Speech [Creating obstacles to prevent endorsement of the Constitution]

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

One of the Revolution's blessings is that all the brothers have gathered together. The gentlemen from Kurdistan, Isfahan and other places have all gathered here to discuss the problems we have. All of you know what happened to our youth during these last fifty-odd years, and how the country's coffers were emptied and its workforce remained backward. Now that this big barrier has, thanks to God, been demolished because of the people's unity, and the traitors have either been killed or have fled, we have to see what our duty now is. The events that occurred passed off well, praise be to God. All of you participated in the referendum and, thanks to God, cast a proper vote. But after this, we have other things to do. Those same people that had boycotted the referendum and had prevented the votes being cast in certain places are now intending to obstruct the endorsement of the Constitution. The reason for this is that the Constitution is an Islamic one, belonging to a republic of Islam, and that they fear Islam. Because of their fear of Islam, they do not want an Islamic republic to be set up in Iran. Previously they used to say that they wanted a republic but not an Islamic one. They wanted a democratic republic; that is, a western-type republic. We who are Muslims cannot ignore Islam. We can disregard many things but not Islam. All the people said that they wanted an" Islamic Republic". Those at that time who wanted a republic, a democratic republic, were very few in number. They constituted a very insignificant minority, whereas ninety-nine percent voted for an Islamic republic. All the groups in the opposite camp were those remnants. After having been defeated, and now that we want to draft an Islamic constitution- the Constitution of an Islamic republic- they are intending to prevent this from happening, saying that a Constituents' Assembly on the lines of those in the West should be set up here as well. They want the Assembly to have six hundred to seven hundred members, and for it to take some months before the members are designated and for some years to be approved. This is because they want to cause delays so that the rotten remnants could gather together and indulge in sedition.

All of you gentlemen should bear in mind that the proposal given by the government is correct and will expedite the matter so that these people (counter-revolutionar) do not gather together again and create the previous mischief. Those people who now say that they want an assembly of constituents are the same ones, some of whom had boycotted the referendum. In Kurdistan they are again pursuing the same aim of demanding an assembly of constituents, failing which they will boycott it. They had also done the same thing that time. They are the same people. They are the ones opposed to Islam. Why do we want a constituents' assembly? We want Islam to take effect. What is the point of putting ourselves at risk because of the Constituents' Assembly taking three or four years to be set up? We want the people to designate the representatives- seventy-five representatives are to be designated by the people- to study the Constitution. All the gentlemen, wherever they are, should send their representatives to review the Constitution. After they have accepted it, it will be put to the public vote, to a referendum, for the matter to be over and done within a day. The whole affair from beginning to end will take two months; not three or four years so that assistance be given from that side of the border to this side of it, and other places join hands and create disturbances at some time or other.

We want the matter to end soon and our country to become an Islamic one. All of you should also want the same thing. Those of you who are going to Kurdistan should tell the people about this. Convey my regards to all our friends and tell them that the crux of the matter is their intention to restore the former regime or one like it. Tell them not to allow such people in their midst. They should be disregarded or guided. Ask those people who are indulging in seditious activities what they have to say. Ask them whether they want to work for this nation. Well, all of us are for the nation. Tell them to come and help; why are they creating obstacles?! We want to build houses, but they are obstructing the matter. We want our agriculture to get underway, but they are causing obstructions. We want our factories to start operating, but they are causing obstructions. They are sabotaging the holding of the referendum and the drafting of the Constitution. Therefore, they are a bunch of saboteurs; not nationalists who want to serve the nation. They want to have all those acts of obstruction repeated, but we will not let such a thing happen, God willing.

May you all be healthy, successful and victorious, God willing. Convey our regards to all our friends that are there. May God protect everybody.