In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
At this time when war is raging between the Muslims and the Zionist infidels, and the Islamic nations are fighting tooth and nail for the restitution of their rights, the Iranian government is holding celebrations throughout Iran at the behest of the Shah to mark the 2500 th anniversary of the Iranian monarchy; celebrations for the bloodthirsty Shahs, an example of whom can be witnessed today. While Muslims are fighting in the blood-soaked, muddy battlefields for the glory and honor of Islam, the Shah is busy with celebrations and revelries for the base monarchy.
Concomitant with the defense of the honor of Islam put up by the great Muslim and Arab nations, the Islamic schools for Iranian girls have been attacked, violated and deprived of their freedom at the order of this vicious noon. When the enemies of the faith are menacing Muslim countries, and the zealous people have risen courageously to retrieve their rights, the Shah is stage-managing demonstrations throughout Iran. He is also sending congratulatory telegrams, drafted by the waqf «2» and security organizations and signed by bogus clerics, affiliated to the court, under the guise of distinguished `ulama'.
Notwithstanding the conditions in which Muslims are risking their lives to liberate Palestine and their own lands, the Shah has imprisoned and exiled many of the distinguished `ulama', «3» scholars and professors of the seminaries and also many intellectuals of Iran, subjecting them to the most inhuman torture.
It can be said that all these put-on acts and arrests are just to divert the people's attention from their own problems and away from the war of the Islamic world against Israel. It is the Shah's dread of the campaign spreading and the coordination among the people from various walks of life increasing- as well as the support of the whole Muslim world for the just cause of the Arabs- that has led him to imprison and exile, unlawfully and without any reason, the `ulama' and intellectuals lest they protest against the indifferent attitude of the Iranian regime to this vital matter confronting the Muslims, and against its support of Israel. And despite the fact that the vast majority of the people along with the Islamic governments, and even many of the non-Islamic ones, have supported the Arabs over the war, the disreputable Shah, in his allegiance and increasingly manifest servility to America, is ostensibly silent but, in reality, supporting Israel.
It is the Shah who has given free rein to Israel in Iran, thus compromising this country's economy, and, according to foreign press reports is sending Iranian officers to be trained in Israel.
It is the Shah who has surrendered Iran's oil to the enemies of Islam and of mankind so that they may use it in the war against the zealous Muslims and Arabs. By the recent scandalous agreement calling for an increase in the extraction of oil, he has risen against the oil-producing countries that want to use this weapon against America. And finally, it is the wanton plunder; the purchase of armaments worth billions of dollars and the back-breaking succession of celebrations that have caused the enormous escalation in the prices of goods and the cost of living, threatening Iran with total famine. I fear that the billions of dollars of weapons that he has acquired from his world-devouring masters- taking Iran to the brink of bankruptcy in the bargain- will now be sent to Israel. I fear that he will compel the Iranian army with its weapons, purchased at the cost of scarcities, hunger, and ultimately, the blood of the deprived people of Iran, to target the warm-hearted, sympathetic crusaders of Islam.
I sense danger to the Islamic world from this unquestioning servant of America. It is now up to the noble nation of Iran to prevent this tyrant from committing these crimes. It is up to the officials and army not to suffer farther ignominies; to seek remedies to safeguard the independence of their country.
It is the duty of the zealous Iranian nation to inhibit the activities of the Americans and Israelis and strike at their interests in Iran, regardless of it resulting in the total destruction of such interests. It is the duty of the distinguished `ulama' and the preachers to point out in mosques and at religious gatherings, the atrocities of the Israelis. The prominent religious figures and the noble nation of Iran should not remain silent in this matter. They must force the Shah in every possible manner to join the ranks of the Muslims, and desist from further acts of treachery to the Qur'an and its adherents. They must divulge the crimes of this bloodthirsty fiend so that his real self may be better known. And if the Iranian Jews are helping Israel (which they are and, undoubtedly, enjoying the Shah's support in the process), it is the responsibility of Iranians to put a halt to this trend. It is their duty to establish a relief fund for the soldiers of Islam who are in the thick of the bloody fray, and spare no effort in assisting them.
I have repeatedly pointed out the danger posed by Israel and its stooges, the foremost of whom is the Shah. Iran will not see a happy day until and unless this nucleus of evil is rooted out; nor will it be free while it is in the clutches of this ignominious dynasty.
I pray to God, the Exalted, for the triumph of the Muslims and the helplessness and vulnerability of Israel and its stooges.
Rouhullah al-Mousawi al-Khomeini
Ramadan al-Mubarak 16,1393 AH