Seddiqi: Colonial Legacy Behind UK Unrest

In his sermon today, Tehran interim Friday prayer leader Hojjatoleslam Kazem Seddiqi blamed Britain's colonial past for the unprecedented social unrest in the country, and said that the rioting in the country was a sign of God's promises.

"No one thought that Britain, which was once a pioneer in arrogance and colonialism, would one day be engulfed in the flames of its people's wrath," he said.

He added that the events are a sign of righteousness of the divine vow promised by the Founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran Imam Khomeini, based on which the oppressed will finally overcome the oppressors.

Noting that the unrest in Britain, and in other European countries, was the direct result of the crimes and atrocities they had committed in other countries, he said, "The colonialists schemed and spent money to create chaos in [other] countries, and today the result of their plotting is the events they have been stricken with."

He underlined that some Western countries, including Britain, are occupiers, and meet the expenses of their invasions with taxpayers' money, leading to a domestic explosion.

He criticized the British government for its lack of media transparency and for imposing censorship on independent media, and said that Britain's military ambitions, which have cost British taxpayers a fortune, have led to social poverty and injustice in the country.

He further criticized the West for propagating racial extremism and Islamophobia.

He said that Hizbullah, and the organization's leader Hassan Nasrallah, are another of God's miracles.

Seddiqi also criticized the policies adopted by Western powers, particularly the U.S., vis-à-vis African countries, where famine is pushing Somalia and its neighbors towards a humanitarian crisis. He criticized the performance of the UN in this regard as well, noting that the UN passes resolution on unnecessary topics but fails to act in regard to the famine-stricken Somalia.

He added, "The U.S. has looted much of Africa's resources, and today there are no reports of relief efforts by this country" for Somalia.

Sources: Press TV, English.irib.ir, Iran, August 12, 2011