Speech [Gratitude to the revolutionary nation; support for military and police forces; announcement of the end of strikes]

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Greetings to the nation who has kept its orderliness during its Revolution so meticulously that it has amazed the world. Revolutions that have taken place in the world have been so violent and bloody that they simply cannot be overlooked. However, in the religious Revolution of yours, in this Islamic-humanitarian Revolution of yours, there were very few casualties because it was your unflinching faith that had driven you to resist oppression. Satan was remote from your actions. The Blessed and Exalted God looked favorably upon you, The Imam of the Time- may God's peace be upon him- looked favorably upon you. I would like to thank you, the great nation, because you staged an uprising, participated in the movement, took efforts and suffered bloodshed for the sake of Islam and the Muslims at a time when Islam was in great difficulties and danger. You have freed yourselves of the evil of oppression and crushed the 2500- year-old oppressive machinery; you have driven back the world's great powers, which were supporting this corrupt regime, and have rendered them powerless. Up to this point, people from all walks of life have gallantly and bravely collaborated with you in this affair. Now, the next step that you must take is the step toward reconstruction. Together everybody must cooperate with each other in this effort and make the ruined country of Iran flourish. You must make a concerted effort in this regard.

The military and police forces under the shelter of Islam

Now that the armed forces- the army, the police, gendarmerie, and all the other forces- have joined the Islamic nation and have sought refuge in Islam, nobody has any right to harass them. Harassing them is tantamount to aggression against the Islamic government, which is tantamount to aggression against God. Those who are preoccupied with sabotage and are infringing on public centers, embassies and other places such as private homes are traitors. These people should be stopped and if they do not desist from doing their actions, I will tell the nation what to do with them. Weapons at the hands of people should be handed in to the committees so that they can be distributed among certain individuals according to a definite rule. If you see any sort of commotion in the country, any individual in any place is duty-bound to prevent it and not to let any destruction be done. It is also your duty to stop any intrusion into people's homes, whether private buildings or ones that concern the government.

You should not allow chaos and anarchy to take place. Satanic elements want to show that democracy does not exist in Iran and that Iran does not deserve justice and freedom. My brothers, you must not let these matters be brought up and irrelevant statements be made (about Iran).

You must maintain peace. You are all duty-bound to protect the city. Now that the city is revolutionary, the whole city and all the believers and Muslims should make joint effort to stop agitators intending to create commotion and indulge in looting people's homes. Do not let the nation's image be distorted, or be put to shame before other nations. All the world's nations and governments have their eyes fixed on Iran to see what it will do in this Revolution. They are asking," What will happen after the Revolution and the overthrow of the corrupt regime? Will there be anarchy? Will Iran be divided?" Do not let these words be said. Do not let anarchy take place. All the people are duty-bound to confiscate arms from agitators even if it means killing them. Do not let these agitators infiltrate your ranks.

Strikes should be ended on Saturday; this is an order and not a request! Some agitators want some strikes to continue in order to abort the movement. Up until now, the strikes have been at the service of the movement; from now onwards, ending the strikes is serving the movement. Anybody who tries to inveigle you by saying that strikes have to continue is a traitor, and he should be smacked in the mouth. From Saturday, all strikes nationwide should be ended. People must resume their work but they should exercise caution and be vigilant. While any individual is busy doing his job, he should be vigilant and on the lookout not to let agitators and looters who have set out, and miscreants who have appeared in your city and the other cities, indulge in looting. Secondly, I would like to repeat the request of the disciplinary forces: the police should return to their posts. Those who had deserted this Revolution should go back to their posts; they are in safety and nobody has any right to harass them. All air force personnel and warrant officers, army, police forces, and the gendarmerie should resume their posts and the people must support them as they are also of the people. Together both you and the disciplinary forces must safeguard the peace and order in a brotherly manner.

I implore God, the Blessed and Exalted, for your health and the grandeur of Islam and the Muslims. May God's peace, mercy and blessings be upon you.

Rouhullah al-Mousawi al-Khomeini