Speech [Significance and necessity for purging and reconstructing ministries and organizations; American plots in the region]

I hope the gentlemen present are successful in the service they are rendering. Purging and reconstructing the ministries and organizations have been a necessity. In the former regime, many individuals were engaged in these ministries and organizations. Many of them were not qualified for these positions and were predominantly anti-revolutionary. After the victory of the revolution, it became necessary to set up such a board and identify the corrupt persons harmful to the Islamic Republic and those who wanted to instill discontent among the people. They should be purged. However, a I should remind you and those who are serving in this country of the necessity of this move. Negligence in this matter will lead to disaster, but the quality of the purge, the ones to be purged and the individuals appointed to carry out the purge should be considered carefully.

First, let me talk about the individuals to be selected for the purging boards formed in the Islamic associations, which are everywhere and which are rendering services. The most important of all is that the records of those who are to be selected should be investigated. Investigate into what positions they held in the former regime and what they did after the fall of the regime. You know that in every place where an employee or a group wants to render services, corrupt, hypocritical devious and interlopers may infiltrate using different tricks. Many a time, the interlopers who want to act contrary to what Islam prescribes and to sow discontent among the people will present themselves as supporters of Islam and more devoted to the Islamic Republic than morally healthy individuals.

At present, the moment one presents oneself as Muslim and committed to Islamic laws and a believer in the revolution, we should accept him, but should not give him admittance as members of the purging organization unless such individuals are worthy of the trust of the government, the judiciary and other relevant organizations, which should investigate the background of these persons and identify the ones competent for this purpose. Because some individuals on such boards may decide to preserve unqualified persons and remove the competent individuals and repercussions of this issue may prove to be perilous. They might even appoint individuals affiliated to diverse outside groups. Appointment of individuals for such positions should not be made without investigation. It is not right to recruit just anybody interested in joining the reconstruction efforts. This may lead to a disaster at times. Therefore, one of the things that the gentlemen should bear in mind and deal with carefully is to investigate the record of the persons in the former regime, their family, friends and behavior in post-revolution period. These should be investigated into and there is need for trustworthy individuals completely trusted by the government or, the Majlis, the judiciary or the defense council. These trustworthy people should be identified. What a disaster it will be if one among those who want to determine the boards is devious, or you realize that among these individuals designated many have been corrupt and anti-revolutionary. Therefore, it is a vitally important issue for the country. In the same way that reconstruction was a vital concern in the early days of the revolution and should be pursued today, the quality of reconstruction is of paramount significance. Persons who want to engage in this business should be competent. Don't assume that all the groups are completely hizbullahi (member of Party of God). A group may infiltrate your ranks in the name of Hizbullah, foil all your efforts in the name of Hizbullah, and you may realize their destructive intention after two years. Therefore, one of the important issues is to identify the individuals who want to make up these boards. You should in no way be negligent of this matter.

As regards the quality of the measures to be taken, you should avoid going to either extreme. It is not correct to avoid anyone who worked with the former regime, branding them all as corrupt. Among them there were persons who underwent great suffering, but were forced to carry out some activities. Of course, if they have committed any crime, then it is a different story. But mere engagement of these individuals with a ministry or government department or let us suppose the corrupt Rastakhiz (Resurrection) Party should not be taken as a criterion for purging.

At that time, you were present and aware and most of you noted that working for them was through coercion. That impious man «1» had announced that anyone who refused to join the party had to leave Iran. Well! In such an environment, many individuals who were opposed to the regime found no choice but to join the party. Some individuals might have entered the government departments and ministries to alleviate oppression. Don't think that anyone engaged in a government organization was an oppressor. Some individuals might have entered to mitigate the oppression done at the time of the former regime in departments and ministries. These are points which you should bear in mind. If, God forbid, you purge an innocent person who wanted to serve Islam and Iran even during the former regime on the mere accusation that he/ she was engaged with a ministry, this is not right and you should be cautious.

Meanwhile, if you see individuals engaged in that regime have committed acts of corruption, sabotage or oppression and transgression and are still working, the pre-cautionary measure to be taken is that they should be cleansed even though they might present themselves as forces of God. If they have committed acts of corruption, oppression and transgression against people, such men are not corrigible so soon. If such individuals mend their relation with God, still our duty is not to install them positions directly in contact with people.

We should be careful not to go to either extreme. We should neither retain one who, for instance, who claims to be righteous, Hizbullah and so and so forth, nor purge anyone who used to work with the former regime in a ministry or a government department. A measure that conforms to Shari`ah and deserving of a Muslim is that you should rightfully identify individuals. If they are seriously engaged in sabotage or are sowing discontent or similar acts, you should introduce and purge them. If there are persons who are true servants of faith and the people but worked in the former regime and have not committed any crime or corrupt practices, we should not brush them aside. This country needs to be administered by the servants of the people. Those who are specialized in any field should be retained in these offices. If you consider it likely that at the time of the former regime one, let us suppose, worked in a notary public's office which the Shah had frequented, merely working in such an office is not a basis for purging him. For example, if a person was not with them but approve of their actions, did not accompany Shah anywhere but agreed with their actions and performed their orders and oppressions, he should not be permitted to work in public offices.

