In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
The women in the arena of current political issues
I wish to apologize to all the brothers and sisters who have assembled in this cramped house and under this hot sun. As I am not able to speak to you for a long time, I will, therefore, say a few words and then entrust you to God.
It is one of the blessings of this movement that has brought you ladies of the coastal regions and all the esteemed women of Iran into the arena of current affairs and political issues. The criminal hands, of which Muhammad Rida and his father were manifestations, had sidelined all the ranks of the nation from social and current affairs. Political matters were not in the picture at all for the women, and neither were they for the brothers. If some people used to discuss them, it was in connection with that policy of plunder. If any so-called political groups would deal with political matters in those days, they (the issues) concerned the policies dictated by the West in order to plunder the Eastern countries.
This all-round transformation that occurred in Iran- transformation in thought, in spirit and in other respects- was a miracle that God, the Blessed and Exalted, did for you in this period. Today I see that your spokesperson, the spokesperson of the ladies from the coastal regions, raising matters that are the topics of the present time; the current political and social issues, just as the other women in the main cities and other places of Iran are now discussing the issues that exist and concern political and social affairs. This transformation arose by the blessings of this Islamic movement.
The fate of the country lies in the hands of the nation
I hope that this transformation will endure. You the ladies and the brothers and the rest of the brothers and sisters must make serious efforts to maintain this spiritual transformation. Get involved in your own political and social matters. In the name of involving half the population in the issues of the day, the previous regime had sidelined the whole population from the current issues and matters concerning politics and their lives! It is today that all the strata of the people are involved in their own affairs and the issues that concern their country and the political affairs of the government. It is today that the entire nation, whether the respected ladies or the brothers have a hand in determining their own destiny; not the time when they were repressed. They (ex-regime) had claimed to have liberated half the population. In the name of freedom, they had deprived half the population- the whole population- of it! Today, you are free. All our brothers and sisters are free today, and freely criticize the government. They criticize anything that is against their path, and ask the government to address their basic problems. This movement liberated you. It freed you from those restraints that had been imposed on the nation. You have now assembled here freely and are openly raising your local political and social matters that are necessary for the nation. You are not the women you were some years ago. The brothers are not what they were some years ago. Today, you have a say in your own destiny; and political issues. You chart the course in politics and make demands of the government. This is the meaning of freedom that Islam has given you, and also the most important freedoms that you will later come by, God willing.
All together in implementing Islamic law
This is now the day for all the ladies and the brothers to join hands and, with unity of expression, take this movement toward success that lies in Islam being planned and implemented in this country as it ought to be. All the nations will turn to Islam, God willing, if it is presented and implemented as it actually is. It is your duty to take this movement to its very end in the same way that you have brought it to this stage. And as regards electing the deputies that are experts and are to review the Constitution that will determine the country's fate, you must choose individuals who are pious, well-informed, committed, who believe in the movement and are neither inclined to the East nor West but follow the straight path of humanity and Islam. Place your destiny in the hands of honest persons. Do not place it in the hands of those who are likely to commit treachery. Vote for the persons whom the `ulama', the scholars and the pious ones of your regions nominate so that a constitution conforming to Islam and to the interests of the country is, God willing, approved, and a referendum, based on your votes, subsequently held.
May God's peace, mercy and blessings be upon you.