[IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE COMPASSIONATE, THE MERCIFUL]
The efforts of the imperialists to remove the two obstacles: Islam and the clergy
... Because of the natural resources and minerals that they possess and the interests of certain groups, the countries of the East have become an important concern for the world. Consequently, the Western newspapers have examined their situation thoroughly and the information can be found therein. The discussion revolves around ways to lull these Eastern societies and keep them from progressing in certain important areas. The imperialists have studied this issue very carefully and have come to the conclusion that there is one great force which stands in the path of their ambitions- whether materialistic or spiritual. They have concluded that in these Islamic countries, Islam is this great force and is a barrier which could block imperialism and endanger their interests, and that those who impart the message of Islam, and they consist of the clergy, form a further obstacle to their designs. They have identified these two forces and have concluded that were true Islam and the true clerics of Islam to gain dominance; they would not give the imperialists and the foreigners the opportunity to exploit the country. Their plan is to keep these countries in a state of backwardness so that they can realize their own ambitions there and install their own agents in power. They view these two forces as two motivating forces which have to be destroyed. These two forces must be taken away from the East so that they can implement their plans easily.
Rida Shah, agent for the implementation of imperialism
You may be too young, but during my own lifetime I have witnessed this plan in action. When Rida Shah came to power his mission was twofold: to destroy Islam, even in the eyes of the Muslims themselves, and to belittle the clergy and then destroy them, thus removing what the foreigners saw as the barriers to their designs. He began his task by banning all religious assemblies throughout Iran. For a time, if one wanted to preach to one's congregation or deliver a sermon, it was not possible, not openly anyway. Sometimes such gatherings took place surreptitiously, at midnight or before dawn, but even then the agents were on the look-out and at times they would burst in on gatherings and arrest people and take them away. In this way, this person wanted to obliterate all Islamic manifestations.
Suppression of the clergy by Rida Khan «1»
As for the clergy, I cannot describe for you what he did to the `ulama', and especially to those who were influential in any way, such as the late Mudarris. «2» The latter stood up to Rida Shah, and he had to endure much suffering for doing so before Rida Shah eventually killed him. This monarch brought groups of `ulama' «3» to Tehran from the provinces. For example, the late Aqazadeh, who was a very influential person in Khorasan- so much so that he was called the" King of Khorasan"- was arrested and brought to Tehran. «4» I myself saw him in a house that was guarded; a chair had been placed outside because he was apparently tired and was sitting there. I was told how Rida Shah's agents had taken him, without his turban accompanied by a few soldiers, to the court of justice to stand trial. They had taken him on foot through the streets in this condition so that the prosecutor could question him. They arrested all the `ulama' of Azerbaijan, «5» including two of the great personalities there: the late Haj Sadiq Aqa and the late Angaji, «6» and took them to a village in Kurdistan where they kept them stay for a while. They tormented the `ulama' of Isfahan in much the same way. Rida Shah put so much pressure on the theological schools that one day only one person turned up for my class which was usually attended by a number of students! I was told that between dawn and sunrise they had all run away from their rooms and had gone to the orchards, returning later dressed in different clothes so that they wouldn't be recognized. His agents would enter the schools and arrest the religious students and the learned ones and take them away on the pretext that they should not be wearing turbans or that they should go to perform their national service and thousands of other excuses.
The accusation against Islamic teachings of worshipping the old
This was how this man carried out his mission to destroy these two forces which blocked the imperialists' plans. Both Islam and the Islamic scholars and propagators must be defeated. Gradually, however, the imperialists came to realize that this method of elimination was not very effective. So they chose another way: to introduce Islam to the people within the country and those outside in such a way that made it appear a very insignificant, petty and out-dated affair filled with superstitions. Thus they embarked on their propaganda campaign both at home and abroad to advance the idea that yes, Islam exists, but if it is anything important its importance belongs to 1,400 years ago, when the Arabs were uncivilized and these teachings were for them, that now with the advent of civilization, Islam is out-dated and useless. Its teachings oppose progress and freedom; it does not allow the people to be free; women have no freedom at all in Islam and education is prohibited. They would have the people believe that were Islam to gain predominance, all traces of modernity would be effaced; travel by airplane would be forbidden; schooling would be prohibited; and women would not be allowed to leave their homes. They have succeeded in spreading such ideas on a vast scale throughout the world.
