Festering tumors eroding Muslims have same roots: Rouhani

“Unfortunately, we face two festering tumors in this region and across the Muslim world,” Rouhani said at a Monday meeting with Iranian officials and diplomats from different Islamic countries in Tehran.

“One tumor has always caused distress to the Palestinians and Muslims and these days it is secreting and wreaking havoc on the land of olive [trees]. The other festering tumor which is agonizing the Muslims these days is a campaign launched under the name of Islam, religion, caliphate and caliphacy and has undertaken the murder and killing of Muslims in the region,” Rouhani said.

He pointed to the massacre of defenseless Gazans by Israel, saying, “These incidents are crimes against humanity and all the international bodies and organizations boasting of [defending] humanity and human rights should provide the grounds for putting the criminals on trial.”

Palestinian medical sources say since Israel started its invasion of the Gaza Strip on July 8, more than 1,159 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 6,700 others injured.

“All studies indicate that both tumors have roots at the same point,” Rouhani pointed out.

Also, several Muslim countries including Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria have in recent years become the scene of atrocious crimes against humanity by Takfiri groups.

Rouhani further underlined Tehran’s resolve to promote global peace and justice and create unity in the Muslim world.

“The strategy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the global arena is the policy of peace and justice and in the Muslim world is the policy of fraternity, unity and support for a unified Islamic nation,” he said.

The Iranian president warned against the hegemonic powers’ plots against the aspirations of the Muslim world and noted, “Today, the Islamic Republic of Iran seeks to establish stability and security, prevent massacre and bloodshed and restore just peace in the region with all its might and capacity.”

He pointed to the massacre of defenseless Gazans by Israel, saying, “These incidents are crimes against humanity and all the international bodies and organizations boasting of [defending] humanity and human rights should provide the grounds for putting the criminals on trial.”