Speech [The need to explain in foreign countries the factors that led to the victory of the Islamic Revolution]

In encountering other groups with which you want to debate about Iran, you, yourselves, know what the campaign has been, for what it has been and what the end purpose is. After (enduring) all the troubles, hardships suffocation, plunder, and such things, the people of Iran, driven to extremities, rose up. A mere uprising would not have got us anywhere. The uprising was, in fact, Islamic. Our youth strove for Islam- Islam was everybody's goal- and were prepared to lay down their lives for it. Because of this and the unity of expression and reliance on Islam, the movement advanced. It is hoped that the unity of expression and this movement will endure and it will progress to the end. You should explain to the groups you encounter there about this thing that brought about this movement- as it is even now being portrayed abroad in the newspapers, in the service of that man «1» or his supporters, that he wanted to make the country progressive- and in the name of progress; in the name of the" great civilization" and the" gate of civilization", the Shah ruined everything in Iran, not allowing even the universities to develop the way they should have, and completely disrupted our economy, making everything in Iran dependent on the foreigners. The people rose because everything of theirs had been destroyed and they had become fed up. It was for this reason that they revolted and staged this movement cutting off these hands from their country. Even now it is not that they have reached the goal. The goal is that a government of justice be established, a government that is not attached to any bloc, a country in which none of these blocs can interfere, on Islamic country based on Islamic tenets as justice is inherent in all Islamic tenets. Such is our desire, and if these wicked hands linked to the foreigners allow, this task will be accomplished. We are hopeful that these conspiracies, too, that are going on nowadays in various forms in Iran, will be neutralized by the efforts of all the youth and all the factions. In any case, you should make it known and explain to them- of course, to the extent you can- as to why the people revolted, what became the motive of their revolt and what their final goal is.

But the approach toward all groups ought to be proper. That is, Islam is just like this; it behaves peacefully even with its enemies unless they plot against the good of the country or against that of Islam. It is in a such case that it acts with severity. Islam, however, desires the welfare of the whole of humanity. It wants all human beings to fraternize properly, and behave correctly and in a friendly manner with each other. The behavior should be friendly even with the people who have no belief whatsoever in Islam.

But about your third point whether it is forbidden to sit at the table where there are prohibited drinks, like alcoholic ones, sitting at the table is forbidden according to Islam. Yes, even if one does not imbibe any liquor, sitting at a table, on one side of which there are alcoholic drinks, is forbidden. This is God's command, and of course, imbibing these is obviously so. When you go there, they will treat you respectfully, of course, and do whatever you ask. Tell them in advance to keep your table separate.

[It is said that they may look down on and be indifferent toward the delegation sent by the Islamic Republic, in spite of the Iranians thinking highly of themselves nowadays. The Imam stated:]

I do not think that they will look down on you anymore. The time they used to look down upon you was when that person who considered himself as the country's leader used to be so submissive to them. I cannot forget that when the Shah had gone to meet Johnson, his picture was published in the newspaper there. I cannot forget how bad I felt that man, Johnson, «2» standing there, spectacles in hand, looking towards the left in the direction where his chair was, with Muhammad Rida standing in front of him like a schoolboy, for example, standing in front of his teacher! When they (the foreigners) would see that the condition of one who ruled over a people was like that, their view of every person in the country would also be like that (scornful). But after seeing the country clench its fists and drive out all (the opponents), their opinion of you had now changed.

You have to safeguard yourselves as so much propaganda has been done against you that they have transformed our inner selves into something different from the identity that a human being ought to have. They had made so much propaganda as to take away our individuality from us because of which we feel inferior as soon as Britain and America are mentioned. They had named all these avenues after these countries. They named the squares after them and all other things also. Now you are different people and Iran is also not what it was. According to the people who come from abroad, you are not aware what an opinion they (themselves) now have of Iran. Iran itself has not properly comprehended the grandeur of this movement. The splendor of this movement abroad is greater than these issues. It is evident from the people who come here on behalf of the Soviet Union- their ambassador comes here sometimes- that their opinion about this place is not what it formerly was. Therefore, you ought to consider yourselves as a nation that has prevailed and as people that have prevailed over others, and you must go there as victors. Do not be afraid of them at all; go there as people from a victorious nation and not from a weak one as was the case before. You are a strong nation that has put aside the Soviet Union, Britain, America and all the others as well. Therefore, they will not look down on you, unless you (do something to) belittle yourselves and do not do this (go as victors).

May God guide all of you and give you success. May you succeed in going there safely and in returning victorious, God willing.