Speech [The status and significance of radio and television in the Islamic Republic; keeping unity in the face of conspiracies]

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

The radio and television net, as I have repeatedly said, is by far the most sensitive apparatus for publicity. People make use of it through their eyes and ears. People resort to this system more than other systems. A nation gets improved by the improvement brought about in its radio and television net. If this system remained in the same condition that it had at the time of the Shah, people would not improve. One of the tasks of this system, which is under the supervision of Mr. Mousawi, whose past records we are aware of, is to take care of the contents of its program, which should be based on the principles of Islam.

The mere act of voting for the Islamic Republic of Iran is not enough. Its systems of information, its newspapers, its mass media, its governmental centers, its bazaar and its factories should be in such a way that anybody who enters such a country could perceive that he has entered an Islamic community. The trace of Islam should be present in these centers. Anything in contradiction with Islam should be removed from such centers.

One issue of concern in television is the issue of films. These films should be instructive. Those films which cause our youth to get spoiled should be avoided.

Those who are in charge of films should be advised to show good and moral values. However, if they insist on showing nasty films, they should be liquidated. Your tasks are decisive in that you either cause the development and progress of the Islamic Republic through presenting the public with proper films, or you might hinder its progress. It takes time to make the personnel of certain departments realize that we should stop imitating the west. They are under the illusion that whatever is shown on the American and English televisions, should be imitated here. Be careful to appoint employees who believe in Islam and in the Islamic Republic. The content of such films should be Islamic. Put this fact at the top of your agenda everywhere in this country. Invite learned and shrewd people to deliver lectures on useful topics on your networks.

Concerning films, care should be taken to broadcast those films which are not misleading to our youth. The films which are shown to children should assist them in independent and creative thinking and in becoming responsible individuals. Do not let irresponsible people broadcast any film they like. If there are such people, guide them. If they do not care, expel them. This is urgent, indeed.

The revolution which took place in Iran was the result of two factors. The first factor was Islam. In every corner of the country the cry for Islam was loud and clear. People abhorred the previous regime for the mischievous acts that were common in that regime. Our youth early in their lives found out that the old regime was corrupted from its very foundation. But people were Muslims. They were after Islam.

Now we should find out what kind of programs our Muslim nation prefers. We are not allowed to produce anything which is not approved by them. We should listen to our nation. We should care for what they want.

A nation whose slogan is" Neither eat, nor west, only Islamic Republic," has set the stage for our planning the programs. We are not allowed to say this nation has uprisen for democracy. There is everything in Islam, including democracy. We are not permitted to impose anything on them against their wishes.

The second factor behind our revolution was the fact that all layers of our society were united. If there were some opponents among people, they were made silent through the pressure of the majority. They were not allowed to sabotage. Everybody was after Islam These two factors contributed to the victory of the Islamic Republic. We should not however, be under the illusion that we have so far resolve every problem. We are not at the start of our path; rather, we are at mid-way. We have not yet reached our goal.

It was our aspiration to cut the hands of those superpowers which dominated us, whose military advisors were busy in our country, who issued commands to the cabinets what to do and what not to do, who appoint representatives for the Consultative Assembly. Muhammad-Rida himself has confessed to the fact that these representatives were appointed by different embassies in Iran. When he said such a statement he had in mind to confirm that he was not influenced by those embassies anymore. He intended to accuse his father of this mismanagement, claiming that he himself was free from this kind of error. But he showed his lack of skill to confess to the fact that he was innocent. Everybody knew he was even worse than his father. He was more dependent over foreign powers than his father. The amount of his father's dependence was less than his.

These two factors, i. e. Islam and unity, brought us victory. Upon the victory of the Islamic Republic over its enemies, the opponents who were silent at the initial stages of its victory, but were influenced by the western pernicious propagandanism, started forming hazardous political parties. In this way, they did not cooperate to stay united. They could have formed different parties after our republic had been firmly established. It was wrong for them to start such programs right in the middle of our path. Some, however, left their wrong path. Following all these, there occurred other turmoil, such as the Kurdistan revolt and the Azarbayjan turmoil against which we are struggling.

