In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
Sha`ban al-Mu`azzam 21,1398 AH
I wish to thank all the esteemed people of Iran who, on the third and fifteenth of the month of Sha`ban, jointly and unanimously showed the vile regime once again that it cannot oppose the will of the nation. This was a unique referendum showing the countrywide opposition to the Shah even though the establishment, by preventing some of the big gatherings, deprived them of their freedom and did not allow all the legitimate problems and issues of this great nation to be aired. According to the information received, following the peaceful demonstrations, he perpetrated atrocities that reveal the weakness of the government. In some of the cities such as Mashhad, Rafsanjaan and Jahrom he had the defenseless people savagely assaulted, killing and wounding many of them. According to the reports of some of the press agencies, the number of people slain in Mashhad has reached forty, while some others mention higher figures. According to the reports, the Shah's agents savagely attacked the Navvab Seminary in Mashhad and beat up the defenseless seminary students to the point of death, breaking their heads and hands, and so causing the people to understand the meaning of granting freedom!
The religious and brave people of the cities, such as heroic Qum, zealous Tabriz and Mashhad having arisen have caused a general shut-down to express their abhorrence of the government and the Shah's regime. They have given a tight slap in the mouth to the braggarts who said that these demonstrations will not be repeated and that the country has returned to its normal state. The dear nation will not rest and will not return to its normal state until the vestiges of oppression have been wiped out and the vile Pahlavi regime overthrown. We thank and congratulate those zealots who are making sacrifices for the realization of Islam's sacred goals, without sparing their lives and possessions. Not countenancing oppression, they have broken the deathly silence by valiantly offering their blood. Becoming conscious of the ways and customs of the Prophet of Islam (s) and the Shi`ah Imams, they are following their example.
Today that the nation has risen and has well and truly found its bearings, silence and bidding silence are against the sublime interests of Islam and contrary to the direction of the Ja`fari Shi`ah. Enjoining movement, condemnation and revelation of the ruinous and Islam-detesting atrocities on the part of the Shah's government are in conformity with the blessed conduct of the prophets, in particular the illustrious Messenger (s), the Seal of the Prophets. Now that the blessed month of Ramadan is near- the blessed month this year will be remarkable, on the one hand, for the great Iranian nation's vivid memories of the savage mass killings, the repression, incarceration and exile of the past many months, and on the other, for the people, seeking vengeance over the inequities of the vile Pahlavi regime, its offshoots and the functionaries of the expansionist foreigners, having risen in unprecedented unison- I would like to notify you of the following issues:
1. The holy movement in Iran that began blossoming from the fifteenth of Khordad 1342 AHS, is a hundred per cent Islamic. It was founded solely by the efforts of the capable clergy supported by the great Muslim nation of Iran. It was and is being led by the clergy without depending on any faction, person or group. As this campaign of fifteen years is Islamic in nature, it is continuing and will continue, without the interference of others, in matters of leadership that is in the hands of the clergy. Those who have recently been agitating for the sake of their own selfish interests and want to defile the Islamic movement by showing it to be dependent on or following certain groups, certainly possess ulterior motives. Perhaps, by the collusion of some of them with the despotic establishment, they intend to bring the movement to a halt and to keep the Shah immune. The people of Iran should look upon them with circumspection and skepticism. In case any deviation on their part is noticed, the people should avoid them at all costs. I categorically state that in the event of this small clique repeating these topics, the essential point of which is to protect the real culprit, the clergy will make its stand clear with respect to them.
2. Recently, the government has started its non-rhythmic tunes on free elections, whereas the time for them to be held is next year. Such tunes before the blessed month of Ramadan is to divert the people's minds from their real course, as there is the fear of further exposing the crimes of the regime in the mosques and Islamic gatherings in this month. The people should realize that these ploys are only to keep the Shah sheltered from the attacks of the orators and the protests of the zealous youth. It is essential that the respectable orators and the honorable clergy of Iran shun them. They should also know that the thought of having free elections with the continuation of the Shah's diabolic power is something fanciful and merely a devilish event to show the world the legitimacy of the elections. Until the demonic power of the Shah and his clique lasts, the others will not be able to elect a single representative. I will speak my mind at the time of the elections.