Accusation of the clergy of supporting the present regime
As for the `ulama' of Islam who pursued the task of diffusing the word of Islam, they vilified them, called them" worshippers of the old," said they had been installed by courtiers and capitalists to opiate the people so that the capitalists could achieve their aims. They accused them of always appealing to the people to keep silent in the face of oppression and of allowing themselves to be robbed. They said they put the people to sleep; they lull them so that when these foreigners come to plunder their wealth they can do so easily and no one will utter a word. Those who wanted to plunder your wealth began such propaganda, and they spread these ideas in such a way that at one time even the people of Iran believed that this was true.
The deluding of some people at the time of Rida Khan against the clergy
At the time of Rida Khan, one class of people treated the `ulama' the way that the regime desired; they did exactly what the regime dictated. Then later, when the propaganda against Islam began, it took on a different form. Perhaps the beliefs of these people, this one class of people, helped the idea that the `ulama' were harmful for the society gain precedence. They then went one step further and said that from the very beginning religion has been the opium of the people, that religion has stupefied the people, dulled their senses while the imperialists pursued their interests.
This has been the propaganda which they began several centuries ago because they thought that these two forces may present a danger to them, and it has continued to the present day when it has reached its zenith. The newspapers, magazines and foreign press, all propagate these ideas and are paid a lot of money for doing so.
Corrupt ideas of the imperialist propagators
This was merely a brief account of what Islam and the clergy have had to contend with so far. Nevertheless, those who are conversant with Islam and have studied the Qur'an, which is the source of Islam, and have given even a cursory glance at the lives of the prophets of old and the Most Noble Prophet (s), that is the Prophet of Islam, and at how they conducted themselves, realize the devilry of the imperialists and see that all these ideas they advance are corrupt.
Wars of the Prophet of Islam (s) and other divine prophets (`a) with the holders of power
When you look at the life of the Prophet of Islam, and indeed any of the other prophets, you see that it is not the case that they established a monarchy or capitalism as a governing force, that they were against the people or that they stupefied the people so that the capitalists could do whatever they wanted. From the very beginning, the uprisings of the prophets were against kings. We have stories about Prophet Abraham (`a), who lived all those years ago, and the Holy Qur'an tells us a little about how he rose up against the kings and the elders who worshipped idols and oppressed the people. Moses was a simple shepherd, a shepherd who grazed his sheep, but he rose up with his staff in hand against the Pharaoh, that great king of Egypt. There were no kings in Mecca, where the Most Noble Messenger was born and raised, but there were rich capitalists. The people of Ta'if and the Hijaz «7» earned immense wealth from their trade and owned large orchards, and never did any of these capitalists support the Messenger. They were all against him. In his struggle against these capitalists, the Most Noble Messenger was helped by the weak and oppressed class. In that short time that he clandestinely spread his message in Mecca, it was this group of people, this group of lowly, oppressed people from the class of the poor and needy, that gathered around him, and when he left Mecca for Medina, there too it was the people from the poor and oppressed class who gathered around him and little by little a group of tribal leaders also joined him.
Opposition of the divine schools to dictatorship and aristocracy
At the time of the Prophet of Islam, the uprising was against the great capitalists of the Quraysh tribe such as Abou Sufyan and his kind, and the people of Ta'if who had wealth and property. He did not rise up against them merely because they were wealthy, but because the rich always persecute the poor, they rob them of their property and possessions and oppress them. From the time that we have information about kings to the present day, we see that they were people who, wherever they were in the world, used dictatorship and force to plunder the wealth of the people and rob them of their honor and that which they held dear. From the very beginning the prophets confronted such kings. The story of the prophets is not that which the capitalists like to promote. The prophets confronted the capitalists; they were opposed to capitalism; they were not used by the capitalists to keep the poor and the weak quiet. No, the capitalists formed one group and the prophets along with the people who assisted in propagation formed another opposing group who attacked them and, as far as they were able, crushed them. So these utterances that religion is the opium of the people and the prophets were the servants of the capitalists are very clearly absurd and anyone who gives the conduct of the prophets even a cursory examination will realize the falsity of such claims. But what can we do? Their propaganda is presented on such a large scale and is so widespread that we cannot compete with it. We do not have the means; all the means lie in their hands. The radio, television and press are in their hands; they control everything. The domestic and foreign magazines are in their hands; the capitalists and large sums of money are in their hands, so they are able to pay the media to disseminate the ideas that they want propagated and in the manner they choose. We, however, have only the faculty of speech and expression; we have a pen and some paper, nothing else. We want to awaken the nation; we want to make this nation understand what has been done to them so far; we want the people to see how they are presenting their beliefs and their religion to the world.
