Speech [A warning to the army and the usurping government; the necessity of obeying the provisional government]

I seek refuge in God from the accursed Satan

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Although I am not very well, I have to say a few words. We have always wanted the people to be prosperous and lead their lives in peace. We never wished such revolution to happen; the revolution that they have brought forward, which brought sufferings for us, and abjection for them; but they acted senselessly and it happened. Had they accepted our advice, things would have not reached this point. Now we are once again advising those who are usurpers. We are advising the illegitimate government; we are advising the army to stop resisting if you want this country to attain peace and stability. Those who are occupying their posts illegally should leave and mind their own business. The army should also return to the nation's embrace and the nation will accept them. If they heed this piece of advice, the problems will be resolved, the country will find peace and culture, economy and other aspects of the society will assume a definite form, little by little of course, and the rest will fall into their specific and rightful places.

Although this man, whose name is Muhammad Rida Pahlavi, is gone now, he has destroyed every single aspect of the country; he left us a country in ruins. Everywhere you look you will see a trail of destruction: the economy is a shambles; the agriculture is completely devastated; in the name of" Land Reforms" they have despoiled the agriculture and established a market for their (foreign) masters. In the name of" civilization" and" progress," they pushed us backward and made our culture backward. They rendered conditions inside Iran execrable except the graveyards, which have flourished! That is the graveyards, which were but a few now have increased in number and have expanded. However, the country's conditions have become deplorable. If they listen to the clergy's advice and obey what we are saying which is for the good of the nation, things will not be the way they are now: neither will the graveyards expand further nor will the country be worse than its present state; neither will the blood of our beloved youth be shed nor will the mothers who have lost their young sons be mourning. I advise this government and the army to desist from their obstinacy. Submit to the nation's vote (will), which you are now witnessing. The nation consists of every citizen residing in any place you call Iran, from the capital to the remotest hamlet. Go to a village and see if you find one where cries (against the Shah) are not heard. Will you find a city where people's cries demanding independence, freedom and Islamic republic, and not wanting this regime, is not heard?

Respect the nation's opinion. Respect the opinion of the Islamic `ulama'. Respect the views of the nation's different walks of life. Desist from further attacking the people. We have appointed a government. We have this right on both legal and religious law bases. Based on the religious law authority, which we possess, and based on the votes cast by the nation, which acknowledges us, we have appointed Mr. Mahdi Bazargan to form a government, a provisional one in order to hold a referendum that will enable us to assess the people's votes regarding the regime. However, I do not see any necessity for this because the nation has already cast its vote through their cries. They have shouted out so loudly that they want an Islamic rule and do not want the monarchial regime. Therefore, there is really no need for it, but in order to put an end to excuses and prove that such is the case; that Iranian nation is Muslim; it does not want an anti-Islamic regime; the nation of Islam wants the rule of Islam, an Islamic government, a government of justice; to prove this, we have appointed him (Bazargan) to hold a referendum and provide the preliminary ground for us to be able to assess the public consensus. And the people, if the people have any comment on the matter, they will have the chance to express their opinion regarding this government. Tomorrow all the people everywhere in Iran, in all the cities of Iran, in Tehran and all its localities, should express their opinion regarding this government that we have appointed. They should demonstrate and let their ideas be known, or declare that they do not want an Islamic government and should voice it out that they do not want it. Or, that they believe that this appointed government which is based on the authority of the religious law should be a religious law government, not only a legitimate one. That is, a religious law government that must be obeyed. It is binding upon everyone to obey this government. A similar case was that of Malik al-Ashtar, who would be deployed to a place and appointed by Hadrat Amir, may God's peace be upon him. He was a ruler to whom obeisance was indispensable meaning he was divinely ordained ruler and a religious judge. We have also invested him (Bazargan) with a religious law mandate and a legal government; hence, obeisance to him is obligatory.

An uprising against an Islamic government is tantamount to a rebellion against the Truth and is punishable. However, opposition to this regime or any other regime is a sin against God, but the chastisement does not mean that it is to be found in common law; contrary to a rebellion against the government. In our religious law, an uprising against a government is meted out with a customary punishment, which is very harsh. In this connection, we remind and announce to all governments, all incumbent governments, provincial governors, the gendarmerie everywhere, the army wherever it is, office employees, the prime ministry and everybody else that Mr. Bazargan has been invested with a religious law rule by me, and it is incumbent upon all to make obeisance to him. And you, gentlemen, who are men of letters and of the `ulama', should enlighten the people. If you are to go somewhere, go ahead, enlighten the people, and make them understand that the issue is an issue concerning the rule of justice; the issue is that of an Islamic rule. We hope that, later on, control will devolve on you and that you appoint a parliament. For fifty years, our parliament was of the monarchy; it was not a national one. Now we want to set up a national parliament, with the people controlling it and appointing the deputies. Their destiny should be in their own hands.

May God grant you health and victory and may you all stay in good health and keep your dignity, God willing.