This turmoil at Kurdistan and Azarbayjan are not what the Khurds or Azaris would like to have. These turmoils are imposed on them by outsiders. The agents of the previous regime, too, have active role in them. As soon as turmoil is created at a location, for example, at Kurdistan, then the agitators gather there. But we have received scrolls of petitions for the establishment of the Islamic Republic there. They abhor separation. Of course, we are aware of the problems everywhere in the country. The Kurds do not like war. No nation likes war. Man is always after tranquility and calmness in the region he lives.

However, there are conspiracies. Those who previously had interests in this country now intricate and instigate the groups of agitators. Some individuals follow these instigators blindly, and some follow them intentionally, and create turmoil. Some of these revolts have been successful, but most of them failed, like the one in Qum.

People in Azarbayjan have never discarded Islam. They have always been loyal to Islam. They have always loved their country. They have been pioneers for the independence of the country. The Azarbayjanis have always sacrificed their blood for Islam. It is totally wrong to claim that Azarbayjanis do not care for Islam anymore. We hear it said that Azarbayjanis have occupied the television offices or the offices of the governor general. These are not done by a Muslim. Rather, such actions are done by the agitator and conspirators supported by the United States. Conversely, the Azarbayjanis are interested in Islam.

We sure these turmoils are not done by Azarbayjanis, one of whom categorically denies such accusations. «2» The agitators wrongly announce in their radios that army has joined them, or that the police is united with them. Such utterances are put forth by those who do not believe in Islam. They are uttered by traitors. Those who have occupied the television office and who think they have discovered something and have achieved miracles are those whose records are among the records of the American spies. The nation of Azarbayjan should be careful not to be carried away by these persuasions. This might blemish the reputation of Azaris who were well known in their Islam. Such a revolt is an act against Islam; it is against the Islamic government. We hate bloodshed. We hate our brothers to get killed. These rotten souls could never do such acts of violence. if somebody we asked the Azaris to settle the problem by themselves, they would definitely do so without delay. The Azaris, however, should be careful to ignore these agitators.

This fact should also be observed by our Khurdish, Balouchis, Sistani and Bakhtiyari brothers. At one time you did not have your country; now you posses it. You should, therefore, manage it.

Anyhow, these are some of the problems we are facing. One of the tasks of the radio and television network is to inform people on what is going on in the country. They have announced that the Furqan Group «3» has joined them, that the people's partisan troops «4» have joined them. Who are the members of these small groups? Those who claim the Furqan Group or the people' partisan troops have joined them are the real instigators. Let our brothers not to get deceived. No Muslim would ever follow such groups. No seminary student would ever join these groups. No Islamic leader would ever agree with these groups. Do not accuse the Islamic leaders of joining these illegal groupings. They do not agree with these groups. It is an Islamic taboo.

The uprising against the Islamic government is essentially an anti-Islamic act. Now we have an Islamic state. The punishment for the uprising against Islam is a capital one. No seminary student has ever declared the people should uprise against Islam. Not such a student would ever act against Islam. Some attribute such a big crime to the Islamic leaders. These are utter lies. They would not utter such rigmaroles. The uprising against Islam is blasphemy. It is above all other sins. Mu`awiyyah did the same thing and Imam `Ali (`a) considered his murder legal. It is not an easy job to uprise against an Islamic government. Now they have uprisen against an Islamic government.

I hope these agitators would be wise enough to stop these acts of corruption and aggression. And the clergy in the cities and towns should advise them. The clergy should warn them not to carry out illegal acts. They should not wrongly think that they can not be stopped. We do not want brother-killing to be the order of the day. We have showed that we did not want bloodshed in Kurdistan. We want peace and quiet there.

Thus, one of the main tasks of the radio and television network is to broadcast issues as they are. The supervisors of this network should not let those who distort facts get control of the system. The content of the programs should be Islamic in nature. Since these days we are being confronted with a satanic enemy, any opposing voice would be an instance of blasphemy. And these voices indeed stem from blasphemy. Our nation should be on the alert at all times. May God bless you in carrying out your tasks successfully. Take care to throw away any program which is not Islamic.

May God's peace, mercy and blessings be upon you.