Speech [Mission, standing and role of Radio and Television]

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

I should first thank you brothers who are serving in this very sensitive organization and hope you will continue with your service efficiently and fulfill your duties.

You know that television is a very sensitive and important center. If a film or a word is aired that is not suitable for Islamic Republic, it will be broadcast everywhere immediately. Today, everyone listens to the mass media apparatus and its materials are reflected abroad to some extent. It is very sensitive. Since the enemies of Islam imagine that they have lost their interests- in fact, they have- all are opposed to this organization and all our government and Islamic organizations. We should work hard to cope with the massive volume of malevolent propaganda launched against us every day. If one man of wisdom looks properly, he will realize the prejudiced nature of these propaganda efforts. We who are in this environment, know these are false, but elsewhere there might be individuals unaware of the matters and imagine that such events are really occurring in Iran. You know that the accusations leveled at the Islamic Republic such as killing the children and expecting women and sending the crippled and the disabled to open the path for frontline combatants and similar lies are now the order of the day. In the materials they bring to me- I do not watch TV much- I see that every day these accusations are on the increase. With each step we take forward, they mount their propaganda efforts. Among these propaganda operations they carry out, there are those which are occasionally in our favor. On the whole, we should note that we should serve Islam.

We should work for God. One who works for God suffers no defeat. Supposing one of the big powers attacks and destroys the entire Iran, we have not yet suffered defeat. History has it that our nation made great sacrifices. Anyone attempting to distort the facts is doomed to failure. History records these sacrifices.

We should pay great attention to this organization, as it is the greatest organization for our propaganda efforts. The organization's radio and television should be Islamic. Try to take your steps for Islam so that your work would be counted as an act of worship. As of the first day this republic achieved victory, I constantly reminded the people in charge of this organization of Islamization of the programs. However, some of them who later proved to be not upright «1» provided excuse, arguing that they were engaged in so doing, but that it is not possible and that they would correct things and so and so. However, now we see it is, thank God, possible. We hope that through the efforts of this gentleman, Mr. Rafsanjani, «2» brother of that Mr. Rafsanjani, the problems will be removed and these two brothers render their services to Islam and Iran, the former in propaganda and the latter in all other things.

The records of those who make films should be clear. Their mental status, living conditions and social intercourse should be clear. It should be clear if they have undergone any mental development or still remnants of the culture promoted by the ousted Shah linger in their hearts. The content of the films made should be studied carefully. There are many who do not notice the theme of the films. Generally speaking, one might see that movie is either tilted towards the left or right or encouraging corruption. Great care should be given to the content. We are all obliged to act in conformity with the objectives of the Islamic Republic, which are the true Islamic objectives. Don't fear that if you, let us suppose, make such and such film, we will be branded so and so. Today in this world we have been introduced as a reactionary nation. The Islamic Republic has been presented as a monster. Those not living here imagine that today a group have been sent in Tehran and are killing children and women. Such things are common. With such a revolution you should not expect that such problems should not exist. If you study other revolutions, you will find that they suffered similar problems.

This revolution has a special feature and that is its being Islamic. All fronts, excluding a few, are opposed to its Islamic nature. Even those persons or groups involved in the revolution in Iran fear the word" Islam". If you mention the term Islam, they interpret it in quite a different way, calling it true Islam. They argue that Iran is far from the true Islam, and that this form of Islam must be implemented! While they want to do so and so with the true Islam, these murders and tumults are committed in the name of true Islam.

From the outset, I have said we have not been engaged in war to achieve victory; we have entered the arena for fulfillment of Islamic, moral and national duties. The Iranian people who have entered this arena- all are, thank God, involved- have understood what is wrong with these dissident groups and powers. We know that their pain will not be healed by such things and would lose their hope, God willing. We hope that we will emerge victorious in, God willing, all arenas of this republic and that our war will soon be over. Everybody knows that we are not warmongering and that we don't favor conquest of nations. We seek peace and security to prevail in the world. Since its advent Islam has sought such a purpose; the faith has particularly recommended fraternity among believers.

We should foster this spirit of brotherhood among all Muslims and stand against disbelievers. We should not stand against Muslims. Nevertheless, we have to. We have taken up a defensive position. So far, we have not take a step towards war; we are defending. Now that we have entered the Iraqi territory, we have done it for our defense, not for anything else. Let them come and evaluate the damages and identify the aggressor and we will quickly retreat. If they come and do what they should do, we will return soon. We neither want Basra nor other cities. Residents of Basra are our brothers-in-faith. What are we to do with Basra? We always avoid a drop of blood being shed in Basra and in other cities of Iraq. We know that they were not on good terms with Saddam from the beginning. Iraqi people do not detest this Ba`ath party only recently; they disliked this party from the outset, because this party murdered the persons whom the people of Iraq loved. Take Mr. Hakim, «3» whom people loved as their marja`. This party treated him brutally. He was under house arrest. When he had gone to Baghdad for treatment, the government agents intruded into his house and inspected him. They entered forcibly into the house of a marja`. People are aware that they were on bad terms with Islam from the outset. They were on bad terms with Muslims from the beginning.

Now that Saddam is on the verge of destruction he blares out only slogans in favor of Islam and feigns to be peace loving, claiming that he was defending in this war! He is just imitating us. If we say we are defending, we are right. He says:" From the beginning we wanted to defend Iraq." Right! Who had attacked you so that you had to defend? They say they achieved victory in the sense that they did not let us occupy all Iraqi cities! Well! Let him be victorious and step down with this position of victory. In the same way that they retreated victoriously; likewise, let them seek another job now that you are triumphant. Why not going to Paris sitting besides those others and set up an Iraqi government? Today we have all sorts of things ranging from legal Shah «4» and legal prime minister «5» to legal president «6» and legal so and so abroad. Well! He «7» can go there and set things right legally. There is no barrier in doing so.

By and large, they are all opposed to us. We should trust God and never forget Him in our works. You brothers who are working in such an important center should always remember that your deeds are in the presence of God. The tongues that speak and the hands that act are all in God's omnipresence. We should answer for our deeds in the hereafter. If we provided the answer for the other world, we would have no fear. However, if, God forbid, we could not provide answer for our deals in the hereafter, we should regret and repent.

I implore God Almighty to grant you health and happiness. I appreciate you for your efforts and hope that you will make greater endeavors for Islam. We who are from God should work for God. Our time and energy should be devoted for God. I hope you will be successful and supported, God willing.

May God peace, mercy and blessings be upon you!