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Date: October 20, 1978 (AD) I Mehr 28, 1357 (AHS) / Dhu al-Qa’dah 17, 1398 (AH)
Place: Neauphle-le-Chateau,Paris, France
Theme:Islam and the clergy: two great obstacles in the way of imperialist penetration
Occasion:The intensification of the propaganda campaign at home and abroad against the
movement and the struggle against the waves of adverse Western propaganda
Those present: A group of students and Iranians resident abroad
As protests and demonstrations against the regime continued in different cities, a strike by workers resulted in most of the offices in the country being closed. Students of the schools and universities joined in the protest by staying away from classes. The official, government-controlled Pars news agency reported from Mashhad that on the anniversary of the birthday of the eighth Imam (Imam Riza {pbuh}), thousands of people of that city gathered outside the home of Ayatullah Shirazi and set off on a protest march that was to end at the shrine of Imam Riza. Skirmishes between the people and security forces broke out along the way and tear gas was used to disperse the crowd. The demonstrators reassembled in the ‘Atiq courtyard of the shrine and the voice of protest could be heard until 9 pm that evening.
In Sari, about three thousand men and women, members of the Society of Teachers of that city, took to the streets In a large demonstration in which, amongst other things, they called for the lifting of martial law throughout the country; freedom of expression and the press; the formation of an independent teachers’ society; the release of all imprisoned students and teachers; and the closing of SAVAK offices in the departments of education. In Rasht, twenty-seven thousand male and female employees from both the public and private sectors of Gilan province went on strike. A few days earlier during demonstrations in Kermanshah (Bakhtaran) about fifteen banks were set on fire; to prevent further attacks and to ensure better security, barricades were put up in front of the windows of many banks. In Abadan, workers from the oil refinery there went on strike; when security agents arrested seven of them, other employees joined the strikers in protest at the actions of the agents.
On October 16, as anxious relatives looked on, political prisoners in Kermanshah, Ahwaz and Shiraz staged a hunger strike. Reports from Dezful, Andimeshk, Zanjan and Minab spoke of peaceful demonstrations by the people being marred by bloodshed as agents of the regime attacked the demonstrators, martyring many. A great number of those killed were school children.( 83)
Qarabaghi in the book The Confessions of a General while pointing to the disagreements which existed between the government of Sharif Imami and General Oveissi, the Military Governor of Tehran, writes: “ . . . in reply to Sharif Imami I said: ‘What you have said is correct. The police have also reported to me that a number of Irresponsible, incompetent and suspicious people have got together in the Military Governor of Tehran . . . instead of implementing martial law regulations on time and arresting the instigators and leaders of the riots . . . without having the slightest effect, the security situation of the country is getting worse day by day. If this continues there is not the slightest hope for improvement and it Is Imperative that a fundamental decision be taken on this matter.”( 84) Qarabaghi’s statements show that the government was losing all control of the situation.
The people no longer pay heed to any of the regime’s promises, they look to their leader, Imam Khomeini (may God grant him peace). They neither believe the analyses and justifications of the professional politicians nor accept the shows put on for them by the representatives in the puppet Parliament. The following report constitutes an example of the helplessness of a man who once upon a time called himself “the King of kings.” “The Shah called almost all the senior figures of his regime to his palace at Sa’ d Abad:
Sharif Imami, the Prime Minister; Muhammad Baheri, the Minister of Justice; Hushang Nahavandi, the Minister of Science and Higher Education; Manuchehr Azmun, the Minister of State In charge of Administrative Affairs; Manuchehr Ganji, the Minister of Education; Kazim Vadi’ i, the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs; General Azhari, Head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces; General Oveissi, Commander of the Land Forces and Head of the Military Governorate of Tehran; General Nassir Moqaddam, Deputy Prime Minister and Head of SAVAK; and General Qarabaghi the Interior Minister all attended. The Shah also asked his wife Farah to be present at this meeting. Discussions began at 7 pm and carried on until 2 am the following morning.