You who inspect the ministries and offices should note how the civil servants treat the people. One of the important issues is that we should not act like the former regime. If a helpless person refers to an office and wants to meet the head of the department, we should not find faults with that person or make him go through bureaucratic red tapes and then finally tell him to come later, or the next day and so on and so forth. If there are individuals who treat people this way, know that they want to cause discontent. For instance, one who has come to follow up some petty business is perpetually told to refer from one office to another, like the same bureaucratic practices of the previous regime. If such practices performed in former regime are seen in today's offices, you should admonish them, and remind them that such acts are not Islamic. If they persist, brush them aside as well.

Anyhow, your task is very important, Islamic service, and at the same time a big responsibility. You should not neglect its responsibilities. Be careful not to do the contrary of what you had in mind. You might wish to perform an act of worship but end up committing a sin and causing a disaster.

All of you and those who are engaged in particular tasks in the Islamic Republic should note that we want to serve Islam. We want to act the way Islam wants. Islam brushes aside traitorous persons who are not corrigible. If individuals have done a wrong and then repented and when you investigate their background, you find that they were forced or threatened or anything of this nature, you should not dismiss and deprive him of his rights. This is a very important and valuable work, but carries great responsibility. All gentlemen should note this.

Those who are in Islamic associations should also bear in mind that at the same time that Islamic associations are rendering valuable services, they also carry a heavy responsibility. Many a time, among the Islamic associations, individuals are found who act contrary to Islam to undermine Islamic associations and encourage corruption. Islamic associations should also identify their forces and see if the man who has come to serve in the name of Islamic association is committed to Islam or not. How have his status and that of his family been? These are important matters we are concerned with. You see that among these leftists, these deviants and these munafiqin, there are individuals who infiltrate with pre-meditated schemes and, God forbid, might trigger anarchy. These are concerns the gentlemen should regard.

As you see, today we are afflicted with the war and the propaganda ploys brewed against us from abroad. You see how much propaganda there is! I don't think any one of the mass media apparatuses wants to treat the Islamic Republic fairly. I am not saying that they should side with the Islamic Republic, but they, at least, should be fair and impartial in their programs. For instance, you see one of these media announced two or three nights ago Iraq had killed many people and Iranians too, killed many. Regarding the Iraqis' crimes they have no document, but regarding the Iranian crimes, they have. What documents? What the munafiqin have published abroad this radio station use as document! They are well aware that the munafiqin and all these designation groups abroad are united in opposing Islam. They said that they heard from these people, so it must be reliable.

Well! We are embroiled in such problems that claims of our enemies who have been expelled from Iran for committing so many crimes are taken as document. The munafiqin have claimed that every day, 100 people are executed in Evin Prison. Every day 100 people are executed! We have such problems. When we have such problems, we should pay attention to them. We should be vigilant lest we may give them an excuse to accuse us. God forbid, if we commit a minor mistake, they will take this as an excuse and, in their words, they will find a so-called document.

At present all mass media are against Iran, against Islam. Basically, they consider Islam to be harmful. Unfortunately, we are suffering from governments in Islamic countries. They are also exacerbating the situation.

You notice how impudently Israel attacks the children, women and men and old people of Lebanon, killing so many of them and making others homeless in front of the so-called Islamic governments. Israel is still busy causing harm against Lebanese people. How deplorable it is that Israel committed such crimes in front of these governments. Unfortunately, they are struggling to help the American plots be implemented. The US is concocting conspiracies against people and Islam. These governments plan to translate the American-oriented schemes into action, plots such as Camp David Peace Accord and subsequent plots of the same nature. All these governments are unanimous that Muslims should recognize Israel, which as an independent state has committed so many crimes. How painful these moves are to a human being! I tell them that if these governments on the Persian Gulf and around it and elsewhere approve of this American plan and any future plan along the same line meant to recognize Israel, our nation, army, Sepah-e Pasdaran, Islam and God Almighty will not forgive them. Fear the day when this nation, its army and Sepah-e Pasdaran feel that it is their religious obligation to punish these persons who have passed the Camp David Peace Accord or similar plots for the independence and recognition of Israel.

