In a message to the pilgrims of the holy mosque in Mecca, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution warns of forces that are sponsoring terrorism in the region.

"Occupiers… organize and mastermind violent sectarian terrorism among regional nations," Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said in his message.

"The Middle East and North Africa were once colonized and humiliated for more than a century by the Western governments of Britain and France and subsequently by America; their natural reserves were plundered, their free spirit was trodden upon and their nations were taken hostage," the Leader added.

Ayatollah Khamenei pointed out, however, that "Islamic Awakening", national resistance movements, and the re-emergence of martyrdom, as a unique feature of the Islamic Jihad, had stopped the international oppressors short in their tracks.

The Leader said the new trend had forced the occupiers to resort to hypocrisy and replace their old methods of colonialism with new ones.

"Nonetheless, the multi-faced demon of colonialism has now fielded all its capacities to bring Islam to its knees, from military might, an iron fist and flagrant occupation to an evil chain of propagandas and a myriad of lie-spreading and rumor-mongering media centers.”

"From organizing terrorist groups and brutal murders to preparing the ground for corruption, to distributing and promoting drugs, and to destroying the determination, spirits, and morality of the youth; and from all-out political attacks against the centers of resistance to provoking ethnic conceit and sectarian prejudice as well as enmity among brothers."

Ayatollah Khamenei further urged the pilgrims and the Islamic leaders to recognize the urgent duty which they shoulder with regards to gaining proper understanding of the current issues.

Addressing the Islamic preachers, the Leader highlighted the need for them to explain the plots of the enemies of Islam to their congregation and call worshippers to friendship and unity.

Ayatollah Khamenei strongly urged them to avoid whatever arouses mistrust among Muslims and to direct their anger toward the enemies of the Islamic Ummah.

MJ/AKM