Dec. 25 (Bloomberg) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said humanity has followed an “evil path,” and if Jesus were alive today he’d stand against bullies and terrorists.

Christ would fight “bullying, ill-tempered and expansionist powers” and rise against “tyrannical policies of prevailing global economic and political systems,” Ahmadinejad said in a seven-minute Christmas message to be broadcast on the U.K.’s Channel 4 this evening. The address will follow Queen Elizabeth II’s official Christmas message at 3 p.m.

Ahmadinejad, 52, also calls for justice and religious teachings that advocate peace, according to a transcript of the address. His message will be broadcast on the state-owned channel at 7:15 p.m. local time.

“As crises and despair multiply, a wave of hope is gathering momentum,” Ahmadinejad says in the transcript. “Hope for a brighter future and hope for the establishment of justice, hope for real peace, hope for finding virtuous and pious rulers who love the people and want to serve them.”

Channel 4 began broadcasting alternative Christmas messages in 1993, which have featured U.S. civil rights campaigner Jesse Jackson, The Simpsons cartoon characters and a survivor of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

“Today, the general will of nations is calling for fundamental change,” Ahmadinejad said in the address. “This is now taking place. Demands for change, demands for transformation, demands for a return to human values are fast becoming the foremost demands of nations of the world.”

Iran has been embroiled in a conflict with the U.S. and its allies over its nuclear program. Ahmadinejad has said the country will press ahead with nuclear expansion, insisting it wants to develop the power to generate electricity.

To contact the reporter on this story: Jean Chua in London at jchua4@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: December 25, 2008 06:17 EST