Manuchehr Azmun spoke about the critical situation of the country and proposed the dissolution of both houses of the Parliament, that is the National Consultative Assembly and the Senate, and the formation of a ‘revolutionary council,’ so that those who had been guilty of corruption In the past and were subsequently the cause of public discontent and hatred could be quickly brought to trial in a war time like tribunal and executed’ General Moqaddam (the head of SAVAK) immediately retorted ‘If Mr Azmun’s proposal is sanctioned, he himself will be the first to be punished” His Excellency and the others laughed!”( 85)
In his speech of October 20, 1978 (Mehr 28, 1357 AHS), Imam Khomeini, while emphasising the fact that throughout history the imperialists have tried to break the two main obstacles to their penetration of Islamic countries i.e. the institutions of Islam and the clergy as the guardians and protectors of the Islamic laws, gives a brief account of Riza Shah’s hostile encounters with the clergy and presents specific examples of the ‘ulama ‘s struggles. He speaks about the uprising of the great Prophets, such as Abraham and Moses, and the Prophet of Islam against the capitalists, kings and oppressors, and dismisses the idea put forth by the capitalists that religion was the opium of the people, saying: “The Prophets confronted the capitalists, they were opposed to capitalism . . . the clergy and different classes of Iranian society have stood up to the big capitalists and the superpowers and are shouting for their freedom and independence.
In the second section of his speech, Imam points to the fact that there are many verses in the Qur’an which call on the Muslims tostruggle against the lists and the illegitimate rulers, and he introduces Islam, the Qur’an and clergy as the rallying points and sources of unity for the Iranian people in the recent movement. At the same time, he elucidates the position of the and announces that they were not opposed to civilisation in itself but to the evils of an imperialist civilisation and university system, and a cinema and which are in the service of imperialism.
Elsewhere in his speech, Imam speaks about the worsening economic ion in Iran. He explains the people’s aims in the uprising and draws ion to their sacrifices. He also speaks of the regime’s Increasing bewilderment in the face of the uprising and its inability to deal with the course of events. Imam’s repeated revelations of the situation in Iran from his base in Paris had a noticeable effect on world public opinion, especially on the views of Westerners The latter had for years been subject to distorted news from the regime’s propaganda organs and the false reports of Its Western allies and ht of Iran as an island of stability and a land of freedom and prosperity. Imam’s words served to inform them that the truth was otherwise.
In concluding his speech, Imam reminds those Iranians residing abroad of mission, as he had done many times before, saying: “Now that the ns are giving their lives, you ought to at least give your voice, you should 1st make people aware of the truth.... Neither the Soviet Union nor American stop this roaring flood. This is a just act; this is the hand of God, and nobody can stop it.
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Because of the natural resources and minerals that they possess and the interests of certain groups, the countries of the East have become an important concern for the world. Consequently, the Western newspapers have examined their situation thoroughly and the information can be found therein. The discussion centres around ways to lull these Eastern societies and keep them from progressing in certain important areas. The imperialists have studied this issue very carefully and have come to the conclusion that there is one great force, which stands in the path of their ambitions - whether materialistic or spiritual. They have concluded that in these Islamic countries, Islam is this great force and is a barrier, which could block imperialism and endanger their interests, and that those who impart the message of Islam, and they consist of the clergy, form a further obstacle to their designs. They have identified these two forces and have concluded that were true Islam and the true clerics of Islam to gain dominance, they would not give the imperialists and the foreigners the opportunity to exploit the country. Their plan is to keep these countries in a state of backwardness so that they can realise their own ambitions there and install their own agents in power. They view These two forces must be taken away from the East so that they can implement their plans easily.
You may be too young, but during my own lifetime, I have witnessed this plan in action. When Riza Shah came to power his mission was twofold: to destroy Islam, even in the eyes of the Muslims themselves, and to belittle the clergy and then destroy them, thus removing what the foreigners saw as the barriers to their designs. He began his task by banning all religious assemblies throughout Iran(86) For a time, if one wanted to preach to one’s congregation or deliver a sermon, it was not possible, not openly anyway. Sometimes such gatherings took place surreptitiously, at midnight or before dawn, but even then, the agents were on the lookout and at times, they burst in on gatherings and arrested people and took them away. In this way, this person wanted to obliterate all Islamic manifestations.
As for the clergy, I cannot describe for you what he did to the ‘ulama( 87) , and especially to those who were influential in any way, such as the late Mudarris. The latter stood up to Riza Shah, and he had to endure much suffering for doing so before Riza Shah eventually killed him( 88) This monarch brought groups of ‘ulama to Tehran from the provinces. For example, the late Aqazadeh, who was a very influential person in Khurasan - so much so that he was called the “King of Khurasan” - was arrested and brought to Tehran( 89) I myself saw him in a house that was guarded; a chair had been placed outside because he was apparently indisposed and he was sitting there. I was told how Riza Shah’s agents had removed his turban from his head and had taken him, accompanied by a few soldiers, to the court of justice to stand trial. They had taken him on foot through the streets in this condition so that the prosecutor could question him. They arrested all the ‘ulama of Azerbayjan( 90) , including two of the great personalities there: the late Hajji Sadiq Aqa and the late Angaji( 91) , and took them to a village in Kurdistan( 92) where they made them stay for a while. They tormented the ulama of Isfahan in much the same way( 93) .
