Message [Expressing regrets on the suppression of the people, hoping for their awakening]

 In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
Rajab 1,1395 AH
To the courageous and oppressed nation of Iran, may God assist them:
In the wake of the Shah's disgraceful defeat in his new game, the party «1», the news received from Iran, though sad and lamentable, appears to be the bright harbinger of freedom, and a source of hope. Lamentable, because in this day and age when nations, one after another, are throwing off the yoke of imperialism, thereby gaining their liberty and freedom, the great Muslim nation of Iran has been deprived of all the virtues of liberty. It now finds itself in confrontation with all the manifestations of despotism and reaction owing to the presence of one of the most reactionary persons, an unquestioning mouthpiece of imperialism, who has cast the terrible shadow of savagery over the length and breadth of the country. On the orders of the Shah, the security organization of Iran (SAVAK) has assumed the character of the Inquisition of medieval times, subjecting the opponents of the Shah's imposed party, who constitute a significant majority of the religious people, to a variety of threats, insults, chastisement and brutalities. The people of Iran, whether the `ulama' or the university fraternity, merchants or peasants, laborers or officials and petty employees, must all conform to the Shah's ideas even if these go against Islam and the interests of the Muslims and our nation; even if they deprive the people of their freedom and independence. If there is any dissent, the dissenters end up being beaten, imprisoned, tortured, stripped of their rights, and dubbed" black reactionaries" and" the stateless red", which ought to be crushed. It is lamentable, because of the suppression of the oppressed people, and the attacks on the country's universities; lamentable because of the heartbreaking tragedy of the June 7,1975 [Khordad 17,1354 AHS] that took place in the Faydiyyah Madrasah and the Dar ash-Shafa', events that evoked the massacre of June 5, 1975 [Khordad 15,1342 AHS]; and the ruthless armed attacks of imperialism's lackeys on the theological centers of learning- whose sole concern is the pursuit of knowledge, Islamic jurisprudence, and the vindication of the Qur'an and constructive Islamic injunctions-smashing doors and windows, breaking people's heads and hands, beating them to the point of death, as well as flinging defenseless youths from roof-tops. All for the `crimes' of expressing opinions contrary to those of the Shah's party and for holding memorial services for those slain on June 5 [Khordad 15], forty-five in numbers, according to some foreign press reports, with many more injured who were refused admission into hospitals. Then, there are over three hundred people incarcerated whose fate is not known. Such is the condition of this `progressive' country; these are the Shah's democratic principles; this is the state of the `free' men and women! It is lamentable, because of the predicament of the country's press which, being directly controlled by the security apparatus, «2» prints whatever it is told and hurls whatever accusations dictated to it against any public figure it wants.
Notwithstanding all these troubles, the awakening of the nation is a source of hope. The opposition of the country's universities( to which the Shah himself has admitted )the distinguished spiritual leaders, students and the other strata of society, in spite of all the pressures and the strong-arm tactics, heralds the attainment of liberty and freedom from the clutches of imperialism. The nonparticipation of the vigilant nation in the party-by-decree and the perfidious elections is an instance of vigilance and victory.
After expressing my condolences to the great, esteemed Iranian nation on these heart-rending calamities, and the irreverence shown to the Holy Qur'an and the Prophet's pure progeny (`a), as well as the tragic events of Khordad 15,1342 AHS and Khordad 17,1354 AHS, I would like to offer my congratulations on this enlightenment and the yearning for freedom; congratulations on the dawn of freedom and the uprooting of imperialism along with its evil stooges. I salute the slain and wounded of the Khordad 15, the wounded and oppressed of the Khordad 17. I salute the savants and the respected preachers; the zealous youth of Iran's universities, and the believers and Muslims throughout the country who, by their nonparticipation in the activities of the imposed party and the illegal elections have given a slap in the face to those who write and talk nonsense, thereby proving their loyalty to Islam and Muslims. I salute the prisoners who are undergoing torture for the sake of Islam and to the zealous Iranian youth and students abroad who are serving Islam and their Muslim brothers by their worthy efforts, and are exposing the atrocities of imperialism and its hirelings.
I have many worries in these last days of my life. I fear that this man, who resorted to every artifice when confronted with the opposition of the nation and its youth, will suffer further nervous breakdowns causing more bloodshed in the country. I fear that he will slaughter the Islamic `ulama', the savants and the intellectuals by accusing them of being `black reactionaries' and `the stateless red'. I seek refuge in the Almighty from the wickedness of evil elements, and beseech Him to sever the hands of the hirelings of aliens. May God's peace and mercy be upon you.
Rouhullah al-Mousawi al-Khomeini