INTRODUCTION TO SPEECH NUMBER SIX

The incidents which occurred on January 22 and 23, 1963, in Tehran were repercussions of the rejection of the referendum by Imam and the other MARAJI’ and the crushing of peaceful demonstrations held by the people. A Wave of arrests of both clergymen and members of the public, and the besieging of the homes of Ayatollahs Bihbihani and Khansari led to a new round of disturbances. ^{( 77)}

Imam Khomeini issued this historic declaration at the end of January (in the   early days of Bahman) after these sorrowful incidents had occurred. In taking this daring action, he strongly opposed the regime, which had mistakenly believed that by suppressing the people, and arresting the clergy, it had scared everyone and had secured the situation. The declaration began: “Beware 0 Musims! Islam is in danger of blasphemy”, and in it, Imam revealed the regime’s blasphemous nature and wrote: “They trade us like slaves in the Middle Ages. I swear to Almighty God I do not want this life. Imam ‘Ali had once said, ‘Life with oppression is deplorable; death is a blessing.’ Indeed, I wish the police would come and arrest me so that I would be relieved of my responsibilities. The only crime of the ‘ulama of Islam and other Muslims is that they defend the Holy Qur’an, Islam’s dignity and the nation’s independence and they oppose imperialism.” Meanwhile, declarations were issued by other leading maraji’ in the holy cities of Qum and Najaf, and by the Tehran Clergy Society and Muslim students from the University of Tehran. In these declarations, the non-Islamic, inhuman actions of the regime during the demonstrations were condemned, and it was stressed that the referendum was unlawful and wrong.

Tanks and military forces now occupied Tehran. The University of Tehran was surrounded by security police commanded by Lieutenant Hakimi, the head of security for the university. During the bloody encounters, which took place at the university many students were injured and laboratory, equipment was destroyed.

In Qum, merchants and shop owners stopped work after the publication of Imam’s declaration, resulting in a shutdown throughout the city. On the same day, the people and merchants started to march towards the homes of the maraji’ in order to find out what course of action they should take. At his home, Imam Khomeini encouraged the people to stand firm against the regime and requested them to stay at home on the day of the referendum. In addition, on the same day, a group of residents from the downtown area of Qum started out towards the city’s centre intending to visit the holy shrine of Hazrat Maasuma (sister of Imam Reza). As they marched, each held a Qur’an and chanted, “We follow the Qur’an, we do not want the referendum!” By the time they had reached Astana Square, the streets surrounding the holy shrine were full of people. At this point, a group of hired thugs who had been sent by SAVAK confronted the crowd and bearing pictures of their monarch, they shouted: “Long live the Shah.” The crowd then attacked them and tore up their pictures. Police protecting the thugs also charged the crowd and the crowd fought back.

Colonel Rizai, a police officer of Qum who was leading the assault, fell into the hands of the people and was seriously injured. The demonstrators set a police car on fire and the police were forced to escape from the scene. The people of Qum along with the religious students and clergymen pursued them

Shouting, “Islam will prevail, dictatorship is doomed!” “Death to this law breaking government!” and “Death to the Shah!”

Moments later, truckloads of soldiers stationed at the Manzarieh army base of Qum arrived to assist the police and attacked the people from all sides.

The soldiers shattered the doors and windows of the Fayziya Madrasa as they passed, the latter being crowded with people who had sought shelter there, and they then went on to the bazaar of Qum. As they shouted, “Long live the Shah!” they plundered and pillaged the people’s property. A police car which Was patrolling the area announced over a loudspeaker that any shopkeeper who Wanted to save his shop should come out immediately, open his doors and post Imperial flag above the shop entrance.

