Speech [Comparison between an Islamic government and a corrupt regime]

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Now, in this small room we can witness both the military personnel and the clergymen have come together. Is it better, or when the military was on one side and the clergymen on another side and the nation was alienated from the military and the military was alienated from the people? One of the differences between corrupt regimes and an Islamic government is this that the corrupt regimes, considering that they are traitors to the nation, are afraid of the nation. In order for the nation, which is disenchanted with them, not to rise up in revolt, they build up military machinery that frightens the nation. In the corrupt regimes, the military is created in order to intimidate the nation; and the nation also regards the military as its enemy and the military regards the nation as such. For this reason, they are always alienated from each other and ill-disposed toward each other. Perhaps those who go to the mosques, instead of praying for their well-being, curse them. Those who are in the armed forces- armed forces of the corrupt regime- instead of protecting the nation, point their guns at the nation. This is of a corrupt regime that builds a military force it is afraid of and instills fear in the nation lest the people revolt against them. In an Islamic government this is not an issue because the ruler in Islam, the head of the government in Islam has no fear of the people for he is not treacherous; he is of the people and is based upon the people. Perhaps you have noticed or heard this matter that this Muhammad Rida, whenever he wanted to cross the street and for instance go somewhere, one or two days prior to it, the secret service agents would come and keep the houses that happened to be on the route under close surveillance and control them. They would place agents and ask the people to leave their homes; they would control the streets and place their own agents there. What was all this for? Because he was afraid, and a traitor is fearful; he is frightened; he is afraid that while crossing the street, people who are inimical to him might assassinate him; they may beat him up. But an Islamic government is not afraid of the people because it has not committed any treason against the people. Thus, at the advent of Islam in the same mosque that the scholar [`alim] went to, the military man also went to; and the commanders of the army were also present there and they would pray together and observe religious decrees in congregation; and they would also go to battle together. This was the situation then. Before this movement began, you would never come together with these gentlemen in one place; and you would also never come to meet with us; we would sometimes meet together while you would also meet together; and each would meet separately. This movement resulted in that we all are now meeting together; neither am I afraid of you nor you afraid of me and neither do the gentlemen; all are friends and associates. This peace of mind that we and you have now, that you have calm and that you are not frightened of the people and the people are at ease that they do not have to fear you; this is one of the blessings of Islam that has been bestowed on us- and this is very valuable. Those who were in the former regime, the same secret service SAVAK agents and their likes that disturbed the people in that fashion- their conscience was unhappy. Yes, sometimes it happens that the conscience of an individual also changes but the majority would be troubled at having to do such jobs; they would be in horror of the people for having to do such jobs. They did not have peace of mind which is one of the great blessings. Now, there is peace of mind; all of us have it even though we are still half the way.

If, God willing, we carry forward this movement to the end and these degenerate remnants who think that, for example, by attempting to assassinate some persons, with the assassination of some persons, their job will be accomplished, it is not so; the time for it has passed. Perhaps you have heard that even today an assassination attempt was made on the life of one of the `ulama' of Tehran. Mr. Aqa Radi «1» was targeted and three bullets were also fired at him, but he escaped and was saved. These people think that with these things they can once again cause a nation whose youth come to me- not once or twice but several times- and plead to me to pray for them to be martyred; they no longer are afraid of being assassinated; they seek martyrdom; they seek martyrdom with open arms; this is what Islamic training is. The secret behind the victory of our nation was this that they no longer have any fear of being killed while demonstrating on the streets. They would go and many of them would be killed. Finally, with these outcries and protests and shouts of" Allahu akbar" they triumphed. An Islamic system is such that its individuals are attached to the mosques. The movement would start from the mosques; and from the mosques it would pour out onto the squares and the battlefields. On Fridays when they would recite the sermons, or other than Fridays when their preachers would go to the pulpit and speak; from there they would exhort them to go and fight. With a morale that is realized from the mosque, this individual is no longer afraid to go lest such a thing happens. He belongs to the mosque; he is a spiritual being. A spiritual person is not afraid of being killed at any time. If he is killed, the better; he has a better place to go to. Those individuals must be afraid of death who think that when they die, it is the end of the story; or if it is not the end, then what is going to be done to them over there. But those whose path and accountabilities with their Creator are proper, why should they have fear? They are not afraid.

In any case, now one of the blessings of this movement is this very gathering of ours in this place. We and the prominent and respected `ulama' of Qazvin and you gentlemen from the armed forces are all gathered together here; and all of us are seated here with peace of mind, friendship and brotherhood; and shall also leave with peace of mind. This is one of the blessings that have been bestowed on us by Islam. I hope that we all traverse this path together; and the government that Islam wants and which has not yet been realized will be the foremost objective. A zephyr of Islam has blown but otherwise it has not been realized yet.

The government which Islam wants and the regime that Islam seeks to realize shall, God willing, be realized such that wherever you go, for example if you go to the bazaar, you will see that it is Islamic; there is no more extortion; there is no more unnecessary profiteering; there is no short weighing; there is no usury; there is no windfall profits. When you go to the army, you will see that it is Islamic; all of them are focused on Islam; they stand up in prayers; they observe fasting in the month of Ramadan. Whenever you visit the mosque, you will see that everything is proper. You go to the army and see that as if you have entered the mosque; and everywhere in the country, its ministries, its administrative offices have become Islamic. If God willing, what God, the Blessed and Exalted, has commanded is performed, is realized, then it shall be a model for the world in that it is what we seek. Now, too, this extent that you have reached is something that the world cannot believe. This was accomplished by Islam because the people cried out for Islam, the masses cried out `Islam' and as they passed the army on their way, the army heard the cry and joined them; when they passed the gendarmerie, the gendarmerie too joined them; everyone joined together and this miraculous feat was realized. I hope that together, God willing, we can also attain the remaining objectives. The next issue from now on is the question of the constitution together with the Council of Experts- which must be composed by extremely learned and Islamic individuals- which also is to be realized. An Islamic constitution, an Islamic consultative assembly, an Islamic president- all of these are to be realized. After these have been realized, the reformation tasks shall be facilitated. May God protect all of you and may you be successful in the endeavor to serve all of us.