ADNAN OKTAR: Almighty Allah says in one verse that “There is no compulsion in religion.” Every country and every individual lives according to his own beliefs and genuine convictions. When there is compulsion, the result is hypocrisy. If you force someone to pray, he will become a hypocrite. If you try to use force to bring someone to heel, he will be a hypocrite. That is why all ideas must be as free as possible. That is a commandment of the Qur’an. But love, affection and compassion, the justice commanded by the Qur’an, are different. That is a law that encompasses all society and all the world, a requirement of humanity. It is a law of Allah. It will put into practice by all means. But one cannot interfere in beliefs and details. But justice, love, peace, brotherhood, the abolition of weapons, people enjoying fredom, a climate of full democracy… That is what the Qur’an desires. And the system of Hazrat Mahdi (as) will bring that about.

PRESENTER I: But the rules of Shariah are regarded as much stricter. Just as the cutting off of whichever hand a thief used in the perpetration of the crime ...

PRESENTER II: The severing of whichever hand he used, or even stoning to death. That is practiced in most countries, most Islamic countries, as we know. There is even a woman waiting to be stoned to death in Iran.

ADNAN OKTAR: Let us assume you have partly left-wing perspective. We hold right-wing and religious views. But if we live with you for 50 years, nobody’s hand would ever be cut off. Nobody would ever be given such a punishment. Why not? Because we will have an educated society, one in which there is love, affection and compassion. For example, if a building is well constructed, it won’t fall down in an earthquake. It will not collapse. Will it? It will stand up strong and straight. Nothing can happen if society also stands up straight and strong. Therefore, with its love, affection and compassion, the system of Hazrat Mahdi (as) will produce a climate in which no such need will arise.

PRESENTER II: Then let me ask this. If Ahmadinejad has such a strong belief in Hazrat Mahdi (as), why are stoning and Shariah law still practiced in his country?

ADNAN OKTAR: He does not say they are happy with that regime and system. They say, “This applies until the coming of Hazrat Mahdi (as).” That is the 1^st Article of the Constitution. It is the 1^st Article of the Iranian Constitution. Until the coming of Hazrat Mahdi (as). It will be fully resolved with his coming. There will be complete freedom, and complete peace and brotherhood. There will be respect for all ideas. Christians, Jews and all other faiths will enjoy freedom within itself.

PRESENTER II: But then doesn’t it mean; Mr.Oktar, our rules apply until the coming of Hazrat Mahdi (as). After that, the rules of the system of Hazrat Mahdi (as) will apply. So, a hand must be cut off if someone commits theft, stoning to death, or putting someone to death as a requirement of Shariah law, execution can be done …

ADNAN OKTAR: For example, the Americans have killed, martyred, 2 million people in Iraq. If we were to say, why wait until Hazrat Mahdi (as) comes, we must change the system now, we could not. These things happen. 50 or 100 people are martyred every day in Afghanistan. Why? It is destiny. Our Prophet (saas) says that ”Before the coming of Hazrat Mahdi (as)... Afghanistan will be invaded. And Iraq will be invaded.” The invasion of Iraq is even set out in great detail in the hadith. It will be invaded by foreign countries, Baghdad will be wreathed in smoke and flames, the Iraqi unit of currency will disappear … These are all incredible details. He says, “The Iraqi unit of currency will disappear.” And the Iraqi unit of currency did disappear. And he says in the hadith that Iraq will be reconstructed in the time of Hazrat Mahdi (as) as a portent of his coming. These are all things that are bound to happen. The regimes of many states are abnormal and they base on oppression and inflict pain on people. That is in any case the reason for the coming of Hazrat Mahdi (as). Of course the system in Iran is not perfect, but it will be made perfect when Hazrat Mahdi (as) comes.

PRESENTER I: What is your view of Shariah? You say you do not currently support the system in Iran. Can we say you are opposed to the Shariah?

ADNAN OKTAR: No, I am not saying that I am opposed to any idea, I mean I would not say that such an idea should not be implemented. If someone wishes to apply the Qur’an, he will apply it. Nobody can quarrel with that. For example, if a country says it wishes to apply these provisions in the Qur’an it will do so within its own beliefs, but on the condition that there would be no oppression. Otherwise the result is despotism, oppression. If a country says it wishes to remain secular, for instance, it will remain secular. Or if a country says that its national system is this or that, and that its people are happy with that, nobody can interfere. The contrary would be despotism. And if someone says he wishes to implement these provisions of the Qur’an in a country, he will do that, and again nobody can intrude.

PRESENTER II:  What do you think of Saudi Arabia in that context? They have much stricter laws than Iran.

ADNAN OKTAR: That matter will also be resolved when Hazrat Mahdi (as) appears. That is set out in the hadith. There will be a climate of complete freedom, ease and beauty. One characteristic of the system of the Hazrat Mahdi (as) is that the love that has been taken away from people’s hearts will be given back. The affection, compassion and justice will be restored.

PRESENTER I: When Hazrat Mahdi (as) comes, you say?

PRESENTER I: When he actually appears, do you mean? Because you say he is here now, in Istanbul.

ADNAN OKTAR: Yes. I am of course referring to the period in which he is generally followed as leader.

PRESENTER I: Do you mean when he reveals himself?