While the loss of President Raeisi and his Foreign Minister will be felt in Iran, the policies he pursued will continue. Islamic Iran’s system is not persona-based. Rather, it is based on the principles and values of Islam as its record since the Islamic revolution in 1979 shows.

There is little doubt that the zionists are perpetrating horrific crimes against the defenceless people of Gaza. This shows their barbarism yet such cruelties have not deterred the Islamic resistance from continuing to confront the invaders and inflict significant damage on them.

Imam Khomeini was the first Muslim leader in the contemporary era to draw attention to the illegal occupation of Al-Quds and Palestine. On his June 3 anniversary, his contribution to reviving the struggle for the liberation of Al-Quds and Palestine will be remembered.

Muslims faced two serious internal challenges in early Islamic history: one from the group called the munafiqeen and the other from the tulaqa (amnestied prisoners). They both caused immense damage to the body-politic of Islam. Muslims must understand this history properly.

The third Khalifah ‘Usman’s temperate nature was exploited by some unscrupulous individuals and groups to undermine the Islamic polity that ultimately resulted in serious damage to the political system of Islam.

Hajj is an important pillar of Islam and the largest assembly of the Ummah. Yet under the control of Bani Saud, it has been reduced to empty rituals. Discussion of burning issues like the plight of the Palestinians facing the zionist onslaught is strictly forbidden. Why?

Student encampments at university campuses have continued to expose the universities’ investments in companies profiting from Israel’s war on Gaza. Students have demanded that such complicity end. They have exposed the hypocrisy of university administrations.

Following the untimely death of President Raeisi, western media outlets have been predicting doom and gloom in Iran. This is their default mode after each tragedy that strikes Iran. Their predictions have proved wrong in the past and will be proved wrong again.

Few Americans know that Israel carried out a deliberate attack on the USS Liberty on June 8, 1967. It was a US spy ship operating in the Mediterranean. The Israelis deliberately attacked it killing 34 US servicemen but then US President Lyndon Johnson hushed up the matter.

Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan is an eloquent speaker. Listening to his speeches about Israeli crimes, one would think he is a staunch supporter of the Palestinians. His policies belie his rhetoric. Turkiye under Erdogan continues to do brisk business with zionist Israel.

The US has just enacted into law a surveillance bill that allows for unwarranted intrusions into people’s personal lives and data. Already the most repressive state, intelligence agencies have been given vast new oppressive powers. Concurrently, criticism of Israel is being outlawed.

Pakistan is in the grip of brutish, corrupt generals and corrupt politicians and judges. Their corrupt practices have bankrupted the country. It is on the verge of collapse but neither the generals nor their puppets in politics and the judiciary care.

There is a tendency among some Muslims to misinterpret the role of women in society. This is based on a misreading of a Prophetic hadith and ignoring the teachings of the Qur’an. Islam does not prohibit women in leadership roles.