In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
Dhou'l-Qa`dah 9,1398 AH
The informed, combatant and valiant nation of Iran, may God make your word be heard further:
Following all the" fortieth days", now that the fortieth day of the dear ones of Tehran has arrived we must expect other" fortieth days" because of the establishment of the government of repression. Now that the sinister shadow of martial law and the dishonorable monarchy have dragged the deprived people to ruination; now that the oppressing super powers, aiming to plunder our rich resources against the firm will of the nation, have become active in getting theA dear ones of Islam killed by the Shah's tyrants; now that the vistas of the" gateway to the great civilization" are, one after another, being shown on the corpses of our worthy youths by means of the founders of human rights; now that the nation, according to Carter's claim, has attained majestic freedom and independence, our defenseless country and the oppressed nation is steeped in mourning. We in the west and you in the east are taking part in public mourning services. As long as the criminal, oil-devouring super powers have a free hand in our oil-rich country, the doors of happiness, freedom and independence will remain closed.
My dear countrymen! Endeavor to break the chains of captivity. Eliminate the treacherous pawns, one after another, from the scene and cut off the hands of the pawn-using opportunists from the Islamic countries. Bliss, freedom and independence are to be found behind the barriers of the internal pawns and their masters. Destroy the barriers, break up their ranks and rescue the country. According to Carter's reasoning, these atrocities, repression and brutality on the Shah's part are attempts to establish the principles of democracy and adopt progressive stands concerning social issues. He accuses the Iranians of being opposed to the freedom that the Shah wants to give them, and that all the demonstrations and strikes being held throughout Iran are just to evade freedom! But he should know that these ruses have lost their effect, and that all the people have come to know this Shah for what he is.
O, great nation of Iran! The history of Iran, rather that of the world does not remember a movement such as yours; neither has a general uprising surpassed the one staged by you free-minded people. At present, children aged seven and eight of our primary schools are making sacrifices and offering their blood for the sake of the honored religion of Islam and the country. In what period of history have you come across such a thing? At present, our lion-hearted women, clasping their babies, are entering the fray to face the tanks and machine-guns of the regime's tyrants. What period of history has recorded such valor and devotion on the part of women? At present, the roar of" Death to the Shah", rising from the throats of the schoolchildren and the old and infirm, has made things so difficult for the Shah and so shattered his nerves that he has lost his mind and is trying to regain his composure by spilling the blood of our children and youths.
Dear sisters and brothers! Be patient; do not show any apathy and weakness. Your path is that of God and the saints of God. Your blood is being shed for a cause in which the blood of the Prophets, the Imams and their worthy companions was shed. You will join them. Rather than grieve over it, one can only rejoice.
Consolidate your ranks, strengthen your resolve, preserve your unity of expression, and join up with all the Muslim groups, particularly the army. Convey my regards to them and tell them that the people who are getting killed by your machineguns or those of the foreigners are your brothers and sisters. Do not stand dishonored before the Creator and His creatures by pandering to his passions. Return to the nation; you will be received with open arms.
My dear ones! Avoid discord as this is the work of Satan. Unite and continue the sacred movement with the aim of toppling the corrupt Pahlavi regime and severing the hands of the foreigners from the destiny and resources of the country. Do not fear anything in advancing the cause of Islam as nobody can stop this grand movement. Right is on your side and the Hand of God, the Exalted, is protecting you. God has so willed that the meek, under their leader's guidance, be the masters of their own destinies and resources.
I will proceed at the earliest opportunity to one of the Islamic countries where I can continue with my Islamic activities. I will spend the rest of my life, God willing, for His cause which is to serve you. Hitherto, none of the Islamic countries have invited me. As soon as I obtain freedom of speech and pen in any one of the Islamic countries, I will, God willing, go there to serve. At present, I am continuing to serve here. The place and the hardship associated with it are not the point in the Islamic movement and in serving the people. What is important is the nation; the voice of conscience. No matter what I do and whatever is appropriate for me to do at my age, I still stand ashamed before you who have given your blood for the sake of freedom and Islam. My satisfaction here in this miserable, distressing place lies in serving you. I share in the grief of the honorable families all over Iran. The memory of the school children who were killed recently by the cruel Shah makes my heart ache. Having proclaimed the fortieth day of the martyred Tehranis as a day of national mourning, I will also be mourning with you.
I pray to God the Almighty for the movement to continue until the attainment of Islamic goals. May God's peace, mercy and blessings be upon you.
Rouhullah al-Mousawi al-Khomeini