Radio-Television Message [The role of the Parliament in the era of Pahlavi, Nation's responsibility in the election of the parliament]

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Elections are about to take place. Although I have already written some points, which also circulated, since the matter is very important, I would like to tell you in way of discharging a duty as I suppose a responsibility might be on my shoulders.

Our nation has a bitter remembrance about the parliament in the days of Rida Shah and Muhammad-Rida. I remember even the days earlier to Rida Khan and even I participated in some of these elections. As I remember now in those days parliament was only a word without a sense or content. A nation chooses its representatives. The representatives gather in a meeting to consult the affairs or to decide the matters to the interests of the country. This is the sense and meaning of the word parliament. Before Rida Khan came to power, in the days of Ahmad Shah, the responsibility of elections had rested on the shoulders of Khans and landlords. The rogues and mischief mongers of each quarter also enjoyed the responsibility. The government had no influence. The princes who possessed properties, khans who enjoyed power, and the rogues who were in the skirts of towns used to bring their people, their dependents, and their own peasants to the ballet boxes by force. They were obeying whatever dictated to them. In the days of Rida Khan, I mean the days when he caught power, and in the days of Muhammad-Rida, the parliament had nothing to do with the nation. The parliament was not at all a national council. We can name the first one as the parliament of Khans while the second one as the parliament of the Shah. Both houses- Senate and the lover one- people had no say therein. People had withdrawn themselves because they knew nothing was there that they could do. They saw that the men they send to take seats in parliament are their own men having no trust on people. They did not have any concerns with the interests of the country. Indeed, there was no shortage of words. Words were always abundant. Words were uttered by Muhammad-Rida and also by those appointed by him. Even now if the parliament takes the old form, you will see that the parliament from head to toe will pass on in praises to Muhammad-Rida and to those attached to him. In those days the nation had no responsibility because it had no power. It was under the domination of Khans and those two ones, Rida and Muhammad-Rida. The nation was unable to do anything. It could not. Even to breathe was a matter of courage. Due to this reason every responsibility was liable to be accounted for before God and the posterity. It was upon the Khans and their deputies of those days, and Rida Khan and Muhammad-Rida and the deputies appointed by them to answer and stand responsible.

This bitterness of the things and irresponsibility towards elections, parliament and matters like these could likely provide a ground for some to presume that this time is like the past. As the saying goes, `someone once bitten by a snake, is afraid of a rope', our nation is snake-bitten, too. It is bitten by imperialism. It is Khan-bitten. It is bitten by Rida and Muhammad Rida. So it is quite a normal if such a thing occurs to their minds. But all must know that there is no power today that is able to impose one single representative on the nation. From the top, the president, to the bottom, in all departments- police, gendarmes, and Khans- though there is no trace of them who can do anything. Similarly the noble ones, the landlords- they have no influence. Today in Iran no position, no status to anyone who has so much power to impose a deputy exists. Therefore, today the responsibility is with the nation. If the nation goes aside, or the men of faith and belief withdraw from the arena, or the committed people become indifferent, those who have been sketching plots will assault these from all sides. Every responsibility in parliament rests upon the nation. Any step if taken against Islam will be written down into the annals of the deeds of the nation. Anything done, the responsibility of it goes with the nation. Today the destiny of Islam and the Muslims in Iran is with the nation. So if you show the least leniency or negligence in this matter and do not go to the ballet and do not vote, its responsibility finally rests upon you. In the event of their going to the ballets and voting for those who are respectful to their country and its people, committed Muslims and choosing the ones who do not want to surrender us either to East or West, they have done an obligation which was upon them. On the contrary if those who come to power want to fetter us to East and West and reduce us to the bondage of the superpowers, and you stay stricken and indifferent, the responsibility will rest forever upon you. So, today there is a great responsibility upon all of you.

I have spoken as far as my strength goes. Though I am very much enfeebled and have no strength, the sense of duty obliges me to speak. If the nation does not heed my words, I have done my duty and have no excuse as you have none, neither. Tomorrow in the presence of God, I can claim for having had spoken to you. Tomorrow God will interrogate me. I will answer that I already told the nation- the good and bad aspect of the subject, that is if you are careful of those who want to fetter you in servitude and are against Islam and the Islamic Republic from its inception will come forward. God forbid, if they come forward our country will go back where it was before. It will be in the hands of either leftists or rightists. As such all the responsibility rests upon you. Today it is not like the past. In the past you had no ability. Now you have power. Therefore preserve and protect the entity of Islam and the interests of the country. Save your own independence and your freedom. If you remain unmindful, you will be held responsible before God the Almighty. If you refrain from voting, then they will come into the field, who desire a tumult in Iran and who want to put the parliament into a chaos. In that case you will be responsible. Today direct responsibility lies with all the classes. Clergymen are responsible. The oracles are responsible. The leaders of the prayers are responsible. The traders and merchants are responsible. The universities are responsible. The theology students are responsible. The workers are responsible. All are responsible. Today those who from the beginning up to now were against the Islamic Republic and the Islam itself, who viewed Islam as a hindrance to their gains and benefits today, are worried and anxious. They are doing propaganda. If the believers and faithful ones withdraw from the scene, they will grip the affairs and something like what happened in the days of Constitutionalism will happen. The persons against Islam came to power and dragged Islam to the niche, which we all have witnessed.

In the early days of Constitutionalism, if the clergies, the faithful ones, open-minded ones and the committed Muslims had come into the scene and gripped the parliament and had not let the others do so, we would have never reached this day and this stage. Our country would have not been spoiled nor would our honor and prestige have gone with the winds. But the Satans of those days who were close to their ears had already whispered to them not to take part in politics. Politics is none of your business. They believed what was murmured to them. Today the same or similar things might occur in some circles. This idea" what have we to do with these things" may get wind and will be blown far and wide. So you all must know that you all are responsible. You will be pressured tomorrow in the presence of God the Almighty. No one has an excuse or a pretext if he himself does not act or practice thereon. A clergy, a merchant, a trader, a peasant, a student, a laborer, and a plant owner- all are responsible in the court of God the Almighty. Likewise, you are, before the nation and to its posterity. Do not think that it has no bearing on you, No, it is not so. Everything has a bearing on you. Today you cannot say as in the past was used to be that we have no power. Today you can. Today you have the power. All the power is in the nation's hand. The president of the Republic, the chief of staff, is with you, with the merchants like you. Today you all are alike. He cannot force you anything nor can you do so with him. Today no one undergoes force. Today responsibility is upon all of us. Today all of us should go together to the ballet boxes. Today we all should cast votes to the committed Muslims leaning neither to East not to West. They don't want to sell us to either sides. So choose such persons and give your votes to them. Let the fate of Islam and your own be a correct one. O God! I have discharged my duty, which was on my part at a time when I am weak and feeble. You are witness that what I have told is by way of imparting the obligation to my lot. I have matters of greater importance. I shall tell at the New Year's Day, God willing, if I am left alive.

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