In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
At this moment that I am intending to go to Qum- the shrine of the Holy Prophet's Household (`a) - I would like to thank the entire Iranian nation. Truthfully, it was because of the lofty efforts of this long-suffering nation that it triumphed over satanic forces by relying on the infinite power of God and faith in the Imam of the Time- mayAllah expedite his advent. Also, I would like to thank and laud the respectable people of Tehran, who have accorded me hospitality from my arrival until now and have made great efforts and shown me their ardent affection, and whom I would like to bid farewell to although I am not far from them in my heart and soul. I am indebted to all the kind sentiments shown by all factions and classes of respectable people. May the Exalted God grant them independence, freedom, constancy and health, and may He establish a just Islamic government for them. There are issues I need to point out:
1. The brave nation should be mindful of the fact that although internal oppression has crumbled and the people have felt freedom, the imperialist roots of America, the USSR, Britain and Zionism and other predacious governments have not been totally deracinated off this native land. We should be united in eradicating the influence of foreign countries from our country without faltering or pausing in the least. You must bear in mind that the Shah had placed this country at the aliens' disposal in such a way that, for a long time, we will have to deal with the damage done to it; and if we want to have true independence, we will have to make efforts to eradicate all traces of American influence whether economic, political, cultural or military. And I hope that the Iranian nation will achieve this important goal.
2. We all know that the key to this great victory the nation gained was the unity of expression of the people from all walks of life, from the capital to the remotest city of the country, and that its unified goal was the overthrow of the taghouti regime and severance of international colonialist and exploitative hands and the setting up of an Islamic republic. Now, we need to uphold the unity of purpose and expression largely. This great nation must vigilantly fend off some subversive elements that wish to open our Muslim country to aliens through deceptive slogans, and restore the same persecution and plundering in another form. You should avoid them and by isolating them, boycotting their gatherings and by using Islamic logic, neutralize their adverse propaganda. Everybody knows that the victory has been achieved through the power of Islam and the noble blood that Muslims have shed; opportunists want to take advantage of this situation, without having made any positive moves, and install themselves through chicanery and specious tactics. The nation should be vigilant in preventing them. Whereas there is freedom of expression, of the pen and ideas for everyone, and the people will never consent to any conspiratorial ploys.
3. Factory workers and other workers, employees and the oppressed classes must know that Islam has always been their defender since its early days, and in the just Islamic government, they are, and will be, treated justly. Those people whose masters used to be at the service of Muhammad Rida Pahlavi's imperial court and who want to separate the workers from Islam on the orders of, or because of the desire and interests of foreign powers, by infiltrating their ranks and disseminating deceptive lies, whether consciously or unconsciously, are serving foreign interests. It is imperative that their gatherings are avoided and that these corruption-mongers are not allowed to infiltrate their ranks and/ or enter the factories.
I have strongly stressed to the government to provide water, electricity and some other facilities free of charge for the impoverished class of the people who had been subject to deprivation, and hopefully with the establishment of the Islamic government this deprivation will be eliminated.
4. The military, the police forces and the gendarmerie are now at the service of the people and are of the people. The nation should support them and desist from committing any untoward acts that can incur their dissatisfaction; the police forces must realize that subsequent to the purging of corrupt elements, they will live in comfort and dignity under the protection of Islam and the just government. We all know that we are indebted to the solidarity of all branches of the armed forces, and other governmental agencies, with the nation for the enemy's defeat. You should not entertain any sense of defeat; rather you should feel victorious as you are of the nation, and have a share in its victory. We respect you and consider you as our brethren. I very strongly warn the Iranian nation that the government must have a national army that is powerful and of high morale so that it will have the power to protect the country. The nation should make efforts to boost the morale of the military personnel and officers. Likewise, the respected preachers and speakers should do the same and must prevent any attacks from being made against military bases nationwide. Attacks on bases are now incongruous with the Islamic Revolution and must be avoided. It is necessary that the Islamic revolutionary committees in provincial towns vigorously support the commanders, who have been appointed by the general headquarters of the national Islamic army, and also support the heads of other peacekeeping forces, who have been appointed by high government officials.
5. Islamic revolutionary committees in all provincial towns are duty-bound to transfer all their activities to governmental forces once the government has the situation under control and must desist from interfering in governmental affairs. I must thank all the committees for all the efforts they have made in the course of the Revolution. You (the committees) have brought order to all the chaos with you endeavors.
6. I order all members of the committees and prison wardens to treat prisoners, whoever they are, humanely and in an Islamic manner. They must refrain from harassing and causing them distress, avoid violent treatment and the use of invective language as these acts are forbidden and condemned in Islam and in a just Islamic government. The relatives of prisoners must be given the permission to visit them on a designated day according to rules.
