Message [Reply to a letter; Criticizing the performance of Saudi officials]

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Your Excellency Khalid ibn `Abdul-`Aziz, King of Saudi Arabia,

I acknowledge the receipt of your letter. Whatever the embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran has said is true. In my opinion all the sufferings and afflictions of Muslims and governments of Islamic countries stem from conflict and discord among them. Why do Islamic governments with a population of about one billion and underground resources, especially oil, which is the lifeline of the superpowers, are so helpless? They have the life-giving teachings of the glorious Qur'an, the politico-religious instructions of the prophet (s) who calls upon Muslims to adhere to the path of God and to obtain from disunity and discord «1». They also have a safe haven like the two holy shrines that were centers of worship and Islamic politics in time of the prophet (s), serving the same purpose for some time after the death of that great prophet. Political plans and conquests were drawn up in the two great politico-religious centers. However, twisted and biased ideas and the massive propaganda of the superpowers have emboldened them to call engagement in socio-political affairs, which are conducive to fulfillment of the needs of Muslims, to be a crime in the holy shrines. Unfortunately, the Saudi police stepped into Masjid al-Haram, which according to God's command and the explicit text of the glorious Qur'an, is a refuge for even the deviants, with boots and arms to attack and arrest some Muslims. The guilt of these Muslims was shouting slogans against America and Israel, which are the enemies of God and the Prophet.

I do not know whether the events taking place in your country and the two holy places are presented to you as they were and if the slogans chanted by Iranians as are known everywhere reported contrary to the reality. I do not know what the congregational prayer Imams of the two holy shrines have understood from Islam and from performing pilgrimage to the House of God? Islam is fraught with politics «2» and the secret of its communications is for people to rise up and administer justice and put an end to oppressions and plundering. What have they understood from the general policy of all the prophets, particularly the last prophet (s) that in the name of Islam they prevented the pilgrims to the House of God from interfering in politics and even banned them from shouting slogans against America and Israel? They have done that to satisfy America, Israel and the other enemies of Islam, in contravention of the tradition of the great prophet (s) and the life-style of the Muslim in the early years of Islam. By so doing, they have wittingly or unwittingly laid the ground for domination of outsiders over Islamic countries, and even the two Holy shrines wherein revelation and God's angels descended. If the government of Hijaz made politico-Islamic use of this politico-religious ritual performed by millions of Muslims every year in the sacred stations of the two holy shrines, they would need neither America and its AWACS «3» aircraft nor the other superpowers and the problems of Muslims would be resolved. We know that America has placed these airplanes at the disposal of Saudi Arabia so as to use them in their own favor and that of Israel's. As we have seen, American AWACS gave utterly false reports of Iran bombing the Kuwaiti oil wells to create disunity between Iran and `Arab Muslims. Unfortunately, this nonchalance is common in all Islamic countries so much so that Muslims, particularly their office holders have been held back from interfering in politics by the treacherous and criminal superpowers. This state of affairs has gone so far that in the center of Islamic politics Muslims were found guilty and subjected to persecution, importance and torture by the verdict of court preachers on account of interfering in politics and chanting slogans against the sworn enemies of the glorious Qur'an and the dear Islam.

Are you aware of these calamities taking place in the two holy shrines, in the divine refuge and in the vicinity of the prophet's mausoleum? Or were things portrayed to you in a wrong and distorted way, as it is clear from the way they reported slogans of Iranians. We have risen up in Iran to bring the world Muslims together under the banner of monotheism to curtail the grip of superpowers from Islamic countries to restore the lost glory of Muslims of the early days of Islam, to end the oppressive domination of unbelievers over Islamic countries and to regain freedom and independence of Muslims. It is hoped that the Islamic countries, especially Saudi Arabia, which is at the center of Islamic politics, will join us in unison, will taste the savor the sweet of their peoples' unsparing support, enjoy this great divine blessing the way our popular government had done and following the commands of the glorious Qur'an treat the Islamic nations and governments in a kind, lenient manner and the infidels and international plunderers harshly. «4»

Finally, I stress the point that it is clear from your letter that you are provided with false and distorted reports. «5» As you have written, the slogans of Iranian pilgrims have triggered discontent and disgust among the pilgrims to the House of God. It would have been better if you assigned trusted people to provide reports so that it would be clear if the slogans against America and Israel caused dissatisfaction among the pilgrims to the House of God or the Saudi treatment? In fact, treatment of Saudi officials who beat and imprisoned the guests of the Exalted God generated hatred and dissatisfaction among world Muslims, particularly the pilgrims to the House of God and the holy shrine of the Messenger (s).

I implore the Exalted God to awaken Muslims form their slumber, to rise the glory of Islam increasingly and to guide Muslims, particularly state men to what secures the interests of Islam and Muslims.

May God's peace be upon you and all Muslims.

Rouhullah al-Mousawi al-Khomeini