Statements [Revealing the secularization policy of the Shah's regime]

" Today, it is not the time for staying at home and praying; it is time for struggling. Today the enemy is attacking the religion and we have to stand up against them. I will resist until my last breath. You should also tell everyone and inform people on the pulpits in the mosques that the religion is at risk. If we leave the government alone they will not leave us alone. As I told the Interior Minister, Doctor Sadr, «2» in a recent meeting," We've got nothing to do with you, provided that you leave our religion alone." But that will not be; they will encroach on, little by little. One day they admit Baha'ism in the public sector and contact the Jews, and the next day they will try to eliminate religion from the law.
The danger is so great that one cannot be at ease if one understands it. The reason why some gentlemen were quiet was that they had not known the danger. Just as they didn't let Mr. Hakim «3» come to comprehend the situation, and he remained silent.
The government doesn't want powerful clergymen, and they don't want them in Iran, either; so they moved toward Mr. Hakim after Ayatullah Buroujerdi's demise. Although they didn't believe in Mr. Hakim, they preferred the marja` at-taqlid to be in Najaf so he wouldn't meddle; but it didn't happen. They didn't also benefit from imprisoning me, as Mr. Pakrawan «4» had said."