speech [The rebels and corrupt elements' prevention of the implementation of reforms and development of Kurdistan province and the backward areas]

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Whatever lack of attention has been given with regard to these regions of yours and similar places to yours- especially in Kurdistan province- is because of these rebels and corrupt elements that have not given a chance so far to the government for reconstruction and looking into their needs. In order to realize what you just mentioned and which is a fact, the region must be peaceful. In a region where the rebels are constantly igniting fires and are even suppressing the people and are fighting against the defense and disciplinary forces that go there, you should not expect the problems- that pertain to the region and need to be peaceful- to be resolved. You should not be under the impression that the government is not concerned and do not think that the government is not going to take action especially in places that have remained backward from the time of the former regime. It is the rebels that are not giving a chance to anyone; in the name of looking after the interests of the masses, they are not giving anyone a chance to work for the realization of the welfare of the people. They want to cause disturbances in the region so that the government is not able to do anything and again the same old problems and the same backwardness that you all and everyone went through is repeated. God willing, as soon as the evil of these miscreants is eradicated totally, and God willing, it will be, these problems shall be taken care of.

I have spoken with the government about all the Sunni `ulama' wherever they are and especially the `ulama' of Kurdistan province. They also have promised that all the strata and especially the `ulama' there are to be taken care of and their affairs looked after. Likewise, the theological school which is a school for the teaching of the Qur'an is respected and is to be taken care of. The theological students who should gather there and establish a school are, God willing, to be looked after. But on condition that they are allowed to do their job, the area should be peaceful. These people do not allow the region to be calm. In the name of doing" sacrifice for the masses" and being" democrats" and for instance, in the name of establishing freedom in the world, they prevent the people from being free; they prevent; they do not give a chance to the government to think of solutions for these places. God willing, after they have been eliminated, then a different atmosphere shall prevail.

You should not be under the impression that action has been taken in other places while no action has been taken for you. They are busy with planning for all the places. But the former regime caused so much destruction that it cannot be rectified so soon. God willing, especially with regard to your region, for which a substantial budget has been allocated now, and should there be any deficit in the future, again it shall be reallocated and delegations are arriving there to look into the affairs, God willing, in all respects there shall be improvements. The important thing is that you yourselves as well as the `ulama' of Kurdistan and likewise, your youth should also help and offer resistance vis-a-vis the rebels and banish these rebels and drive them away so that an opportunity is given, God willing, for reforming things. Convey my greetings of peace to all your friends and to all the `ulama' there and to all the strata there; and give them the assurance that we are thinking about all and Islam is for everybody; and I hope that we all shall, God willing, live in peace and security under the banner of Islam.