By Desire Emmanuel
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Thursday, December 25, delivered his Christmas message to the citizens of his country, saying Jesus Christ was sent to save humanity from ignorance and oppression.
Ayatollah, the leader of one of the most popular Islamic countries in the world, said this while also adding that Jesus Christ came to guide the people of the world to the light of knowledge, justice and servitude to God.
He said: “Jesus Christ was sent to save humanity from ignorance and oppression and to guide them to the light of knowledge, justice and servitude to God. He never paused in his fight against evil and in invitation to goodness. This is a lesson for Christians and Muslims believing in his prophethood.”
He urged both Christians and Muslims to follow Jesus’ example of battling evil and promoting goodness.
The message drew quick support from some, who noted Muslims’ reverence for Jesus as a prophet, while Christians reverence him as the Son of God and critics pointed to Iran’s recent surge in Christian imprisonments and harassment of converts.
Iran is a predominantly Shia country and has always been at loggerheads with Western and some Arab countries over its hardline stands against Islamic religion.
