In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
In view of the fact that this party is against Islam and the interests of the Muslim nation of Iran, membership to it and participation in its activities is forbidden to all, as it will contribute to tyranny and the misery of Muslims. On the other hand, opposing the party is the clearest example of forbidding evil. This new tune- composed by the plunderers adept in diverting the people's attention from crucial matters- that has sprung up from the Shah's throat is meant to suppress the nation and so prepare the grounds in hatching their evil designs. It is also to stifle the voice of the people and so deprive them of their right to resist. Therefore, as per my duty, I deem it necessary to urge the Muslim nation to put up increased and multidimensional resistance, while there is still time, thus thwarting their ominous schemes.
It should be mentioned first of all that the Shah has admitted that this imperialist scheme, the so-called `Sixth of Bahman Revolution', has suffered a signal defeat and lacks popular support. One, who has been trumpeting for more than ten years that Iranians approve of this revolution, and has named it the `Shah-People Revolution', has today split their ranks and wants to draw support for himself by means of the bayonet. If this so-called" revolution" owes itself to the Shah and the people, then what need is there for a party to be imposed on the nation?!
It must be pointed out that this party, the so-called National Resurgence Party of Iran, is to all intents and purposes contrary to the constitution and to international norms in its imposed form, without parallel in any part of the world. Iran is the only country to have a party established on royal command, with the people being compelled to be its members; on pain of imprisonment, torture, exile or the deprivation of their rights if they refused. The downtrodden people of this country are thus obliged to approve of the monarchical system, a rotten system that Islam rejects; that inflicts daily blows on Islam so much so that it will not hesitate to do away with Qur'anic tenets if the opportunity, God forbid, presents itself; a system that has ruined the existence of the nation, depriving it of all kinds of freedom; that has imprisoned the youth and intellectuals or sent them into exile- thus denying them their existence- and, by means of such subterfuges, wants to swell the members of those killed and jailed.
The Muslim people of Iran are compelled to bow their heads to a king whose hands are stained with the blood of the `ulama' of Islam and of the Muslims. To a king who wants to sell the last drop of this country's oil and, under various pretexts, offer the proceeds to the capitalists and plunderers, and consider it an honor to do so.
The imperialist America does not exploit its own huge oil reserves, buying its requirements from others in order to protect its country's interests. On the contrary, the Shah of Iran sells this black gold, thereby depleting Iran's oil reserves. Moreover, instead of using the income for the benefit of this poor, hungry nation, he loans it to his imperialist masters, or purchases weapons of destruction so as to safeguard and further their interests and ambition in Iran and the region, and also to continue the massacre of people and the suppression of anti-imperialist movements.
Until recently, he used to take burdensome loans from foreign countries thus jeopardizing Iran's economy, and now, by the awarding of loans and purchasing weapons, he is pushing the country into bankruptcy and arresting its development. Enslaving transactions, especially the recent fifteen-billion-doll deal with the imperialist government of America is another deadly blow that the Shah has dealt the Iranian economy, and the latest act by which he has brought the wealth and resources of the deprived nation of Iran under the hammer.
The nation is obliged to approve of someone who has so retarded its agriculture and animal husbandry that wheat, rice, meat, cooking oil and other provisions have now to be imported at exorbitant costs. At the beginning of the so-called `White Revolution', the Shah had promised the farmers that under land reform, the country's requirements of cereals would be met by domestic production. But now, instead of being ashamed of himself, he is boasting that two and a half million tons of wheat and four hundred thousand tons of rice have been imported in the current year, whereas informed persons know that just one province of Iran- Khorasan for example- had the potential of supplying the wheat needed by the whole country; the potential destroyed by the Shah's `White Revolution'.
It is now more than ten years that the Shah has been crowing about the country's progress while plunging the majority of the people into poverty and indigence. He has adorned the face of Tehran with multi-storied buildings put up with the wages of the people. But there is no sign of the basic necessities of life in the small towns and villages where most of the people live. He is now giving the people a twenty-five year promise but the people of Iran are aware of the fact that such promises are hollow and unrealistic. The country's agricultural potential has been destroyed and the condition of the farmers and laborers worsens day by day. There is no sign, except in name, of industrialization independent of foreign alignments, and will not be so until and unless this corrupt regime is changed, God willing.
By exhausting the oil reserves, this regime has so impoverished the people that it will result in their enslavement. The noble nation of Iran, devoid of industry and agriculture, will have to grapple with poverty and adversity, or labor for the capitalists.
The Shah keeps on harping on the constitution, whereas he leads the pack opposed to it. He has destroyed its basic principles, a clear manifestation of which is the recent interview and the ensuing hubbub over his violations of the constitution such as:
* Compulsory membership in the party;
* Compelling the people to demonstrate enthusiastically in favor of something that is against their wishes;
* Suppressing the press and forcing it to follow a line contrary to the good of the country;
* Infringing on the people's rights and depriving individuals and society of freedom;
* Bogus elections and the convening of a `made-to-order' parliament;
* Establishing military bases, communications links and spy networks for foreign powers;
* Giving control of the country's most fertile lands to foreigners and their vile hirelings such as Israel, thus depriving the nation of the same, which is an act of treason;
* Allowing foreigners to invest and control the affairs of the country, and likewise plundering the nation's oil in the name of" national sovereignty", and preventing the people from engaging in economic activities, all of which are treacherous acts;
* Giving immunity to foreigners and their hirelings; and
* As a rule, the interference of the Shah (who has no responsibilities per se according to the wording of the constitution) in state and other affairs, which is a return to the dark days of dictatorship.
This man keeps on harping on the `White Revolution' that has been the cause of so much misery, that has done nothing for the people except to immobilize them, that, after a lapse of ten years, has been exposed as a sham by the Shah himself- a revolution that aims to bring colonialist culture to the remotest hamlets and villages, thus corrupting our youth in the process. Those who oppose this so-called revolution must undergo torture and be stripped of their rights. The `ulama', religious personalities, students, university professors, and others who are against this corrupt, oppressive regime and its disgraceful revolution are either `stateless' or must go to torture chambers, or be denied their social rights. Merchants, farmers, and laborers who have seen nothing those past ten years except empty promises, and will hear more of the same hereafter, and who oppose this cursed revolution will all suffer the same fate.The distinguished religious scholars and the others must know that the formation of this party is the precursor of many misfortunes whose deleterious effects will gradually become manifest. It is binding on the maraji` of Islam to forbid membership in this party, and not allow the rights of the people to be trampled upon. It is the duty of all the various strata of society, particularly the respected preachers, university students, laborers, farmers, traders and the guilds to demolish the very foundations of this party by means of an all-out, unremitting campaign and passive resistance. They should be rest assured that the regime is on the verge of collapse and that victory will be theirs. The nation should not be deceived by the hollow propaganda of the establishment, which is giving prominence to the holding of" Kumayl Supplications" «2» and mourning ceremonies in the propagandist media, and are violating Qur'anic injunctions, by printing and publishing these according to their own fancies.
The deplorable state of affairs of the Iranians torments me in exile. How good it would have been had I been in their midst in such difficult times to cooperate with them in this sacred struggle to save Islam and Iran. I pray that the imperialists and their hirelings leave Iran alone. May God's peace, mercy and blessings be upon you.
Rouhullah al-Mousawi al-Khomeini
28,1395 AH