Indeed, the people bravely confronted the regime on that day, although the army had injured many of them and had heavily damaged their property. The regime however, explained its savage suppression in this way: “ . . . the? Farmers of Qum attacked the religious students and the clergy requested that order be re-established and hence the government quickly responded. ^{( 78)}

Imam Khomeini in his enlightening declaration of January 23 (Bahman 5’); severely condemned the attack of the regime’s forces. Part of the declaration stated: “ . . . this is what is meant by government support of religion, and this is what is meant by free elections and a free electorate. We shall let the public be the judges of what actually took place in the religious city of Qom, In the vicinity of the holy shrine and in the city’s theological centre”.

Following the unrest on January 23, the city of Qum resembled a war-stricken city. The streets, the homes of the maraji’ and the ‘ulama, and the theological centre, were all heavily guarded by the army and the police, and Mad blocks were set up on the roads leading into Qum. The police detained Nibble clergymen who were leaving the city to propagate the month of Ramadan and arrested them, so that news of the oppression inside Qum would not reach the other cities. They were unaware that Imam had already sent special sent specials messengers to the people all over Iran.

Onthe afternoon of January 23, the day before the Shah’s arrival in Qum, the high-ranking clergy and the maraji’ held a meeting with Imam to discuss recent events. The governor of Qum was sent by the regime to attend

This meeting. After being admitted, he repeatedly told those there of the regime’s regret over what had happened and suggested that in order to resolve their problems and misunderstandings the clergy should hold a meeting with the Shah. He emphasized that if they agreed to a meeting with the Shah then their social demands would be met. However, before opinions were aired and possible discord could arise amongst the clergy, Imam nipped this new conspiracy of the regime in the bud by replying to the governor of Qum in no uncertain terms. Unfortunately, exactly what Imam said remains unknown except for a few brief comments, which have subsequently been documented, in historical works. Nevertheless, the reply in question in which Imam refused a meeting with the Shah unless certain conditions were met was so explicit and unequivocal that it left no room for debate or disagreement. Nor did taking different sides on the issue disunite those present at the meeting.

Everyone accepted that Imam Khomeini not only ruled the hearts of the people but also was also indisputably the leader of the prominent members of the theological centre and the clergy. One after the other the leaders of the clergy spoke out in support of Imam’s stance and warned of the grave consequences of the regime’s acts of violence, and eventually the governor of Qum left the meeting in disgrace.

Imam advised the people to stay at home; he prohibited participation in the referendum; he broke the ‘ulama’s tradition of holding a welcoming prayer ceremony for the Shah when he entered their city; and he refused all proposals to compromise with the regime. His revolutionary position thus left the Shah and his regime in a truly difficult situation.

With very little time left before the Shah’s arrival, it was decided that the court-affiliated clergy should be used to rescue the situation. Thus, the latter entered the city of Qum and went towards the homes of several prominent clergymen in order to persuade them to cease their opposition and to participate in the welcoming ceremony for the Shah. Some of the unsuspecting clergy were influenced by these people and announced that they would meet with the Shah if Imam Khomeini agreed to the meeting and that therefore they would be wiser to concentrate their efforts of persuasion on Imam Khomeini. However, extensive efforts made on that evening were unsuccessful and Imam thus defeated the regime’s plot and averted disunity. Although further Endeavours were made to persuade a few clergymen and maraji’ to agree to a g with the Shah without the presence of Imam, no one in fact gave in to scheme.

In the light of yesterday’s violent attack by government agents on the honorable ‘ulama and people of Tehran and the disrespect shown towards the holy station held by the clergy in that city. And again, due to the government agents’ inhuman treatment of the respected citizens and clergymen of Qum and their violation of the sanctity of this holy domain, there remains no room for agreement or for striking up any friendly relationship with the present government. In no way could a meeting be arranged with the Shah unless, in order to compensate for the affront against the holy sanctity of the clergy, he were to remove Mr. ‘Alam from office for having been the prime culprit in all this, and he were to put an end to these arrests and other such actions taken by the police, thereby Paving the way for possible talks and negotiations. ^{( 79)}