Riza Shah brought so much pressure to bear on the theological schools that one-day only one person turned up for my class, which was usually attended by a number of students! I was told that between dawn and sunrise they had all run away from their rooms and had gone to the orchards, returning later dressed in different clothes so that they wouldn’t be recognised. His agents would enter the schools and arrest the religious students and the learned ones and take them away on the pretext that they should not be wearing turbans or that they should go to perform their national service and thousands of other excuses.
This was how Riza Khan carried out his mission to destroy these two forces, which blocked the imperialists’ plans. Gradually however, the imperialists came to realise that this method of elimination was not very effective. So they chose another way: to introduce Islam to the people of the world in such a way that made it appear a very insignificant, petty and out-dated affair. Thus they embarked on their propaganda campaign at home and abroad to advance the idea that yes, Islam exists, but if it is anything important its importance belongs to 1400 years ago, when the Arabs were uncivilised and these teachings were for them, that now with the advent of civilisation, Islam is out-dated and useless; its teachings oppose progress and freedom; it does not allow the people to be free; women have no freedom at all in Islam and education is prohibited. They would have the people believe that were Islam to gain predominance, all traces of modernism would be effaced; travel by aeroplane would be forbidden; schooling would be prohibited; and women would not be allowed to leave their homes. They have succeeded in spreading such ideas on a vast scale throughout the world.
As for the ‘Ulama of Islam who pursued the task of diffusing the word of Islam, they vilified them, called them “worshippers of the old,” said they had been installed by courtiers and capitalists to opiate the people so that the capitalists could achieve their aims. They accused them of always appealing to the people to keep silent in the face of oppression and to allow themselves to be robbed. They said they put the people to sleep, they lull them so that when these foreigners come to plunder their wealth they can do so easily and no one will utter a word. Those who wanted to plunder your wealth began such propaganda, and they spread these ideas in such a way that at one time even the people of Iran believed that this was true. At the time of Riza Khan, one class of people treated the ‘Ulama the way that the regime desired; they copied the regime. Then later, when the propaganda against Islam began, perhaps the beliefs of these few people, this one class of people, helped the idea that the ‘Ulama were harmful for the society gain precedence.
They then went one step further and said that from the very beginning religion has been the opium of the people, that religion has stupefied the people, dulled their senses while the imperialists went after their interests. This was the propaganda, which they began several centuries ago because they thought that these two forces may present a danger for them, and it has continued to the present day when it has reached its zenith. The newspapers, magazines and foreign press, all propagate these ideas and are paid a lot of money for doing so.
This was merely a brief account of what Islam and the clergy have had to contend with so far. Nevertheless, those who are conversant with Islam and have studied the Qur’an, which is the source of Islam, and have given even a cursory glance at the lives of the prophets of old and the Most Noble Prophet, that is the Prophet of Islam, and at how they conducted themselves, realise the devilry of the imperialists and see that all these ideas they advance are wrong. When you look at the life of the Prophet of Islam, and indeed any of the other prophets, you see that it is not the case that they established monarchy or capitalism as a governing force, that they were against the people or that they stupefied the people so that the capitalists could do whatever they wanted. From the very beginning, the uprisings of the prophets were against kings. We have stories about the prophet Abraham, who lived all those years ago, and the Holy Qur’ an tells us a little about how he rose up against the kings and the elders who worshipped idols and oppressed the people. Moses was a simple shepherd, a shepherd who grazed his sheep, but he rose up with his staff in hand against the Pharaoh, that great king of Egypt. There were no, kings in Mecca, where the Most Noble Messenger was born and raised, but there were rich capitalists. The people of Ta’if and the Hijaz earned immense wealth from their trade and owned large orchards, and never did any of these capitalists support the Messenger. They were all against him. In his struggle against these capitalists, the Most Noble Messenger was helped by the weak and oppressed class. In that short time that he Clandestinely spread his message in Mecca, it was this group of people, this group of lowly, oppressed people from the class of the poor and needy, that gathered around him, and when he left Mecca for Medina, there too it was the people from the poor and oppressed class who gathered around him and little by little a group of tribal leaders also joined him.
