Food can’t be brought in; lifesaving medications can’t be brought in – and yet somehow the world is expected to believe that Iran is somehow able to send huge missiles and bombs into Yemen?!

The lies of the aggressors are getting worse and worse; and indeed, will bury them.

Q: Why have the international organizations, particularly the UN, remained passive in the face of the ongoing Saudi atrocities?

A: As I’ve explained above, the United Nations is an impotent organization; it is crippled by the illegal imposition of the five permanent members who all have the veto power – rendering the participation of all other global countries pointless if they cannot get a veto-wielding power to agree with them.

The UN in this instance is completely complicit with the genocide being perpetrated on Yemen, and as I said; it is entirely possible that the Yemen situation would be the final nail in the coffin of the corrupt and impotent United Nations. An organization that speaks much of international law but can do nothing (unless a veto power-wielding member agrees and chooses to do something) to impose and enforce such laws.

Rather, what the UN excels at is being a mercenary outfit for the United States, a means to legitimize the corruption and excesses of the American regime on humanity. Legitimizing the barbaric “oil for food program” against Iraq; legitimizing the existence of the Zionist entity, an entity built and based on theft; legitimizing the existence of the terrorist factions attempting to harm Syria and indeed working in a manner so as to topple the legitimate government of Syria – all at the behest and for the sake of the United States.

When things don’t quite go according to the US’s desires, the US does what it has been doing as of late; it says it will leave and acts like a spoilt child. 

Indeed, if the UN doesn’t go through significant reform, including the removal of the veto power from the five permanent members – especially the United States, United Kingdom and France who have used it brazenly to support genocides and illegal aggressions across the world, from Palestine to Yemen and elsewhere – this organization should just be closed and relegated to the museums of history, as the broken and corrupt relic that it is.

Q: The airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition have mostly killed Yemeni civilians, including thousands of women and children. What do you see as the objective of these airstrikes targeting civilians?

A: The core reason for the mass murder of civilians in Yemen – and indeed in other places – has been to break the spirit of the people, and somehow make the people go against those resisting the aggression.

They feel that in killing people they will somehow make the people want to capitulate and have tea and biscuits with those throwing deadly bombs upon them. It is based on a deluded sense of grandeur, and is yet another reason why those who act like this were referred to by Imam Khomeini, may God rest his pure soul, as “Global Arrogance” – because it is extremely arrogant.

Since we are also led to believe that the US and UK are providing “logistical and intelligence” support to the “Saudi”-led coalition, then it might be argued that the targeting of civilians – and this is without a doubt what is happening a deliberate targeting of civilians in Yemen is being done not only by Saudi Arabia, but by those providing it with the “intelligence” that such and such place is a “threat”. Because naturally, we must understand that for the forces of Global Arrogance, a wedding is a threat, a funeral is a threat, a school or hospital is a threat and so on.

For the sake of brevity, I won’t discuss further why these civilian places are such a threat to Global Arrogance, and why they are explicitly targeted by the Saudi/Israeli/UK/US/UAE coalition against Yemen, suffice it to say that the world is losing its humanity in Yemen.

Imam Khomeini Re-introduced Pure, Original Islam to Humanity - Shabbir Hassanally

 

TEHRAN (FNA)- After over 2500 years, Iranian nations led by Ayatollah Ruhallah Musawi known as Imam Khomeini, who was the founder and late leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, ended the tradition of monarchy in Iran in 1979. But, the question is how, after millenniums, the sense of anti-monarchy was awakened within Iranians.

It is widely believed Imam Khomeini, the characteristic spiritual leader, sparked the revolutionary feeling among the Iranian nations, and ignited the uprising.

In an interview with Shabbir Hassanally, a Leicester-based Islamic Scholar and activist, Fars News discusses unique characteristics of a leader who woke up people to reality after tens of decades. Hassanally tells Fars News Agency how he views Imam Khomeini the most qualified to take leadership of the Islamic Revolution in 1979. He also sheds light on how Imam Khomeini influenced other nations internationally. Throughout the interview, how Velayat Faqih (Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist) was taken from the theoretical into practical level was discussed.

Below is the text of the interview with Mr. Shabbir Hassanally:

Q: Even though Velayat Fqih (the notion of an Islamic jurist custodianship over all issues for which Prophet of Islam and Shia Imam have responsibility) traces its roots back to centuries ago, throughout the history Iran was the first and only state to adopt Velayat Faqih in the highest position of the government on the practical level. Do you see Imam Khomeini the most qualified to be the first ever Valiy Faqih (top jurisprudent) in the history?

A: I do believe he was without a doubt the most qualified. The idea of being qualified is composed of multiple factors aligning. In order to implement a divine system of government, such as the system of Velayat Faqih, the requirement is for both the leader having the foresight, knowledge, wisdom and ability – but also that said the leader has the support of the people. Both these key components were enjoyed by Imam Khomeini, and that resulted in the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979, after decades of hard work and sacrifice by both the Imam as well as the people who were loyal and supportive of him.

Q: Imam Khomeini pronounced the Islamic Unity Week, and proposed the International Quds Day. He put emphasis on the fact that the unity of Muslims amongst themselves was meant to be “a united Hand against all arrogance” in that era. Why did Imam Khomeini urge Muslims to be united?

A: The idea of unity is one that has been taught by Islam from the start – and indeed by all the divine systems through history.

The first and most important step in any nefarious scheme by an oppressor in order to further their dominance over people is to pit the people against each other, and distract them from the reality and pre-occupy them with trivialities and non-issues. This is something that historically has harmed the Muslim world. Indeed, if one studies both the Roman and British Empires, it is clear to see that this approach was extensively utilised.