Negative propaganda in the foreign press
Even at this time, when the country of Iran, the clergy of Iran and the different classes of Iranian society have stood up to the big capitalists and the superpowers and are shouting for their freedom and independence, these things are still being said, even though they shouldn't be. Even now we see in one of the foreign newspapers that untruths continue to be propagated.
As for the clergy, whose foundations lie with the prophets and with those who came after the prophets, their uprisings against the monarchs in Iran alone are so numerous- and I myself can remember some of them- that I do not have the time to go into them now.
The prophets' (`a) declaration of war against the oppressors
And as for Islam itself, one only needs to make a cursory study of the Qur'an, which is the source of Islam, to see that it does not oblige the people to remain silent before capitalists and kings. It is the Qur'an which tells Moses to arise and invite Pharaoh (to the right path), to speak to him mildly so that he may accept (his call). «8» And it is God who gives the mission to Moses to struggle with Pharaoh; it is God who through the Holy Qur'an commands his Messenger to do battle with the polytheists, with the capitalists and with those who have deviated from the right path.
Verses in the Qur'an pertaining to fighting
The verses in the Qur'an pertaining to fighting, battle and war are not just one or two. There are many verses in the Qur'an which are concerned with war, which give orders to go to war, to do battle with all those who are corrupt, to rise up and put them in their place. These are commands which apply to us today. However, we do not have the means to go to battle, but we do have the wherewithal to awaken the people, to let the people know Islam's situation, to let them know the situation of the Muslims and the clergy. We can do this and little by little it is being done.
Negative presentation of Islam
So they wanted to present Islam and the clergy in a bad light in order to weaken the Islam of the people and to distance them from the clergy.
The Qur'an and the clergy- the people support
If the people were to set aside the clergy who guide them and the Qur'an which is their religious book, then they would not be able to achieve anything; only when they band together, when they have something on which they can depend, can they act against these tyrants. No one can stand up to them alone; there has to be a pivotal point and this for the Muslims is the Qur'an. They must turn toward it and unite under the banner of the Qur'an. The clergy too are a unifying force which the people can rely on. Now that Iran has risen, praise be to God, it is the clergy and Islam to which the people turn; it is Islam that they call for; all the people are shouting for an Islamic government.
We do not oppose modernity; we oppose corruption
It is not the case that were an Islamic government to be formed, it would ruin the people's lives, that tanks and weapons would no longer be required, that we would ride around on donkeys! These are their foolish ramblings. Where in the Qur'an does it oppose modernity? Which one of the Qur'anic laws opposes modernity? Which clergyman has ever said that the clergy opposes modernity? We are opposed to corruption. When the manifestations of civilization fall into the hands of those who seek to corrupt and those who seek to derive profit or advantage, they distort them. They change a cinema, which can be a teacher for the people and the nation, into a place which makes our youth dissolute, which corrupts them. We opposed to this. We are not opposed to cinema itself; if the cinema is used for the good of the people, if it is used to educate and guide our children then we are not against it. We are opposed to these centers of corruption which are taking our youth away from us.
We oppose corruption and the imperialist universities
You can see in Iran, in Tehran alone, how many of these centers exist and how many of our youth have become addicted to opium and other drugs, and on a greater scale still to alcohol, because of them. There are so many distilleries in Iran now. We are opposed to these things which corrupt our nation. Are we opposed to books? Are we opposed to universities? Our claim is that our universities have been created in such a way that they cannot produce human beings, they cannot produce human beings who will stand up to the foreigners. They produce only parasites! Our universities are imperialist universities; that is they are run as the imperialists want them to be run, they are not allowed to progress. This is what we oppose. How can we be against universities? Are we against having doctors, engineers and scientists in Iran? When have we opposed such things? Our grievances lie in the fact that the universities which should be centers of learning and education, which should be centers for training our youth to be independent, to be freedom-seekers and to be useful for their country, are not.
