TEHRAN - Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has said that the people’s presence on the scene guarantees their victory over their enemies. 

The Leader made the remarks during a meeting with a number of officials at the Headquarters to Commemorate the 9th of Day Anniversary on Monday, which was held ahead of the anniversary of the event.  

On December 30, 2009, millions of people took to the streets of Tehran and other Iranian cities and towns to show their anger over sacrilegious acts committed on Ashura day (December 27, 2009) in the follow-up to the post-election unrest. 

The massive rallies against the seditious movements came to be known as the 9th of Day demonstrations because they took place on the ninth day of the Iranian calendar month of Day. 

In 2009, on Ashura day, which is the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS) and his 72 companions, protesters chanted slogans against top government officials. They clashed with the police and damaged public property. Some of them also committed acts that disrespected religious sanctities. 

It is said that the people’s demonstrations of December 30, 2009, which were held to protest the anti-government actions and which ended months of unrest, poured water on the fire. 

In his speech, Ayatollah Khamenei said, “The people’s great and impressive turnout on the 9th of Day was a clear manifestation of the identity and nature of the revolution, which is the rule of the spirit of religion over the hearts of the people.  

“The 9th of Day was not a minor event, but rather it was similar to the great movement of the nation during the first days of the revolution,” he added.  

The late Imam Khomeini, the Founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, made a great contribution when he managed to “bring the people to the scene. And whenever the people entered the scene with courage and insight and made an act of faith, all problems and the most insurmountable obstacles were overcome thanks to the will of the people,” Ayatollah Khamenei stated.   

He also said, “In every corner of the world, if people enter the scene purposefully and with a clear slogan and make an act of faith, nothing can oppose (their will), and this is a prescription for all nations.”   

“What works wonders and mobilizes people, brings them to the scene, and keeps them on the scene through thick and thin is sincere and religious faith because you will emerge victorious under any circumstances and defeat will have no meaning if you have sincere and religious faith,” the Leader observed. 

On the 9th of Day, “the people came to the scene due to their religious obligations to show that the Iranian people are loyal to the system of the Islamic Republic, despite seditionists’ propaganda, and that they have religious resolve,” he said. 

He went on to say that the political unrest that occurred following the June 2009 presidential election “was a disease that could not be combated through political and security measures, and a high turnout of people was required, and that happened.”  

Prior to Ayatollah Khamenei’s address, Guardian Council Chairman Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati delivered a speech, in which he said that the saga of the 9th of Day was beyond expectations and dashed the enemy’s hope.