These days, there is little difference. The empire of the day – the American Empire – and its lackeys and associates work tirelessly to sow the seeds of sectarian strife between the Muslims. They pit the poor against the rich, the black against the white, the Arab against the non-Arab and so on. Why? So, they can control them further.

When Imam Khomeini said Muslims should unite with each other, he taught the Muslims that not only would they then be following Quranic dictates, but they would also be acting as a united hand against arrogance.

It was when the people of Iran, united and came together, under Islam and under the leadership of Imam Khomeini, that they could remove the yoke of Shah and his masters in Washington, London and Tel Aviv from themselves; truly achieving independence from any despotic system, and reliance only on God.

Q: Being named the man of the year in 1979 by the Times magazine, his international influence was noticed in every corner around the globe. How do you regard Imam Khomeini’s unique characteristics behind the fact that Iran’s Islamic Revolution was well received by other nations? Do think if, throughout the world, there is a corner in which Shia Islam is recognized without identifying Imam Khomeini?

A: For decades, even centuries, the Muslims had become secularised. Islam was relegated to the mosques; it was all but prohibited from play a part in the day to day affairs of people’s lives – let alone governing the people. I am of the firm belief that Imam Khomeini was one of the greatest Mujadideen (reformers) of Islam in this age. He took Islam, which had become secularized, and made it central to the entire system governing Iran. Imam Khomeini woke up the Muslims.

Imam Khomeini came and re-introduced the pure, original Islam to humanity. He showed that Islam could play a role in the affairs of people, in society, in politics, in the economy and so on; and was not just a cultural or spiritual phenomenon to be relegated to specific scenarios and places.

Due to its resistance mentality as well the reality of its position as a regional superpower – everyone looks towards Iran. Iran is a country governed by Islam, by the system of Velayat Faqih, a system that is an extension of the idea of Imamah or Velayat in Shia Theological Doctrine that is also understood and respected by all Muslims.

Without a doubt when people see or hear of Imam Khomeini, or Iran, or Imam Khamenei, they see Shia Islam. This is a universal concept, and there is – in my opinion – nowhere (especially since the advent of the Internet) that is unaware of this connection.

Q: Following the US embassy takeover in Tehran in 1979, Imam Khomeini proclaimed only the Iranian parliament could decide the fate of the American Embassy staff. How do you view Imam Khomeini’s loyalty to the Islamic thoughts and democratic values?

A: Following the April 1979 referendum, when more than 98% of the people of Iran had declared that they wanted to be governed by the system of Velayat Faqih, it was by very nature the most democratic and honorable of positions.

Iran had removed the shackles and arrested those who were working for the Empire and spreading mischief and sedition in Iran. Had Imam Khomeini issued a direct edict, had he said that he alone was to decide the fate of those American spies, it would have been perceived by the West and the media as being “totalitarian” and “dictator-like” – this was not the way of Imam Khomeini.

The people had chosen their system of government, they had their representatives in the Majles (Parliament). Therefore, the most prudent course of action was to allow the people to decide what to do with those who had harmed them. This could only be achieved by a decree from the Majles – the people’s representatives. Imam Khomeini insisted on this. A truly democratic and indeed Islamic position.

Q: To take the mustazafin (the deprived) into consideration, and to issue a fatwa to treat well the minorities (the way that Zoroastrians, Jews and Christians have seats in Iran’s Majles) were of Imam Khomeini's legacy. How do you contrast his legacy with the goings-on in the US, today? Would you please clarify Imam Khomeini’s idea of calling the US the “great Satan”?

A: The ruling of Imam Khomeini, where he insisted – through Islamic edicts – that the minorities in Iran (and indeed across the world) should be treated with respect and honor – including ensuring that said minorities have their representatives in the Majles (parliament), to ensure their voices are heard is extremely important. It indicates and proves that Islam is a system of peace, coexistence and sanity. It is a system that is rational.

These days in the US, you can see that much of what is transpiring – even before the ascension of Trump – is quite the opposite.

The US silences the voices of any who oppose the ruling oligarchy. It uses the mainstream media, the lobbies and draconian legislation to achieve its goals.

Should the Empire disagree with a position or opinion; it’s lackeys in Europe, Occupied Arabia, Occupied Palestine and elsewhere step in “sanctioning” and “disabling” such voices.

Social media has become ablaze with stories rendering the real news as “Fake News”, and touting fake news as truth. The truth is rendered false, and the falsehood is rendered as truth.

When Imam Khomeini presented the idea of saying “Death to America” – this wasn’t an idea of opposing a country and its entire population; rather, it is the attributes that said entity represents. Hegemony, despotism, plutocracy, instigation of social and sectarian strife, the encouraging of immorality, interference in the affairs of others, not honouring pledges and agreements, misdirecting, deceiving, and so on.

Therefore, one might argue that the idea of “Death to America” is indeed a message to America and to the world that we will not tolerate and accept these negative ideas, we instead reject such ideas so much so that we resist such tyranny.

The idea of “Death to America” is to tell the world that we reject the occupation, colonization and cultural and physical genocide of the American natives, and indeed by extension we reject all occupation, colonization, all genocide – cultural or physical – of all people – which is why the idea of “Death to America” complements the position of “Death to Israel” so perfectly. Both entities have qualities that are abhorrent to humanity. Qualities that harm humanity, harm nature and are of no value. Qualities that are satanic in their nature. Which leads to understanding why Imam Khomeini also referred to the American Empire as the Great Satan.

“Death to America” needs to be understood in two key ways – firstly as a lesson, secondly as a prayer. When the supplicant says “Death to America” – they distance themselves from the qualities that America has that make it so despicable.