INTRODUCTION TO SPEECH NUMBER SEVEN

Monday, January 28, 1963 (Bahman 8,1341 AHS), was the first day r the holy month of Ramadan. A few days before this, Imam Khomeini spoke with the ‘ulama and clergy and suggested that in order to make clear the position of the ulama of Islam with regard to the Shah’s regime, all prayer ceremonies, sermons and speeches throughout the country during the month of Ramadan be suspended. He also proposed that the Islamic world be informed this strike by proclamations and in this way the ‘ulama of the Islamic countries be invited to co-operate with the Iranian ‘ulama and join the strike. The clerical dignitaries agreed to Imam’s suggestions and requested that the i/ama of several cities refrain from holding congregational prayers. The mosques in Tehran, Qum, Isfahan, Shiraz and most other cities had closed by e time the month of Ramadan arrived. Feeling threatened by this, the Shah’s regime sought to solve the issue by spreading a rumour that the government planned to use all local mosques to house abandoned and homeless children d as dormitories for soldiers ^{( 80)} . In addition, security agents of the regime visited some of the clergy with schemes and plan to get them to stop their strike action. The conspiracy was effective and activities began once again at the mosques thus neutralizing the plan, which would have seriously damaged the regime.

On the auspicious occasion of Id al-Fitr, a group of people from Tehran and other cities came to Qum as they did every year, and to show their support for the clergy’s movement they visited the homes of various maraji and ‘ulama. On this day, a multitude of people gathered around Imam Khomeini’s home and he gave a short speech and once again performed his mission for Islam and society.

Imam delivered this speech as the regime widely circulated the news of its victory and the government-controlled press spoke of the participation of millions of people in the referendum. His statements once again gave inspiration to the nation, rekindled the flame of the uprising and gave the strength to the clergy and people to continue the struggle against the regime. In this way, Imam Khomeini’s opposition to the Shah’s regime continued on an increasingly extensive scale.

Respected gentlemen, whatever your position, make a determined stand against the illegal and sacrilegious activities of this government. Do not let these rusty bayonets frighten you , they will soon be broken. This government cannot oppose the demands of a great nation with bayonets, and sooner or later it will be defeated ^{( 81)} . Even now, it is defeated and hopeless, the uncivilized acts that you have witnessed were enacted out of hopelessness.

We did not wish the regime to be brought to this level of disgrace. Why must the king of a nation be so detached from the people that when he makes a suggestion the people ignore him or respond negatively ^{( 82)} . A king must behave in such a manner that when he makes a suggestion or a request the people agree to it whole-heartedly, not rise up against it. The Shah’s referendum enjoyed the support of no more than 2,000 people in the whole country ^{( 83)} . We did not want the leaders of this country to ever become so disgraced. This should serve as a lesson to make them awaken and change their policy. Instead of breaking the law and sending the u1ama and other respected citizens to prison ^{( 84)} , instead of bullying and using bayonets, they should accept the wishes of the people and realize that they cannot silence the people or make them surrender with bayonets, nor can they use coercion to prevent the clergy from performing the duties with which Islam has charged them. Even though they stopped Mr. Islami

From speaking out from the pulpit in Tehran ^{( 85)} , they saw how he spoke out the pulpit in Bandar Pahlavi and revealed the truth there. In addition, if had stopped him from speaking there, he would have continued where, have no doubt about that. Wherever he could, he would get his message across to the people. Even though they have prevented many ulama and preachers from speaking out by putting them in prison, the clergy who have not been arrested will speak out and will make people aware of what is happening. Do you honestly believe that you can silence the clergy ^{( 86)} ?

