The Principles of the Humanitarian Law in the Political Idea of Ayatollah Khamenei

The purpose of the present study is to address the ideas of Ayatollah Khamenei about humanitarian law. In this regard, the main question of the study explores the place of humanitarian law in the political idea of Ayatollah Khamenei with respect to different conflicts in the region and world. The method of study is descriptive analysis and it relies on the hypothesis that the humanitarian perspective in the ideology of Ayatollah Khamenei is universal and involves all humans regardless of their gender, ethnicity, religion, and nationality. The results of the study showed that humanitarianism as a branch of international law supports human dignity in order to decrease casualties and harms and alleviate human pains during conflicts. Reflection on the political ideas of Ayatollah Khamenei shows that his views under the influence of Islam pay attention to human rights as well as his dignity and value at all times and in all places. Therefore, according to his jurisprudential principles, attacking residential areas, schools, and hospitals, using weapons of mass destruction, inflicting harm to women and children and … are Haram and forbidden at all times and in all places. The humanitarian perspective of the supreme leader derived from the instructions of Islam and Shi’ite jurisprudence is different from and more developed than western and eastern countries’ perspective to human and his dignity. Some principles such as non-discrimination, limitation, and distinction that exist in the humanitarian law also exist in the ideas of Ayatollah Khamenei in even a more developed way, not influenced by the common humanitarian law but under the influence of Islamic ideology.