On Thursday, August 30, the Egyptian president Mohamed Morsy held a speech at the 16th meeting of non-aligned nations in Tehran that was intended to find a solution for the Syria conflict.
Morsy's visit in itself raised much astonishment in the West and, perhaps, new fears of a possible alliance between the Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt and the Islamic Republic of Iran. However, the fact that Morsi chose to accept the Iranian invitation to be in Tehran, with which Cairo has not had full diplomatic relations for three decades, was itself a revolutionary move.
Astonishment could have been nourished as well by some religious remarks Morsy made in his speech. After his usual reference to the Prophet Mohamed, he praised the Prophet's family which could have been seen as a positive signal towards his predominantly Shia hosts.
But Morsy went further than that and paid the most unusual tribute in a political speech at an international summit to the "close associates" of Prophet Mohamed: Abu Bakr, Omar, Othman and Ali, accepted by Sunni Muslims as the first four pious and rightly guided rulers or caliphs. After Ali, the following dynasty of caliphs installed their capital in Damascus.
" The reference to Ali, the most holy member of the Prophet Mohamed's family in the eyes of [Shia Muslims], could have been perceived by Morsi's Shia audience in the conference hall as flattering had it not come after references to Abu Bakr, Omar and Othman, who are abhorred by Shias and whose role in early Muslim history is not even mentioned in the history books of Iranian schools " [Quotation from the Egyptian source ahramonline on August 30, 2012].
This and further unexpected remarks should have left Morsy in the memory of his auditorium as a remarkable politician of a brandnew generation with strong religious and historic ties. His remarks probably intended to define a common cultural background for the countries whose delegates he was facing during his speech.
The following quotations have been taken from an article on Al-Arabiya's website on August 31, 2012:
ترحيب عربي بالترضية عن أبو بكر وعمر في قلب طهران
Warm Arabic welcome of satisfaction for Abu Bakr and Omar in the center of Tehran.
ليذهب كل رؤساء العرب إلى إيران إذا كانوا سيصدحون بالحق مثل مرسي
As to the departure of all Arabic presidents to Iran there would [have been called] Morsy with the same right.
إيران تقحم البحرين بخطاب مرسي وتحذف أبوبكر وعمر
Iran is [challenging] Bahrain with a speech of Morsy and [its reminding of Bahrain's] suppression [by] Abu Bakr and Omar.
[Editor's Note: This text is referring to historic fighting of rebels in the early times of Islam.]
As to the legal background of the Tehran summit, it should be added that an Islamic intellectual and Saudi activist, Doctor Saliman Auda, had appealed to the leaders of non-aligned Arabic and Islamic states to leave for Tehran which in some way reduced the official role of the Iranian regime and might have made it easier for Morsy [or others] to attend that conference.
Morsy in Tehran - Arabic Press Review (above)
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Further News from Iran
إيران تجري مناورات ضخمة لأنظمة الدفاع الجوي
Iran is realizing considerable maneuvers under the aspect of air defense.
الجيش والحرس الثوري يشاركان في محاكاة لمواقف طارئة
Army and revolutionary guards participating in an imitation of extraordinary situations.
[Source: Al-Arabiya on September 1, 2012]
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Iran's Alliance with North Korea
台湾中广网9月2日援引伊朗国家电视台消息称，伊朗和朝鲜签署了一项科技合作协议。内容涵盖资讯科技、能源、环保和农业。同时，两国还将合作设立实验室，科研人员也会进行交流。
On September 2, Taiwan's [broadband network] quoted the [following] news from Iran's National TV:
Iran and North Korea signed an agreement on cooperation in science and technology. Its content [is comprising] the provision of [information] on science and technology, energy resources, environmental protection and agriculture. At the same time, both countries intend to work together in the setting up of laboratories.
据报道，伊朗总统内贾德与到德黑兰出席不结盟运动峰会的朝鲜人民会议委员长金永南一同出席了协议签署仪式。内贾德说，“美帝国主义”除了压迫朝鲜，还压迫伊朗，因为美国不希望这两个国家独立，不希望他们变得强大。
According to the news report, Iran's president Nejad and Kim [Yong Nan], chief of the delegation of North Korea's People's Conference attending the summit of the non-aligned [nations'] movement in Tehran, came together for the signing ceremony of an agreement. Nejad said that U.S. imperialism in addition to oppressing North Korea also oppresses Iran, because the U.S. don't wish both countries' independence and don't wish they might become powerful.
[Editor's Note: The above mentioned Korean family name of Ahmadi Nejad's counterpart is "Kim" while his first name can only be given in the Chinese Pinyin romanization.] [Source: sina.com on September 2, 2012]
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