Why Khamenei Did Not Send A Condolence Message For Mandela

Now with Khamenei’s lack of a condolence message for Mandela there will be much criticism. But the question still remains what is the root cause for his silence while he did send a message on Fathi Shikaki’s death.

Why Khamenei Did Not Send A Condolence Message For Mandela

There were about fifty countries represented at Hassan Rouhani’s presidential inaugural ceremonies in early August this year, most of which are of little international significance...

There were about fifty countries represented at Hassan Rouhani’s presidential inaugural ceremonies in early August this year (only ten heads of state), most of which are of little international significance, while over 90 countries sent representatives to Nelson Mandela’s memorial ceremony (mostly heads of state) last week. This alone indicates the “international stature” that the Islamic republic enjoys, or does not enjoy, in the world, compared to say South Africa.

During Mandela’s ceremony US President Barack Obama said the world may not see another person like him. Indeed, Mandela’s greatness was acknowledged by the whole world, and UK and the US even lowered their flags to half mast and the UN Security Council held a minute of silence to commemorate Mandela. What is surprising is that among world leaders, Iran’s supreme leader ayatollah Khamenei did not send even a simple condolence message for Mandela.

Khameneiäs response?

Khamenei is not in the habit of sending condolence messages to world leaders. This is done by the president and other senior officials of Ian. Hassan Rouhani, Mohammad Khatami, Hashemi Rafsanjani, Ali Larijani, Mohammad Javad Zarif and a number of other officials all sent condolence messages for the occasion. But what would have happened if Ali Khamenei would have sent a message to a person who indisputably enjoyed such worldwide respect?

Is it not questionable that a man who is claimed to be the “supreme leader of the Muslim world,” and we are talking about a billion people, would remain indifferent to the passing of someone like Mandela?

Condolence Message For Assassination of Fathi Shkaki

Noting that Khamenei did not send a condolence message for Mandela becomes more striking when one notes that Khamenei is not actually indifferent to the death of foreign leaders. One only needs to remember that when the head of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group Fathi Shikaki was assassinated in October 1995, Khamenei sent a long message.

Had Khamenei sent a message on Mandela’s passing, it would have elevated his stature, not Mandela’s. Here is what Mohammad Gholpaygani, the head of the supreme leader’s office wrote when Khamenei and Mandela did meet in 1992: When Mandela came to visit the supreme leader, he kneeled with respect and sat on the floor and called Khamenei “his leader.”

Now, Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior advisor to Khamenei has recollected that event and erroneously says that Mandela “repeatedly used the term ‘my leader’ for the supreme leader and had a special respect for him.”

Attributing such words to Mandela brought forth controversy for how could a man of Mandela’s standing call a dictator ‘my leader.” This question was ultimately asked of Mandela’s office which responded with these words: “The question was passed on to Mr. Mandela and while expressing regret that the event had been misrepresented and other issues about the 1992 visit with Iran’s leader raised; among them that there had been only one chair at the meeting, reserved for Khamenei, while others sat on the floor. Mr. Mandela said that because of pain in his leg he could not sit on the floor and so a chair was brought for him.” Regarding calling Khamenei my leader, the head of Mandela’s office smiled at the comment and said, “This indicated ignorance of African culture and ethics, and consequently Mandela’s words because the term “my leader” is a respectful term. Similarly, I will use the term ‘my journalist’ when addressing you.”

Conclussion

Khamenei’s lack of response to Mandela’s passing was surprising. His condolence message to ayatollah Montazeri’s passing was so full of insinuations that some even labeled it an “insinuating condolence.” Khamenei also refrained from sending a condolence message on the death of former prime minister Mir-Hossein Mousavi (who is also related to Khamenei) which also brought forth much criticism.

Now with Khamenei’s lack of a condolence message for Mandela there will be much criticism. But the question still remains what is the root cause for his silence while he did send a message on Fathi Shikaki’s death.
http://www.roozonline.com/persian/news/newsitem/article/why-khamenei-did-not-send-a-condolence-message-for-mandela.html