Addressees: The reporters of La Croa (?) newspaper, printed in Italy (a leftist Christian organization, Leftist Christian Daily)
[In a press conference with La Croa (?) religious newspaper, known as a Christian leftist organization (Leftist Christian Daily), Ayatullah al-`Uzma Khomeini, the national and religious leader of Iran, said]:
Islamic laws are progressive and advanced. We fight because Iran's present regime and those who have imposed this regime on the nation are intending to destroy our humanistic, cultural and religious values.
[In this interview, held by a priest reporter, Ayatullah al-`Uzma Khomeini said regarding the Islamic ideology:]
Islam came to bestow on the people man's real dimensions and dignity; that is to change people's lives in social, personal and political aspects and to help them in their spiritual wealth. Islam does have the capability of making such changes. Islamic laws respond to man's needs; these laws are very precise and clear. Islam according to some particular laws has adapted and regulated the attitude and behavior of every individual in relation to the society. Islam has specified the structure of the societal policies in connection with the religious minorities. The Islamic laws are indeed progressive and advanced in this respect. If Islam's economic laws become enforced, the country will achieve an advanced economy.
Freedom is one of Islam's principles. A true Muslim is by nature a free man. The present regime of Iran is intending and trying to crush these progressive fundamentals, as it always has. Another of Islam's principles is the concept of national independence. The Islamic laws specify that no other nation or person may have the right to interfere in our country's affairs, but the regime has deprived us of this independence and has given it away. The regime wants to control our mosques, and turn the religious universities and Islamic schools to that of their satisfaction; the regime wants to hold back the country's scientific and modern universities; because it can't and won't tolerate capable, independent and bright physicians, engineers, technicians and worthy politicians. This regime we're fighting against, has tried to destroy all these Islamic traditions and principles, and this is why the whole nation of Iran has risen against it altogether.