In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
O you who believe! Be upright for Allah, bearers of witness with justice and let not hatred of a people incite you not to act equitably; act equitably, that is nearer to piety, and be careful of your duty to Allah; surely Allah is Aware of what you do. «1»
How lucky are those who are hungry and thirsty for justice! It is because they would never be satiated (the Gospel according to Matthew); how lucky are the ones who endeavor for justice; it is because the kingdom of heaven is theirs (the Gospel, according to Matthew). On the auspicious birthday of Jesus Christ (`a), the honorable Prophet of God, I congratulate the oppressed nations of the world, the Christian nations and our Christian citizens. Jesus Christ (`a) was appointed by God to defend the oppressed and to establish justice, he, through his divine sermons and behavior, condemned arrogant powers and the oppressors and protected the poor and the deprived. O church fathers and priests who follow Jesus Christ (`a): rise up to defend the oppressed against the claws of the oppressors and tyrants, and for God's sake toll the bells of our churches in favor of the Iranian oppressed and for the condemnation of the oppressors.
Carter, the head of the world's tyrants, asked you to toll the church bells in favor of the American spies detained in Iran in opposition to the deprived Iranian nation. How proper it is now, under the command of the Great Creator and Jesus Christ (`a), to toll the bells in favor of the oppressed nations which are being annihilated under the boots of the executioners, such as Carters. How lucky are the ones who thirst and hunger for justice endeavor for it. And woe to those who, in contradiction to Jesus Christ's commands and all prophets' instructions, endeavor to violate and suppress the rights of the oppressed ones in favor of tyrants and spies. O, you, followers of Jesus Christ (`a): rise up and defend the dignity of Jesus Christ and his nation. Do not let the divine teachings of Jesus Christ and his divine commands be misrepresented to the oppressed and deprived nations of the world.
The very presence of superpowers agents at your places of worship, their raising their hands in supplication for and the spies and the traitors to Christian religions who are acting against the oppressed ones should not deceive you since they will resort to any means to sustain their power of government, which is in contradiction to the divine instructions. All they think about is to garner more power and grab the reins to rule the world and nothing else.
Our nation has been exposed to the hypocrisy of these tyrants for years and has suffered a lot. O Christian nations! How come Mr. Carter did not supplicate for the genocides that took place in Iran, Vietnam, Palestine, Lebanon and elsewhere? How come he did not ask churches to toll their bells for these victims? Yet, now how come he has taken part in prayer ceremonies and has asked the church bells to be tolled now that he is seeking reelection and some more years to impose tyranny and despotism over the oppressed nations?
O fathers of the church! Rise up and save Jesus Christ (`a) from the claws of these killers since that Great Prophet abhors a statesman who is using religion for tyranny, and is resorting to supplication for securing a position through which he could impose tyranny over God's servants. This is because the divine commands have descended onto the earth for the salvation of the oppressed ones. O weak and oppressed ones of the world! Rise up and unite to get rid of the tyrants. This is because the earth is God's and its heirs are the oppressed ones!
O American nation! Do not pay heed to American presidents' election slogans: they think of nothing else except the attainment of power. Be aware that our youth treat the spies here amicably because Islam orders us to treat prisoners kindly, albeit they may be tyrants and spies.
O great nation of America! Ask Carter to return the deposed and treacherous Shah to Iran since in his hands lies the key to the spies' freedom.
O people of the church bells! Raise your hands in supplication, toll the bells and ask God to inculcate in your presidents a sense of justice and fairness. How lucky are those who pray and endeavor for justice.
Rouhullah al-Mousawi al-Khomeini