Statements of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution at the End of the Advanced Jurisprudence Class

What I want to convey at the end of today's remarks is that the February 22nd march is one of the great divine blessings for this revolution and this nation. This march—especially this year's February 22nd march—should not be considered small or insignificant. As I have mentioned before, this ceremony is one of the greatest manifestations of the people's presence on the scene. For this reason, since the beginning of the revolution, in many years, prior to February 22nd, foreign propaganda has started in various languages to encourage people not to participate in this march. Sometimes they would say people would not participate, sometimes they would say people are disillusioned, sometimes they would say people are tired! Every year, thanks be to God, this march has been held with enthusiasm, public participation, and visibility. After the march, foreign voices would still say, yes, money was paid, and some were brought in! Once, when the weather was sunny, they said people came out to sunbathe in the street! They thought this was London, where if the sun shines for half an hour, everyone rushes to the street! Here, thanks be to God, the weather is mostly sunny, and people do not need such things. Their enmity towards popular presence is evident from this propaganda. Their enmity indicates the high importance of the people's presence, which includes all social classes. Young people—who are the majority in our country—come, elderly individuals come, women come, men come, children come in arms, and those with canes come and participate. This is quite remarkable. You should know that a ceremony that is one hundred percent popular, has a political aspect, attracts people in this way, is repeated every year, and is conducted on such a grand scale, does not exist anywhere else in the world. The fact that people from all walks of life across the cities of the country rise up and participate in a march like this is unprecedented globally. This year, as propaganda against the manifestations of popular sovereignty in our country is greater than ever—due to reasons some of which we have mentioned and some we will mention—the enemies of the Iranian nation have more motivation than ever to undermine or weaken the manifestations of popular sovereignty in the country. God willing, our people, by the grace of the Lord and with divine support, and in defiance of the enemies' eyes, will have a much stronger, more vibrant, and more visible presence.