Speech [Describing the Islamic System of Iran]

I congratulate all Muslims and the gentlemen that are present here, on the occasion of this blessed `Id al-Fitr. Blessed is that day when all Muslim governments get in line with their people, when all Muslims get united and, together, revive Islam everywhere, and when all the Muslim countries unite in order to terminate the influence of the world powers from their countries.

I want to take this opportunity to explain to you some of the characteristics of this Islamic Revolution that has occurred in Iran. We like to see these attributes in other Muslim countries and this movement that has materialized in Iran, expand to take in all Muslim countries and this revolution spread to all Islamic lands so that the oppressed people of the world stand up to the arrogant powers and obtain their rights. It is important to bear in mind that rights should be taken; they cannot expect the oppressors to grant them their rights.

I want to tell you gentlemen and those who are listening about some of the features of this Revolution so that you are able to see for yourself, whether the situation here is better or in other places.

Tell me: in which Islamic or non-Islamic countries is the President so involved with the people as to take part in public gatherings every night in the month of Ramadan and guide the people without any fear? During the reign of the previous regime, whenever the deposed Shah wanted to make an appearance in one of Tehran's streets, SAVAK agents would take control of the streets and would empty all the houses in them. Policemen would be stationed there to stand guard. The reason was that he was not with the nation; he was against the nation. But now, the President «2», who is the top official, attends all the gatherings to which he is invited, and visits any city that he is requested to visit and speaks to the people without being even a bit fearful, because he considers himself one of the people and the people also accept him as one from among themselves. There is a brotherhood relationship. He considers himself the brother of even the poorest citizens and they in turn consider him their brother and thus support him. Is there any other country in which the head of the Majlis «3» ascends the pulpit and guides the people? Or, in the month of Ramadan, makes close to thirty speeches, giving advice and guidance to the people? In which country is the head of the Supreme Court «4» a scholar who guides the people and they receive his guidance? The same case pertains to the Chief Public Prosecutor «5» and the Minister of Interior. «6» All the different administrative bodies carry out their tasks in full confidence and without any fear, for there is no reason to be afraid. They all support each other and are as brothers unto one another.

In which other country do you see a parliament like our Islamic Majlis? In the past, whether under the rule of the ex-Shah or the banished Rida Khan, the Majlis was full of people with high-sounding, flamboyant titles, and aristocrats, the rich and wealthy who were supporters of West and East and the lackeys of foreign countries. But in the present Majlis there is not even a single aristocrat or anybody from these" upper" classes. They are all from the ordinary people. Some of them are `ulama' and (Islamic) jurists, and others are devout Muslims. Our Islamic Consultative Majlis has no equal in any other country. Such is the case of all the other government institutions.

Do you know anywhere that the army is as popular as here? Whenever the army or Gendarmerie or Islamic Guard Corps officers go among the people, they are greeted with flowers. The public supports them and that is because they are considered to be a part of the nation. Any institution in our government you see holds the same status. That is why they come among the people in this manner. Do you know of any place in the world where so many members of the Committees, the courts and the Islamic Guard Corps have sacrificed their lives for the country and Islam, without anybody asking them to do so? These committees, courts and Islamic guards all over the country are serving Islam and this country. Where do you witness a nation devoted to the cause of serving Islam and the Islamic government that whenever a problem surfaces, the people themselves step forward to help?

When we say that we want the Islamic Revolution to spread to other nations; not just to Muslim nations but to all those countries where the oppressive governments are against the deprived people, we mean that we would like to bring about a situation whereby the government does not behave ruthlessly and murderously, and the like with the people, and the people are not the government's enemies. We want to reconcile the governments with their nations. If the governments study Iran's present situation and observe the nation's relations with the government, I do not think that they will remain unaffected. Of course, venomous pens of foreigners and the foreign media and press spread false propaganda against Iran's government and nation, but you who are in this country know why they are doing this. It is because the government and the people are now united. When the government and the people are together; the clergy and the university teachers and students, the army and all the other different social groups are united, and all of them think alike, the interests of the superpowers can, of course, no longer be secured. The government has not taken office to voice support for a superpower. The situation in our country now is such that if a Parliamentary representative or the Prime Minister says a word to the advantage of the superpowers, the people themselves will oppose him. We would like to see all the Muslim countries and all the oppressed countries of the world have societies in which the people and the government are united. We would like to see their prime ministers, presidents, parliamentary representatives and other officials being elected by the people so that they would be unassailable.

Other than America and the Soviet Union with whom we have problems, some of the top clerics of some Muslim countries and those people who claim to be Islamic, also oppose us. They interpret our intentions wrongly and then blame us with heresy. If they are actually in the wrong, it would be better for them to study and realize what they are doing and to whose benefit they are doing it. And if they are intentionally working against a Muslim country which endeavors to unite all Muslims, and reconcile them with one another- we have been aiming for this since more than twenty years ago; to unite all the Muslim countries so that they do not accuse one another of heresy- and are spreading poisonous propaganda while being, unfortunately, dressed in the robes of a" mufti" (expounder of Islamic law) or in those of the Grand Mufti, are they, then, not aware that such activities are against Islam and in accordance with the wishes of the superpowers? Are they not aware that they are, knowingly or knowingly, serving the (interests of) the superpowers? Do they not know they are assisting the superpowers?! Why don't they denounce[ Anwar ]Sadat who has committed all those atrocities?! Have we not heard that they have excommunicated him?

I stated[ some time ago ]that Imam Mahdi is the ultimate Islamic executive and that justice will prevail under his rule. This fact has also been reported in their sources:" Justice and liberty will prevail on Earth after it has been corrupted by tyranny and injustice. «7»" I explained that the prophets did not fully accomplish their mission and thus he will come to finish their work [i. e. implementing justice worldwide]. They [i. e. those clerics] wrongly interpreted my saying to mean that Imam Mahdi will complete the religion of Islam [which contradicts Islamic belief] thus serving the non-Muslim [world powers] whether intentionally or not. This is horrendous. Mahdi obeys Islam and follows the Prophet of Islam. But he is a follower whom the Prophet loved. He will implement his (peace be upon him and his progeny) directions.

Why should these clerics, in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, so erroneously interpret the message of a nation, which struggles to unify all Muslims and to bring an end to the world powers exploitation of Muslim countries. Whether they know it or not, they are assisting the imperialists in creating disunity among Muslims. Do they not know that it is not right to hinder the unity of Muslims and that they Holy Qur'an explicitly prohibits such actions? They are either ignorant, or they are, God forbid, intentionally assisting the imperialists.

What we would like to see in the Muslim countries is that, firstly, there be no gap between the governments and the people in accordance with Islamic commandments. We favor the unity of all Muslim countries to prevent any harm [that the world powers would want to inflict on us]. You saw how our unity overthrew that big power. We would like to see the entire one billion Muslim populations in the world become united in the same way. If we unite, the issues of Quds, Afghanistan and all the other problems will end. And if these clerics of the kings do not disrupt our unity, we will triumph, God willing. And the Islamic governments and Muslim countries will emerge victorious.

I pray to the Blessed and Exalted God for the grandeur of Islam and the Muslims and for their unity of expression. And I once again wish to greet all Muslims and Muslim countries on the auspicious occasion of this blessed `Id.

May God's peace and mercy be upon you.