We are opposed to manifestations of backwardness
If the present regime claims that its methods of education and training are correct, then let it give us some evidence of this; but it is not able to do this. We oppose the radio in Iran now which as soon as it is switched on imparts nothing only praise for Aryamehr «9» and dance music and songs which sully our youth. We oppose a radio which corrupts our children; we do not oppose radio in itself. If the regime would let us take control of it then we would most certainly approve. We can run the radio much better than the regime can. The television in Iran, as I understand, shows scenes which are ruining our youth, depraving a generation. This is what we are opposed to, not the features of civilization.
The clergy is opposed to the Shah and the plunderers
We are opposed to those who want to keep us in a state of backwardness; this is what they want and this is what we are against. These are the things that the clergy opposes. Which clergyman has ever said that we oppose the radio when it is used to broadcast decent programs and give sound teachings? Which clergyman has ever said that we are against the television when it is used to disseminate sound teachings and when it helps the nation to progress? We are against these things when they are in their hands! We oppose these leaders who are ruining our country. We oppose this Shah and his father before him who have destroyed this nation. They have exhausted our wealth and continue to do so.
Iran's uncertain future without oil
Our oil is being sold in such a way that reserves won't last for long. «10» Our agriculture has been destroyed such that the country is now a market for America. How will the next generation live in this country in thirty years' time? We must take everyone into consideration. Is it enough to see only to our own needs? I am nearly eighty-years-old; I may only be alive for another six months or a year, but Islam has made us responsible; we have a responsibility to the people; we have to tell them what disasters they are bringing about for this nation.
Creating inconveniences and strain
But when we start speaking out and telling them what should be done, they increase their activities against us to stop us from getting our message across, to block us. I am forced to leave Iraq, and neither Kuwait nor Syria will allow me in; even though I haven't asked permission from the Syrian authorities to enter their country yet, I know they won't allow me in. I cannot live in an Islamic country, because I am not allowed to continue my activities in an Islamic country, so I came here, but even here I see that there are also restrictions imposed on me.
They do not allow the truth to reach the people
The Shah's regime is actively pursuing its aims: to stop the truth from reaching the people, from reaching the world; to prevent the world from hearing the cries of this nation; to stop news of these killings, that are being carried out every day, from reaching the world. The situation is such in the country, every day killings are taking place. Wherever you look, whichever newspaper you look in or foreign radio station you tune in to, even though they only impart the bare minimum of facts about what is happening in Iran, you learn that a few people have been killed. They only report that a few people have been killed, but my own sources inform me that we should multiply their figures by ten. There are not only tens or hundreds of people being killed; the killings take place every day.
The people want freedom and independence
So what is it that this nation wants that it is ready to sacrifice so many lives for? You should listen to what the people are saying. The world has said many things about this nation, but it hasn't listened to the people. Come and listen to the people themselves, ask them what they want, ask them why they are raising such a hue and cry. This nation has been given freedom so why are the people shouting? This nation has been taken to the `threshold of a great civilization' yet still they shout. They are crying out because of this great civilization. Are they shouting that the Shah is creating a great civilization and they do not want it? Are they shouting that he is giving them freedom and creating" free men and free women" and they do not want this? Or are they calling out for freedom, independence, an Islamic government, a just government, for a leader who is at least not a thief, for a government which is not predacious, whose members do not take the wealth of the Muslims abroad to buy things for themselves and their families. They are asking them (the Shah and his regime) not to buy so many things from abroad; they are telling them not to deposit the wealth of the people in foreign banks in their own names. This nation is proclaiming that it wants freedom, and this gentleman turns around and says:" We have given you freedom!" If he has given the people freedom, then what do they want? What else do they want? Do all these killings constitute freedom? Is this a government of reconciliation which imbrues Iran's soil with blood? If this is what he means by reconciliation, then what will his war be?
