In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
Muharram 1,1399 AH
Once again the criminal hands of the Shah came out of the treacherous sleeves of the unlawful martial government and shed the blood of the Iranian nation on the threshold of the month of Muharram, the month of the confrontation of Islam, righteousness and justice with the army of Satan and satanic government. Once again the blood-thirsty tyrants, the plundering thieves and the stateless robbers have commenced their savage attacks against the children of the Qur'an and Islam and the nationalist youngsters of the honorable Iranian nation, cropping the fruitful saplings of humanity with their machineguns, cannons, and tanks.
The unbearable news from Iran to date, when hardly one day of the month of Muharram has been put behind, has tormented my soul and spirit. The news of this day and night underline the aspects of the crimes committed by the Shah and the rogue government and at the same time demonstrate the unique valor and courage of the zealous nation.
Today, the enemies of Islam and Iran and the supporters of the Yazidi regime are pitted against the followers of the Qur'an and Islam and the ardent opponents of the satanic, Abou Sufyani regime. They want to respond- with their machineguns, cannons and tanks- to the Islamic, Husayni slogans, raised for the revival of Islam and acquisition of freedom and attainment of independence as well as the establishment of the rule of law, and a just government against the law of the jungle. They are ignorant of the fact that a nation that has risen wakefully and consciously and has recognized its movement as a divine, religious duty would make mockery of this rusted weaponry.
This nation is the follower of the greatest man of history who, with a few companions, created the great movement of `Ashoura, discarding the Umayyad dynasty to the dustbin of history forever, hoisting the flag of Islam in this vast country- rather in all the countries. The massacre of those who honor the martyrs of the righteous path is a stigma on the forehead of the treacherous Shah and his domestic and foreign supporters and is an honor for the great Iranian nation who has firmly stood against the modern weapons, and have shaken the pillars of the palace of oppression and inequity. From this far distance, I convey my endless salutations to the great nation; I share in their grief and happiness and I remain loyal to them. I seek the assistance of all human beings for achieving the humanistic goal for which the Iranian nation has risen up. I seek the assistance of all the Muslims for the Islamic movement that has been formed to redeem Islam and the Islamic country. I advise those who, through their deadly silence or probably through their measures, support the treacherous Shah, to join the oppressed nation- who are offering their blood and make sacrifices for Islam- and avoid their whims and carnal desires. The Iranian nation will be victorious, whether or not the Shah continues his illegitimate rule through reliance on bayonet. The honors of our nation have been recorded at the magnificent threshold of the Almighty God. The resistance of my dear ones in the way of righteousness and warding off of the falsehood has shaken the nations of the world, the oppressed nations have realized their path through your movement, and you have acquired the pleasure of Allah, which is above everything.
I ask all the soldiers across the country to desert the barracks; this is a religious obligation, for one must not serve an oppressor. I request the fathers, mothers and family members of the luminaries to dissuade them from assisting the treacherous Shah and prevent them from obeying the top officials of the Shah and the aliens and also request the officers to join their own nation and acquire the honor of rendering services to the Muslims.
I must express my gratitude to the general strikes of the Islamic movement that have been organized to support the nation. Although these glorious demonstrations are troublesome, they play a significant role in furthering the humane objectives of the nation. Continue your huge strikes more than ever and paralyze the system of these treacherous outlaws. Assistance to these traitors is unlawful and is against the pleasure of Allah. Obedience to them, under any excuse, is tantamount to opposition to Islam and God of Islam. The strike of the workers of the oil industries prevents the wastage of this great wealth of the nation and is obedience to God. I acknowledge the statement of the great teachers and honorable scholars- may their blessings last- of the Qum Seminary on the day of solidarity of the nation with the strikes in the government and non-government offices, particularly in the oil industries. As a member of this nation, I also announce my solidarity with them.
At this crucial juncture, when the destiny of our nation is being determined, anybody who shirks the responsibility toward the movement is rejected by our great leader, the Imam of the Time, may Allah hasten his advent, and the nation is duty-bound to excommunicate him and do not accept any excuse from him. Any attempt by any politician to assume power, while the Shah is in power, is rejected by Islam and is opposed to Islam and it is the duty of the nation to reject him. The opportunists must sit in their place, for they do not have any base among the nation. If the Shah is not captured by the nation, he has only one way ahead of him, that is, abdication from lawlessness and usurping reign.
Now, at this crucial juncture, the duty of the honorable religious authorities and clerics of the cities- may their blessings last- as well as that of the respectable preachers- may their emanations be perpetuated- is very significant; and we are all responsible toward God. Indolence and indifference is tantamount to the assistance to the oppressive system and wastage of the blood of the oppressed, which will lead to the destruction of the sublime exigencies of Islam and those of the Islamic country. I thank all the respectable strata of people who follow the Imam of the ummah, Imam Husayn (`a), during this month of struggle. God is with you and the holy Qur'an is the refuge of the nation. May peace be upon those who follow the guidance.
Rouhullah al-Mousawi al-Khomeini