In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
There is a war going on now in Iran, and this is proof of their (Iraq) having done aggression against us. If we were the aggressors, we would be in Iraq. Saddam has launched the assault- without any reason, without any prelude to it. He has trampled upon all international norms, according to what the knowledgeable people have explained to me, the weapons he has used are ones which Israel has not used as yet. He has killed many of our children, youths and old men, and he has destroyed many of our resources. Of course, whoever commits such crimes and occupies our villages and towns, desires a ceasefire to take affect. He has robbed and oppressed us, and we have needlessly suffered losses. This is a thing which can not go on like this. If the governments want to take action and bring peace, they should fight the one who has made the attack and is the aggressor. He has attacked a Muslim country. Suppose, that he is a Muslim and the governments want peace to be established, they should fight him till he obeys the Command of God.! «1»
Submitting to Gods command is not that he should merely withdraw from our country. He must compensate for the losses, the material losses suffered by Iran- nothing can compensate for the loss of human lives- and pull his forces out. He must relinquish control of Iraq. He must set his despotic government aside and leave the Iraqi nation free to take hold of its own destiny.
It is not a question of a conflict between two governments. It is the question of the non-Muslim Iraqi Ba`athists attacking an Islamic government which is tantamount to paganism rising against Islam. It is, therefore, binding on all Muslims to fight him (Saddam). And if the Muslims discharge their obligation, we will never want to interfere in another country or attack it. The attack has been launched by them and is against the wish of the nation. These governments must liberate the Iraqi people. They must guarantee the freedom of the Iraqis. They must see whether or not the Iraqis want this government.
had proposed recently that elections be held in Iraq. The (Iraqi) Parliament passed a law to the effect that whoever opposed him would be executed. Even the clergymen that were against him were forced to vote.
has not transgressed against our country to the extent that he has committed crimes against his own country, and to the extent that he has massacred the religious and Islamic personalities. His aggression against his own nation is more than his aggression against us. It is incumbent upon us and you and all the Muslims to put him in his place. The losses he has caused to Iraq and Iran should be claimed from him.
We have no dispute with anybody, but we want restitution for the losses inflicted on Iran and Iraq.
We want to safeguard Islam. But Islam is in danger with this party being in Iraq. It is threatened by paganism. You better discuss this matter with those who are informed about this matter, such as the government of Iran, the parliament of Iran, and the president of the Islamic Republic of Iran. They, too, tell you the same thing.
We pray to the Blessed and Exalted Lord for there to be unity and concord among the Muslims so that others do not plunder us, and for us to remain independent and to manage our own country.
May God's peace, mercy blessings be upon you.
[At the end of this meeting, Mr. Habib Shatti asked the Imam's permission for some of the heads of the Muslim governments, leading their delegations, to visit Iran for carrying out investigations and to meet with the Imam. In reply to his question, the Imam stated:]
"There is no objection for them to come to Iran in order to look into the matter of Saddam's crimes."