In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
Salutations to the progressive Shi`ah clergy who, in utmost harmony, are confronting the bayonets of the disreputable hirelings of the aliens, unshaken by all their futile clamor and hubbub. Salutations to the clergy and the distinguished religious leaders of Najaf al-Ashraf and the whole of Iran who have unanimously given a fitting reply to the oppressors and plunderers. Salutations to the zealous youth of the vigilant Qum Seminary and all the other seminaries, who so honorably have given continuity and vigor to the movement of the clergy. Salutations to the ardent and well-informed youth of the universities of Iran who, by means of their watchful and successive uprisings, have proved their faithfulness to the grand religion of Islam and to their beloved country.
Greetings and salutations to the great, vigilant nation of Iran that, in spite of all the repression and suppression, has defended the justice-nurturing religion of Islam, the meek and those killed in the cause of the faith. May God's mercy be upon those killed on Khordad 15 [Muharram 12], and Dey 19 [Muharram 29] of this year. What a grief-arousing, constructive and oppression-crushing month Muharram is. It is the month of the great movement of the Doyen of the Martyrs and the leader of God's saints who, by his uprising against taghout, «1» taught mankind how to be productive and positive, and who considered the offering of sacrifices and getting sacrificed as the way of destroying the tyrant and overcoming the oppressor. This, in itself, is the watchword of Islamic teachings for nations until the end of time.
By following the holy Husayni movement, the movement of Muharram 12 [Khordad 15] in confrontation with the Shah's throne of oppression, and foreign allies, was so productive and powerful that it was able to give vigilant and devoted crusaders to society who, by their campaign and devotion, brought ruination upon the oppressors and the traitors; who so alerted, activated, and united the great nation as to deprive the aliens and alien-worshippers of their sleep, and also turned the seminaries, the universities and the bazaars into fortresses for defending justice and the holy creed of Islam. The recent movement radiating from that of Khordad 15, the rays of which have cast their light over the entire country, has a special impact of its own that has left the Shah senseless, compelling him and his hoodlums to struggle desperately. The atrocities of Muharram 29 of this year revert to those of Muharram 12 of that year. The Shah wanted to deal a masterstroke to the Muslim nation. After working out the matter with the American president, and using the flimsy excuse that his forces had made up, he had the center of Shi`ism and the seminary of Islamic jurisprudence in the vicinity of the immaculate shrine of Fatimah Ma`soumah (`a) attacked with machine-guns, massacring many innocent people, the youths of the seminary and the zealous, religious people of the holy city of Qum. The number of casualties has yet to be determined; the number of those killed so far is said to be between seventy and three-hundred, and God knows how many are wounded. More regrettable (the shame of which will remain on their progeny) is that they arrested those who went to the hospitals to donate blood to the injured, thus preventing them from doing so. It is said that some have been killed for this reason.
The Shah wants to prove that his rule has been strengthened, and that the nation should not think that he does not enjoy foreign support. The nation, however, by holding public demonstrations, nationwide strikes and expressing abhorrence has once again proved that it does not want him and is disgusted with him and his family. This spontaneous nationwide referendum is, in reality, to depose him from his oppressive, imposed kingship. Carter and the other plunderers of the oppressed nation's resources should realize that Muhammad Rida Khan is a recalcitrant traitor and perforce stands deposed from the monarchy; even assuming its legitimacy, let alone having been installed by the aliens to which he has himself admitted. I am giving the noble nation of Iran the glad tidings of the Shah's unjust regime taking its last gasps of breath. These merciless massacres indicate that he is terrified and is making futile efforts. These shameless tactics they have started employing, after having been stigmatized by the nation, are ridiculous and puerile. They have also gathered by force of arms the people from some organizations and the riff-raff from among themselves, as well as some helpless, unfortunate people from here and there to make a din and noise in the cities, shouting Javid Shah [Long Live the King]. They think that all this would serve to compensate for the general closure of the bazaars, and that they can keep up appearances by means of such tactics. I am giving the good news of victory to the Iranian nation that is so alert, vigilant, incomparably courageous and high in morale. Victory together with honor and dignity; victory accompanied by freedom and independence; victory together with the severance of the links to foreigners and plunderers; victory with the removal of the facilities at the disposal of the oppressors and the downfall of the disgraced Pahlavi dynasty. A nation that has understanding and unity between the various ranks of the people- the clergy, university fraternity, preachers, merchants, students in Iran and abroad, workers and farmers- and has staged an uprising with such ardent enthusiasm for the justice- fostering religion of Islam, will be triumphant. A nation that has sacrificed the flower of its youth and is continuing its dignified stand against the oppressive establishment which it abhors is triumphant. A nation even whose respected womenfolk announce their disgust of the Shah's regime by means of their demure demonstrations is triumphant. A nation whose stout-hearted mothers and sisters take pride in the death of their worthy youths, who are among the ranks of the martyrs, is triumphant. A nation whose youth and students in Iran and abroad have deprived the Shah and his masters of the opportunity to think is triumphant. A nation whose brave youth- what with all the misrepresentation of the facts on the part of the Shah and his retinue in America- made the White House tremble with their spirited and thundering demonstrations in front of Carter and the Shah, pouring scorn upon them, is triumphant. A nation whose support derives from Islam and the Qur'an and which campaigns for the sake of God, the dissemination of justice and the extirpation of oppression is triumphant. You the great and noble nation will be triumphant while sustaining much loss and offering many martyrs.
May the regime stand disgraced that presents the dignified `ulama' of Islam as being in favor of its debased rule and its bloody, ignominious revolution. May the regime be dishonored that, terror-stricken, attempts to deceive the nation by slandering the jurisprudents of the religion. The Iranian people, led by the jurists, are strongly opposed to the bogus revolution staged on the orders of the opportunist aliens. The Iranians consider the professed reforms that led to disaster for the nation, the creation of a market for the aliens and the bankruptcy of the agricultural system, to be sabotage and corruption. In a country where the people have not experienced any freedom in these fifty years under the cruel Pahlavi regime, harping on the emancipation of women is ridiculous and misleading. In its mission for the country on behalf of the foreign powers, the regime that has the obliteration of Islam and its precepts as the watchword of its servility; that wants to efface Islam by replacing its glorious calendar with that of the oppressors and the infamous, talking frequently about Islam and the Holy Qur'an can only be called misleading and absurd.
This corrupt slave-serving-master regime should realize that the time has passed and that the flimsy propaganda cannot deceive the nation that has risen with all watchfulness and understanding. God the Almighty and the esteemed religion of Islam are the supporters of the people.
In all humility, I extend my hand to the noble people of Iran, including the dignified clergy, esteemed orators, respectable youths of the seminaries and university students, respected traders, workers and farmers, as well as all the esteemed groups and factions in the country and abroad, may God always assist them, and, sincerely thanking one and all, request them to maintain their unity and unanimity by abstaining from divisive disputations. They should also strive with one voice and unity of purpose to liberate the country and to sever the links to foreigners and their agents. By relying on God the Almighty and on the justice-fostering precepts of Islam, they should cooperate with one another. They should most emphatically remind those who harp on the framework of the constitution not to endorse the present, corrupt monarchy with such talk as, as long as this corrupt dynasty controls the destiny of this country, the Iranian nation will neither benefit from Islam, nor will there by any sign of freedom, independence and prosperity.
I pray to God the Almighty for the glory of Islam, the sole champion of justice and independence, and the true defender of the meek, and entrust the Iranian nation, especially its worthy, religious youth, to His care. May God's peace and mercy be upon you.
Rouhullah al-Mousawi al-Khomeini
12,1398 AH