The problems gripping Lebanon and also Iran, and the attack on Lebanon and Iran were carried out according to the US plan. Since the US found that it had lost these places, it brewed the plan to create difficulty for Iran. The US did whatever it could but failed. It then brought about the predicaments of war and designed the plan in a way that the war continued and that which was right not find reality so that the US could take advantage of the situation. The same was true with Lebanon. They had a plan to implement there and forced Israel to commit those crimes so that the plans, which were in favor of the US and would bring all countries under the domination of the US, could be implemented. How much longer do these Islamic nations and so-called Islamic governments want to endure the abjectness and condone these miseries? How long should they remain unaware that an honorable life is better that an ignoble life in gardens? They should come to their senses and note such concerns. If they vote in favor of Camp David and similar plans for the recognition of Israel, any one of them who confirms it, might be treated differently once we are religiously obliged.

We don't want to wage a war with anyone. You see that we did not initiate the war against Iraq. The People of Iraq are like our own people. We love Iraq. In Iraq lies the heart of Shi`ism. Iraq is the place where the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Husayn and some other Imams have been buried. The Iraqi people are Muslim. We love Iraq in the same way that we love Iran because of it being Islamic. We love Iraq because it is an Islamic country and the Immaculate Imams rest in peace in Iraq. We never planned to inflict any harm on Iraq. So far, whatever reports I have received indicate that the people of Iraq have not experienced any transgression.

But what can we do with such a corrupt man who is destroying both Iraq and Iran? What should we do with such a man who said from the beginning that," We should fight a regime that is Zoroastrian and, I don't know, Magi", despite the fact that the cry of Allahu Akbar reverberates all over the entire country. It was the Iranians who had constructed almost all the Islamic buildings in Iraq. How can man attack Iranians because of being Zoroastrian, and I don't know, Persian and Magi? What is wrong with being Persian? Then he understood that the Islam in Iran gave him a slap in the neck. So far he has been given such a blow. If he does not give in, he will receive more beatings. We don't want a non-Islamic thing. We want a rightful thing. We say that an aggressor has come and committed all those crimes, killed so many people, destroyed so many residential units, making so many people homeless, making so many Iraqi people homeless and causing many Iraqis to flee the country and take refuge in Iran. Why do these governments not sit together to see what we want. We say that he is responsible for the crimes he has committed and for being an initiator. We have not done anything except defense. These crimes should be compensated for. If we overlook the crimes of the criminal, we are also criminal. Condoning a crime is a crime. This is our word. We say that they should leave our country and not transgress our land.

You know that Abadan is under missile attacks every day. Every day they hit Abadan with long-range missiles. Who are they bombarding? The poor people! The innocent people who have nothing to do with the war; they are a number of grocers, bakers, innocent women and children and so on. We want the Iraqis to retreat to a point where they cannot hit the city with long-range missiles. Let the wise men sit together and do something. We are not opposed to them. But if they don't do anything, we have to do it ourselves. We have to do it by force. If they acted according to our demand, we have no other demands. They will go after their business and we go after ours. If they don't and create turmoil for Iran and pound Iran every day, our duty is to stop them. Our duty is to proceed until we can stop them. This is a rational thing. They are still in our territory attacking us and we are defending. Can we leave them to do whatever they wish? We have to defend ourselves. In the same way that they were driven out of Khoramshahr and other Iranian cities, they will likewise be forced to retreat so that what we want will be accomplished. If there are persons or governments that want to handle the work without the use of force, we are also ready to comply. We always seek peace, but not the peace that the criminal is left unpunished. Such a peace is not peace. We make peace when we can powerfully defend our country and Islam.

I hope all Muslims waken up and note that they should stand against the US and its mercenaries, such as Saddam and Israel that damage Islam to secure the US and its interests. It is my hope that Muslims will be awakened. If the US and its lackeys are given the opportunity, they will destroy Muslims. The US goals are not confined to one or two countries. The US wants to bring all places under its domination. Today is the day when, we who believe- the Muslims should unite their ranks and punch the US in the mouth. They should know that they can do it; they are capable of doing it. They have both the nation and resources to achieve this. The jugular vein of the US and the West depends on the region's oil.

I hope we are servants of Islam and Muslims. You, gentlemen, should feel the presence of God in your tasks, while maintaining your commitment to Islam. When you want to, let us suppose, brand one as being un-Islamic, you should remember God. If, God forbid, you act in contrast to Islamic tenets deliberately, beware that the Omnipresent God will not forgive you. Beware of the fact that you should do all the work for Islam, for God and for serving God. I hope that God will grant you success and that you are successful in serving Islam and Muslims. I hope all Iranians who are on pilgrimage to Mecca would return to the country in sound health. I hope that Saudi Arabia and the government will treat these dear ones who are against the opponents of Islam, against the US and against the lackey of the US- that corrupt man in Iraq- in an Islamic manner, without causing concern for the Iranian government and nation; otherwise, the consequences might be grave.

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