3. Now that the Shah finds himself weak and vanquished before the people, he has resorted to artifices and wishes to portray as nationalists those people who for many years have been assisting the Shah in his diabolical motives and who have consented to change the Islamic precepts and the glorious calendar of Islam to that of the Ghebers and fire-worshippers so that, by infiltrating the ranks of the combative clergy at the opportune times, they would be able to carry out their sinister mission in the guise of nationalists. The clergy should make them known to the public. One has to see what changes have taken places in the Shah's system in that, until yesterday, they used to kiss his hands and were his servants, but are now against him! The noble people of Iran should be watchful that these dangerous pawns do not infiltrate their ranks.
4. My request to the esteemed and committed people is that they look into matters dealing with those slain and their families with the greatest attention and compassion. They must do a headcount of the dead, together with their names and addresses, in any way they can and inform us. They should pay brotherly visits to the bereaved and console them, and, while giving all of them the regards of" Khomeini" who shares their grief, convey his sorrow to them on the death of their dear ones. If anybody, owing to injury or bereavement, needs material help, it is essential that this be provided in the best manner, or I should be approached as soon as possible so that I may attend to the matter to the best of my ability.
5. In order to make the future generations aware of the facts and to prevent the prejudiced people from writing falsely, it is necessary for the dedicated writers to review the history of this Islamic movement thoroughly, and to record the uprisings and demonstrations- and the history of their motivation- held in the various provinces by the Muslims of Iran. This will enable the Islamic issues and the movement of the clergy to serve as a model for the societies and generations of the future. We who are still living and are following the current developments in Iran taking place so clearly before our eyes, see the opportunists and profiteers, with their pens and statements, depict religious issues and the Islamic movement in a way that is contrary to the facts. Inasmuch as they are opposed to the principles, they do not wish to acknowledge the realities and cannot countenance the power of Islam. There is no doubt that these writings in the name of history will have a most undesirable effect on future generations. For this reason, throwing light on this genuine Islamic campaign in Iran right from its conception till the present day, as well as on the future events, is among the important issues with which thoughtful, dedicated writers and `ulama' should be occupied. What is clearly obvious to us now will be vague to future generations. History is the illuminant for future generations. Today, the poisonous pens are planning to distort the truth; the honest writers should break these pens.
6. The honorable prayer leaders, may their blessings last long, should invite speakers that are dedicated and interested in the Islamic movement to undertake as a genuine aim the task of enlightening the people. They should definitely refrain from inviting the" court preachers" and those who, knowingly or unknowingly, choose topics to the benefit of the despotic system in order to make the people overlook the actual problems of the day. They should also keep away from those who are appointed by the government, and should place devotion to the cause of Islam and the good of the Muslims at the top of their agenda.
7. It is the duty of the esteemed orators to inform the people, in mosques and gatherings, of the miseries inflicted on the nation during these fifty years of the disgraceful Pahlavi rule- especially in these last few months- as well as the recent killings in the holy city of Mashhad in the vicinity of Hadrat Thamin al-A'immah «1» (`a), and in Rafsanjan. They should make the people aware of the matters that are of benefit to Islam and in the interests of the Muslims. They should abstain from topics that cause discouragement and apathy, and should keep in mind that no excuse will be accepted by God the Almighty and the Muslim nation.
8. The audience should encourage the speakers in their discourses on issues concerning Islam and humanity. They should ask the speakers to talk about and comment on the atrocities and oppression, while desisting from topics that are of no benefit and, at times, contrary to the direction of the nation's movement. They should also give the respected speakers assurance by supporting them.
In conclusion, I do not know in what words I should express my sorrow and regrets on the merciless killings in the provinces, especially in the holy city of Mashhad. I do not know till when this despotic family will control the destinies of the Muslims and thirst for the blood of our youth. I offer my condolences to Hadrat Thamin al-A'immah (`a) and grieve over the insults to that great personage during the era of this treacherous father and son. I offer my condolences and congratulations to you the esteemed and pious people of Mashhad, Rafsanjan and Jahrom. Condolences on the loss of the youth of Islam, and congratulations for having such worthy youth, and for their strong Islamic spirit by which, for the sake of God, they did not fear the futile attempts of the cruel regime and, by their courageous strikes and demonstrations, brought honor upon themselves in the holy presence of Islam. May God grant victory to you the vanguards of the Holy Qur'an and to all the noble people of Iran who, by their brave efforts and unity of expression, rose against the tyrant of the time and so paid, and are paying their debt to Islam. May He place you among those who crusade for the sake of Truth and unite you with the Saints that are dear to God, and who gave their lives for His sake. May God's peace and mercy be upon you.
Rouhullah al-Mousawi al-Khomeini