A gathering dubbed ‘Imam Khomeini’s Ideas: A Reflection of Ethics, Spirituality, and Social Justice’, was held at Yerevan's Blue Mosque, with a group of Iranian and Armenian scholars and prominent graduates of Razavi University of Islamic Sciences (RUIS) in attendance.

Speaking in the event, which focused on the ideas of the founder of the Islamic Republic, Dr. Mohammad Asadi, Iran’s Cultural Attaché in Armenia and a graduate of RUIS, said: “Imam Khomeini spoke about human’s dignity at a time of ethical and spiritual crisis”.

“Imam Khomeini stressed on peace and justice at a time of war and violence, propagating ethics as the main criteria of social justice in a world that had been valued with material elements – money and power”, he added.

Emphasizing that the Founder of Iran’s Islamic Republic was able to challenge the world on the back of his powerful character, Dr. Asadi noted: “Today, we need to promote ethical and spiritual values in society more than ever since the western communities only pay lip service to these fundamental notions”.

The Iranian diplomat lamented the death ethical and spiritual values in today’s world as the West prefers to look the other side while the Palestinians are being slaughtered at the hands of the Israeli regime.

According to Dr. Asadi, “For Imam Khomeini, spirituality wasn’t only individual prayer or social piety, rather it was the underlying factor for social revolution”.

“Imam believed developments, which weren’t grounded in ethics and spirituality, would end up in corruption, depravity and collapse”, the Cultural Attaché continued.

The graduate of RUIS pointed out: “According to Imam Khomeini, not only was spirituality a force that would discipline individuals from within, but also it would lead society towards unity, cohesion and trust”.

Saying that Imam Khomeini talked about peace not only as a military ceasefire, but as humanity’s living culture, Dr. Asadi noted: “Imam repeatedly stressed on respecting other divine faiths and their followers and called upon communities to converge via spirituality”.

Elsewhere in the gathering, Hoj. Mo’een, the Director of National and International Communications of Khorasan Seminary, stated: “Imam Khomeini’s ideas are beacons for those pursuing to build a better and more equitable world”.

“Imam Khomeini always attached great significance to social justice, referring to it as a vital necessity for social stability and development”, he added.

“From the Imam’s perspective, social justice meant equitable distribution of resources, opportunities and facilities”, Hoj. Mo’een noted.

Khorasan Seminary’s official went on to say that, “In politics, Imam Khomeini always emphasized on public participation to make political decisions, urging governments to truly  represent people’s will letting every individual participate in political processes regardless of their ethnic,  religious,  and sexual differences”.

Also speaking in the event, the Armenian Arch Bishop, Father Nathan, praised Imam Khomeini for establishing a school of thought based on divine principles and lofty religious values.

“What Imam Khomeini founded has today turned into the base for governance in Iran and Armenia “, Father Nathan stressed.

He added: “Imam Khomeini legitimized minority rights very early on after the victory of the Islamic Revolution. Upholding social justice, he paved the way for the enhancement of minorities’ conditions”.