7. I have reiterated before and I will say it once more, that nobody has any right to break into or (forcefully) enter any homes, and if it comes to be known that a criminal is (hiding) in a certain house, it should be ensured that he does not escape and the responsible authorities be informed so that he is arrested according to the legal criterion. The supporters of the movement should refrain from doing such things. People should act as per religious law criteria.
8. The protracted strikes have caused crises and it is necessary that people abstain from hiking prices of staple goods in order to provide for the destitute class, and sell foodstuffs that the public needs at a cheap price. This is a humanitarian and Islamic action that I expect of the public. The Exalted God will bestow favors and blessings upon you for this humanitarian act.
9. I have reiterated the accordance of respect for the great `ulama', respectable prayer leaders, honorable preachers and other servants of the sacred religion. The great nation should know that if, God forbid, the position of this group whose members are the guardians of Islam and Qur'an, is undermined, the plundering foreigners will have their desires fulfilled and we will lose control of affairs. It was the enlightening efforts of this group, which fired this nation with the Islamic spirit. The services rendered by this group should not be forgotten, and it is with the assistance of this class that the situation in the country is heading toward peace and calm. I recommend that no violent action should be taken against even those who have insulted me. I want the clergy to cooperate with their brothers for the augmentation of the principles of the struggle and treat them with kindness. I pardon the individuals who have maligned or insulted me. I implore the Exalted God to pardon them. I also ask you to invite other congregational prayer leaders, who, as I have heard, have not joined us here (today), to mosques and to safeguard their respect. Of course, those who had been at the service of the oppressive establishment will have to be dealt with separately.
10. Articles and topics opposed to the Revolution's cause appear in magazines and newspapers that, after the Islamic Revolution, claim to be at the service of and moving along the course of the Islamic Revolution. This has caused unrest and dissatisfaction among the people with regard to which I have been repeatedly asked to take action. I regret this, and wish to advise the mass media that it was the nation's great sacrifices, coupled with reliance upon Islam and the power of faith in the Exalted God, that had emancipated us from the fifty years of servitude and despondency. Now it is not right to launch poisonous propaganda- which can only serve the interests of nobody but the foreigners, plunderers and their servants- against the will of this afflicted nation and the Islamic Revolution. I am repeating my advice that it is not to the interest of the press to be under the influence of the right or left, the East or the West; it should keep itself in the direction of the Revolution.
You, more than anybody else, must know that the nation rose up to wipe the dust of colonial cultures off itself. We must nip this colonial mentality in the bud in whatever form or shape, and not separate people from their faith, which has brought the superpowers to their knees. I hope that you heed the advice of this long-suffering man; I offer the same advice to the young people and all those who, at a sensitive juncture like the one now, are causing discord. I am afraid that such factious activities will be to the detriment of the suffering nation and to themselves. I am apprehensive about the dark days of suppression and servitude. I regret these tendencies toward the West and East. My children! Return to the embrace of Islam and benefit from the rich Islamic culture. Do not be deceived by those whose aim is nothing but to bleed the oppressed nations dry, and do not deviate from the path of the Islamic Revolution in which your and the nation's welfare lies.
11. The Exalted God willing, a referendum to decide the type of government will soon be held. It is worth mentioning that I shall vote for an Islamic Republic. What the great Iranian nation supported with their cries ringing all over the country is this same Islamic Republic, not more, not less. I expect the noble nation to vote for an Islamic Republic, as this is the only course of the Islamic Revolution. Anybody who is opposed to it is free and entitled to express his opposition, the great `ulama' of provincial cities, towns, villages and hamlets, and the nation itself, are duty-bound not to allow the infringement of anybody's freedom; they should take care that everyone casts his vote in a free atmosphere.
12. The arraignment of the corrupt regime's criminals should be attended to as soon as possible. They should be indicted in extraordinary people's revolutionary courts and appropriate punishments meted out so that the downtrodden people will be informed and be assured how those individuals, who had persecuted them during the black era of despotism, have suffered the consequences of their evil deeds.
13. All offices, from the prime ministry down to the smallest office, must refrain from pomposity mania, extravagance and bureaucracy and must carry out the people's business as soon as possible.
Of course, the esteemed people know that ministries and offices in the Islamic Republic must undergo basic and essential changes so that they can come out of their monarchial and Western shell and assume a humane and Islamic form.
14. In all humility, I would like to sincerely thank those who have, through telegrams and letters, been kind enough to convey their affections to me on my arrival, and I would like to apologize for not being able enough to convey their answer the countless letters and telegrams due to the little time and opportunity and the tiring preoccupations I have had. I am at everyone's service and I beg everyone's pardon. May the Exalted God grant Islam and the Islamic nation grandeur and power. May God's peace, mercy and blessings be upon you.
Rouhullah al-Mousawi al-Khomeini