Speech [Women's role in Iran's Islamic Revolution]

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

I welcome you, women, who have come from a far distance. I am grateful to women, that is, the women all over Iran, who have the right to the Islamic Republic. They have a share in this movement. I must say that they are at its frontline, because the men acquired their courage from them, and were emboldened by their endeavors. You, too, served Islam and God willing you will persist in serving (Islam). You bring up lion-hearted men and women in Iran. Your bosom (where young people are raised) is the bosom of chastity, virtue and grandeur. You are duty-bound to educate your children well; train them in an Islamic and humane way to be crusaders. We advanced this movement up to this stage through the crusading efforts of you women and all social stations and we proclaim the (establishment of) Islamic Republic. And from now on, we need your further help; we need you to set up the Constituents Assembly for which you should elect Islamic and committed individuals and not with left or right leanings, and those who want to endeavor for Iran. After this,(we need you) for the formation of the consultative assembly for which you will vote in a free atmosphere, where men and women will have freedom to vote. It is not like in the past when the words" free men and free women" were merely words but everyone would find himself under suppression (Shah would claim that he has made Iran a country of free men and women). Islam has freed you; Islam had decreed that men and women are free. However, choose individuals whose actions will bear fruit and be useful for Islam and the country. They should not be treacherous.

May God bestow honor and prosperity on you in this world and the hereafter. Greetings and peace be on you lion-hearted women who endeavored at the frontline of the struggle. May God keep you.