Necessity for Iranians living abroad to join the Islamic movement
You gentlemen who are living abroad at this time, you are duty bound to unite with your Iranian brothers. Their uprising is not for themselves alone, they have arisen for you too. You are their partners. Their success means your success. Many of our young people cannot return home now because of a word, just one word that they have spoken over here; perhaps during a visit by the Shah they expressed their concerns or demonstrated against him and their names have now been added to the list so they cannot return.
The people want a government based on Islamic justice
These people, who have risen up, from school-children to high-school and university students, are giving their lives. The people of the bazaar are sacrificing their lives. The clergy are sacrificing their lives. They are all being persecuted and they are all crying out. Every day there is a demonstration and every day the cries of death to this man, death to the Pahlavi monarchy ring out. The people want the country to be in their own hands, they want to administer it themselves. They have the youth, they have the scientists, they have everything, but they are not allowed to do this. The people want to remove this class who will not let their country progress, who will not let their youth be educated properly. They want a government of Islamic justice which will help the people, a government whose leaders will put the needs of the people first. They want a ruler who will eat made of barley bread because he is afraid that somewhere in his realm there is someone who has to eat bread like this or worse. Of course we can't find such a person, but we can find someone who will not steal from us at least.
Assisting the people of Iran
We are all duty bound to help our Iranian brothers as much as we can. Explain your problems to as many of these Europeans that you meet as you can; tell them what these Iranians who have risen are saying; tell them what their demands are. Whenever you come across an article in a newspaper or magazine which runs contrary to the facts, voice your objections, tell the person who wrote the article that he has not understood the matter correctly. This will be effective. Try to inform at least ten Europeans or Americans of the facts; try to make them understand just what our problems are; try to make them see that because the Iranian people have risen in opposition it does not mean that they are uncivilized, it does not mean that they can no longer be given freedom, that if they were given freedom they would set everywhere aflame. No, you must make them understand that it is the Shah and his regime that have inflamed the people; they have caused them to shout so. The people are shouting because of the fire they have had to endure. Your numbers are many in Europe, if each one of you could acquaint even ten people with the facts, then a wave of public opinion would be created.
Necessity of propagating the multidimensional uprising of the Iranian people
Spread the word. Now that the Iranians are giving their lives, you ought to give your voice at least; you ought to at least make people aware of the truth. Do not simply sit at home under the delusion that because you are here you can be comfortable. Do not simply listen to accounts of the killings in Iran, expressing sorrow at news of the murders of eight- and ten-year-old schoolgirls attacked in their schools. Go and tell your friends and colleagues about these events. If you are able, write about them in the press over here. Wherever you are speak out. If someone has written a report, which contradicts the facts, confront him, tell him that he has not presented the true facts, ask him why he is not doing so, complain to him, and God willing an even greater wave of public support will come about. I can assure you that, God willing, our nation will win, because this is a national uprising, it involves all sections of society. When this roaring flood of people begins to move in one direction, no matter how weak they are, neither tanks nor America can stop them. Thirty million people have begun to move. Only a few hundred people have not joined the movement and they are the hirelings of the regime. This roaring flood of people is on the move now and neither Russia nor America can stop it. This is a just act. This is the hand of God and no one can stop it. This is an obvious call for justice. A nation is calling out for its freedom and no one can say they do not have that right. They are human beings too. The situation is very difficult for the Shah and his regime now, but they cannot continue to confront such a just call with bayonets. Martial law cannot be imposed forever. This regime may not be able to survive a day without martial law, but it cannot be in effect forever.
Create a wave of support
In any case you must explain the situation to these foreigners. Give your friends the facts. If you attend schools over here, speak to the people who attend with you and tell them what is really happening. Form groups, gradually they will increase and you will become preachers and speakers, telling the people about the problems of Iran. If you do this, a wave (of public opinion) will come about which the reporters will not be able to counteract; then it will be the people here who stand up to the false propaganda.
This is a service that we who are abroad can perform for the nation of Islam. I beseech God the Blessed and Exalted to assist you and to grant you success. May He keep you safe from harm and protect you. May you be successful.