Opportunity of a Lifetime: Meeting Khatami

November 3, 2006, London – It's not everyday that one comes face-to-face with a world figure like Ayatollah Khatami; for Malik Ajani, a graduate student at the Aga Khan University – Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations, this rare opportunity was one he'll remember for a lifetime.

With his Iranian classmate, Fatemeh Shams Ismaeili, Malik listened intently to His Excellency Mohammad Khatami, former President of Iran (1997-2005), as he gave the third in a series of public lectures in London, this time to an audience of fellow Iranians including dignitaries, journalists, students and others. As would be expected, Khatami touched on a range of contemporary challenges facing Iran, from the conflict in the Middle East to the impact of the war on terror. He was firm in stating that Islam is a faith of reason and wisdom. Turning to issues outside Iran, Khatami then spoke about the need to have the rights of Muslim minorities in Europe protected. When later asked by Ajani, ‘What is Iran or you specifically doing about the minority perspectives in your country?' Khatami responded, ‘Basically we have the same idea in our law. But now it is just in the text, not in action…one should try to make it a reality.' [Translator: F. Ismaeili]

Similar comments were made by Khatami in his speech, Tolerance, Moderation and the Dialogue of Civlisations , at Chatham House the day before where he emphasised that ‘torture is not acceptable whether it happens in the US, at Guantanamo Bay or in Iran.' Khatami also spoke about the misunderstanding between the West and East and the need to for a dialogue between civilisations. He commented on the need for democracy in the Middle East, stating clearly that democracy was not exportable and had to be ‘tailored to fit the very different needs of each country', each of which has a different history and culture. For the full transcript of Khatami's speech at Chatham House, click here.

Khatami's visit and words are seen by some as exemplifying the reasoned voices of the Muslim world that must be heard if the West and East are to begin a dialogue to address contemporary challenges. For Ajani, this event was one that ended with a smile from the Ayatollah and a pat on the face; indeed, a moment that will not soon be forgotten.