INTRODUCTION TO SPEECH NUMBER EIGHT

At one of these sessions, Imam managed to win the consent of the high­ ranking clergy to issue a declaration which was to serve both as a response to the claims made by the regime and as a disclosure of the government’s motives regarding women’s participation in general elections. Imam himself wrote the of this declaration which was known as “the declaration of nine Matures”, since he had secured the signatures of nine of the maraji and I-ranking clergy of Qum and he had done so via unusual means seldom witnessed before ^{( 87)} .In this declaration, a response which covered various legal and religious issues was given to those allegations made by the regime; and in the concluding remarks it was stressed that “The government. With disregard for the laws of Islam, the Constitution and the electoral manifesto, has set its hand to certain deeds, the consequences of which are grave and alarming for Islam and Muslims . . . “ The release of this declaration brought about an increased sense of awareness in people and at the same time it generated extreme panic within the Shah’s secret intelligence service. This led the latter to retaliate in various ways such as printing certain articles in the state-controlled press in order to counteract the effects of the declaration. As for the Shah, he also reacted strongly in confronting the clergy’s crushingly effective declaration and in one of his speeches (delivered on March 14, 1963 (Esfand 24,1341 AHS) at the Vahdati Military Base in Dezful) he unashamedly stated: “ . . . If they (the clergy) do not awaken from their slumber then irrespective of their apparel, the arm of the law will be pounded against their heads like a thunderbolt in such a way that.

However, Imam Khomeini was not the person to let such awesome threats affect him. Instead, aware of the fact that the Shah dreaded popular vigilance and perceptiveness above all else, Imam forced him to adopt an increasingly defensive stance by delivering his enlightening speeches.

During the last few days of the year 1341 (AHS), when the city of Qum was in an atypical state, lying at the threshold of the New Year, the regime came up with two stratagems by way of a solution. On the one hand it set about terrorizing people by sending military trucks to the city of Qum and having them perform maneuvers there; and on the other hand it made the high-ranking clergy and in particular Imam personally, the victims of false accusations by circulating forged night notices. Unlike in the past however, people had become more alert and had acquired greater courage.

Azam Mosque in Qum was crowded with people Imam Khomeini was also present. Everyone was awaiting Imams speech. Imam, with accustomed equaiminty, opened his address with these words from the Holy Qur’an:

(As for) those who say: Our Lord is Allah, then continue in the right way, the angels descend upon them, saying: Fear not, nor be grieved, and receive good news of the garden, which you were promised. (Sura 41, verse 30)

Unfortunately, the entire text of Imam’s trenchant speech which excited crowd on that day is not available and that which is quoted is in fact only a of that fiery and forewarning address ^{( 88)} . The pronouncements made by am during the final days of that year, with New Year’s Day just ahead, left a p impression on the society; each of his sentences being a lesson of struggle and resistance. With a keen and unique insight, Imam predicted future occurrences and prepared the Muslim people to stand firm in the face of those bitter events, which were to arise in the days to come. Indeed, it is as if he old accurately foresees both the bloody events that were to take place on khurdad 15 of the following year, and other subsequent incidents.

(As for) those who say: Our Lord is Allah. Then continue in the right way, the angels descend upon them, saying: Fear not, nor be grieved, and receive good news of the garden, which you were promised. ^{( 89)}

Our Lord is not America Our Lord is not Britain, our Lord is not Israel, and our Lord is God. Hence, why should we be afraid? Why should we grieve? They are not worthy of our fear. With what do they threaten us?

Why should we be friglitened by their threats? This year I shall be sixty-three-years old. The Holy Prophet was sixty-three-years old when he passed away (the audience weeps). Hazrat ‘All ibn Abi Talib was sixty-three-years old when he was martyred (the audience weeps). Why should we fear them? We are followers of the Holy Prophet; we are followers of I-Hazrat ‘Ali, the Commander of the Faithful (pbuh); we are followers of Hazrat Husayn, the father of ‘Abdullah. Why be afraid? . Prepare yourselves for imprisonment; prepare yourselves for military service; prepare yourselves for blows and insults; prepare yourselves to endure the hardships, which wait You in your defence of Islam and independence. Brace yourselves for incarceration, for being sent into exile, for being drafted into the army, for having your turbans removed, for ^{( 90)}