At the time of the Prophet of Islam, the uprising was against the great capitalists of the Quraysh tribe such as Abu Sufyan and his kind, and the people of Ta’if who had wealth and property. He did not rise up against them merely because they were wealthy, but because the rich always persecute the poor, they rob them of their property and possessions and oppress them. From the time that we have information about kings to the present day, we see that they were people who, wherever they were in the world, used dictatorship and force to plunder the wealth of the people and rob them of their honour and that which they held dear. From the very beginning, the prophets confronted such kings. The story of the prophets is not that which the capitalists like to promote. The prophets confronted the capitalists, they were opposed to capitalism, and they were not used by the capitalists to keep the poor and the weak quiet. No, the capitalists formed one group and the prophets along with the people who followed them formed another opposing group who attacked them and, as far as they were able, crushed them9. So these utterances that religion is the opium of the people and the prophets were the servants of the capitalists are very clearly absurd and anyone who gives the conduct of the prophets even a cursory examination will realise the falsity of such claims.
But what can we do? Their propaganda is presented on such a large scale and is so widespread that we cannot compete with it. We do not have the means; all the means lie in their hands. The radio, television and press are in their hands, they control everything. The domestic and foreign magazines are in their hands, the capitalists and large sums of money are in their hands, so they are able to pay the media to disseminate the ideas that they want propagating and in the manner, they choose. We however have only the faculty of speech and expression; we have a pen and some paper, nothing else. We want to awaken a nation, we want to make this nation understand what has been done to them so far, we want the people to see how they are presenting their beliefs and their religion to the world. Even at this time, when the country of Iran, the clergy of Iran and the different classes of Iranian society have stood up to the big capitalists and the superpowers and are shouting for their freedom and independence, these things are still being said, even though they shouldn’t be. Even now, we see in one of the foreign newspapers that these untruths continue to be propagated.
As for the clergy, whose foundations lie with the prophets and with those who came after the prophets, their uprisings against the monarchs in Iran alone are so numerous - and I myself can remember some of them -
That I Do not have the time to go into them now. And as for Islam itself, one only needs to make a cursory study of the Qur’ an, which is the source of Islam, to see that it does not oblige the people to remain silent before. Capitalists and kings. It is the Qur’an, which tells Moses to arise and invite Pharaoh (to the right path), to speak to him mildly so that he may accept (his call).( 95) and it is God who gives the mission to Moses to struggle with Pharaoh; it is God who through the Holy Qur’ an commands his Messenger to do battle with the idolaters, with the capitalists and with those who have deviated from the right path. The verses in the Quran pertaining to fighting, battle and war are not just one or two. There are many verses in the Qur’an which are concerned with war, which give orders to go to war, to do battle with all those who are corrupt, to rise up and put them in their place. These are commands, which apply to us today. However, we do not have the means to go to battle, but we do have the wherewithal to awaken the people, to let the people know Islam’s situation, to let them know the situation of the Muslims and the clergy. We can do this and little by little, it is being done.
So they wanted to present Islam and the clergy in a bad light in order to turn the people away from Islam and distance them from the Clergy. If the people were to set aside the clergy who guide them and the Qur’an which is their religious book, then they would not be able to achieve anything; only when they band together, when they have something on which they can depend, can they act against these tyrants. No one can stand up to them alone; there has to be a pivotal point and this for the Muslims is the Qur’an. They must turn to that, they must unite beneath the banner of the Qur’ an.
The clergy too are a unifying force, which the people can rely on. Now that Iran has risen, praise be to God, it is the clergy and Islam to which the people turn; it is Islam that they call for; all the people are shouting for an Islamic government. It is not the case that were an Islamic government formed, it would ruin the people’s lives, that tanks and weapons would no longer be required, that we would ride around on donkeys! These are their foolish ramblings( 96) Where in the Qur’ an does it oppose modernism? Which one of the Qur’anic laws opposes modernism? Which clergyman has ever said that the clergy oppose modernism? We are opposed to corruption sir. When the manifestations of civilisation fall into the hands of those who seek to corrupt and those who seek to derive profit or advantage, they distort them. They change a cinema, which can be a teacher for the people and the nation, into a place, which makes our youth dissolute, which corrupts them. We deplore this. We are not opposed to the principle of cinema itself; if the cinema is used for the good of the people, if it is used to educate and guide our children then we are not against it. We are opposed to these centres of corruption, which are taking our youth away from us. You can see in Iran, in Tehran alone, how many of these centres exist and how many of our youth have become addicted to opium and other drugs, and on a greater scale still to alcohol, because of them. There are so many distilleries in Iran now. We are opposed to these things, which corrupt our nation. Are we opposed to books? Are we opposed to universities? Our claim is that our universities have been created in such a way that they cannot produce human beings, they cannot produce human beings who will stand up to the foreigners. They produce only parasites! Our universities are imperialist universities; that is they are run, as the imperialists want them to be run, they are not allowed to progress. This is what we oppose. How can we be against universities? Are we against having doctors, engineers and scientists in Iran? When have we opposed such things? Our grievances lie in the fact that the universities, which should be centres of learning and education, which should be centres for training our youth to be independent, to he freedom-seekers and to be useful for their country, are not. If the present regime claims that its methods of education and training are correct, then let it give us some evidence of this; but it is not able to do this.
