In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
Ramadan al-Mubarak 14,1395 AH
The Union of Islamic Association of the Students in Europe, may God assist them:
After extending my greetings and salutations to you, I wish to say that I have perused the 20 th issue of Maktab-e Mubariz «2» and the letter of the board of directors.
The host of troubles and the accumulation of worries arising from the woeful condition of the Muslims in general, and the beloved nation of Iran in particular, together with the lack of attention on the part of the authorities to the interests of the Muslims, as well as the brutal behavior of the oppressive administration towards the Iranians, particularly the `ulama', zealous theological center students and university students, drains one's energy and stamina and would crush any person, conscious of these conditions, in the absence of hope and future promise. By the will of the Exalted Lord, the promise is real, raising hopes high for the country's bright future that is at hand. Man's natural disposition is such that when oppression and injustice intensify in society; his power of resistance intensifies proportionately. The recent events in Iran bear vivid testimony to this.
With the sizable police force at his command, the Shah is trying to crush the people so that he may continue to serve his foreign masters conveniently, and to cover up his acts of treason committed against the Muslims and Islam: giving and taking loans, making massive purchases of armaments, and establishing military bases for foreign powers. All the stage-managed acts of his are faced with the opposition and resistance of the people. The imposed party, «3» without any precedent in the world, was up against the people's opposition to such an extent and so disgraced the Shah that, in order to cover it all up and dissuade the people, he has futilely resorted to every possible means. According to the news that has reached us, his lackeys could not muster more than 200, 000 people to vote in the elections in Tehran which is purported to have a population exceeding three million, notwithstanding all the means of propaganda and the police at their disposal, together with intimidation, threats and the various unconventional methods they use. In Qum, with its 200, 000 inhabitants, they could not get in more than 4000 people by force.
This growing inclination to resist heralds certain victory. The unprecedented demonstrations held in the theological centers and the universities throughout Iran- to which the Shah himself has admitted- on the anniversary of Khordad 15, that so disconcerted and dazed him, reveals the maturity of the nation and its reaction to pressures and repression. The reaction to the uncouthness and injustice of the administration is seen in the traditional schools and universities drawing closer to one another and the old and new fronts, as well as the Unions of Islamic Associations of Students of Europe and America joining forces. It is my hope that these unions of Europe and America consolidate with the rest of the students in other countries such as India, Pakistan, Arab countries, etc. and so expand their activities. They should strive to make Islam and Islamic justice accessible to all so that the misconceptions of the past centuries with which the agents of imperialism have concealed the radiant face of Islam, are removed.
I pray to God Almighty to give success to all the Muslims, particularly the youth, in wiping out imperialism and its treacherous hirelings. May God's peace and mercy be upon you.
Rouhullah al-Mousawi al-Khomeini