We oppose the radio in Iran now which as soon as it is switched on imparts nothing only praise for Aryamehr’( 97) and dance music and songs which sully our youth. We oppose a radio, which corrupts our children; we do not oppose radio in itself. If the regime would let us take control of it then we would most certainly approve. We can run the radio much better than the regime can. The television in Iran, as I understand, shows scenes, which are vitiating our youth, depraving a generation. This is what we are opposed to, not the features of civilisation. We are opposed to the use of the media to keep us in a state of backwardness; this is what they want and this is what we are against. These are the things that the clergy oppose. Which clergyman has ever said that we oppose the radio when it is used to broadcast decent programmes and give sound teachings? Which clergyman has ever said that we are against the television when it is used to disseminate sound teachings and when it helps the nation to progress? We are against these things when they are in their hands! We oppose these leaders who are ruining our country. We oppose this Shah and his father before him who have destroyed this nation. They have exhausted our wealth and continue to do so. Our oil is being sold in such a way that reserves won’t last for long’( 98) Our agriculture has been destroyed such that the country is now a market for America. How will the next generation live in this country in thirty years’ time’! We must take everyone into consideration. Is it enough to see only to our own needs’! I am nearly eighty-years-old, I may only be alive for another six months or a year, but Islam has made us responsible, we have a responsibility for the people; we have to tell them what disasters they are bringing about for this nation. But when we start speaking out and telling them what should he done, they increase their activities against us to stop us from getting our message across, to block us. I am forced to leave Iraq, and neither Kuwait nor Syria will allow me in; even though I haven’t asked permission from the Syrian authorities to enter their country yet, I know they won’t allow me in. I cannot live in an Islamic country, because I am not allowed to continue my activities in an Islamic country, so I came here, but even here I see that there are also restrictions imposed on me( 99) .
The Shah’s regime is actively pursuing its aims: to stop the truth from reaching the people, from reaching the world; to prevent the world from hearing the cries of this nation; to stop news of these killings, that are being carried out every day, from reaching the world. The situation is such in the country that every day killings are taking place. Wherever you look, whichever newspaper you look in or foreign radio station you tune in to, even though they only impart the bare minimum of facts about what is happening in Iran, still you learn that a few people have been killed. They only report that a few people have been killed, but my own sources inform me that we should multiply their figures by ten. There are not only tens or hundreds of people being killed, the killings take place every day.
So, what is it that this nation wants that it is ready to sacrifice so many lives for? You should listen to what the people are saying. The world has said many things about this nation, but it hasn’t listened to the people. Come and listen to the people themselves, ask them what they want, ask them why they are raising such a hue and cry. This nation has been given freedom so why do the people shout so much? This nation has been taken to the “threshold of a great civilisation” yet still they shout. They are crying out because of this great civilisation. Are they shouting that the Shah is creating a great civilisation and they do not want it? Are they shouting that he is giving them freedom and creating “free men and free women( 100) ” and they Do not want this? Or are they calling out for freedom, independence, an Islamic government, a just government, for a leader who is at least not a thief, for a government which is not predacious, whose members do not take the wealth of the Muslims abroad to buy things for themselves and their families. They are asking them (the Shah and his regime) not to buy so many things from abroad; they are telling them not to deposit the wealth of the people in foreign banks in their own names. This nation is proclaiming that it wants freedom, and this gentleman turns around and says: “We have given you freedom( 101) ! If he has given the people freedom then why do they want it? What else do they want? Do all these killings constitute freedom? Is this a government of reconciliation which imbrues Iran’s soil with blood( 102) If this is what he means by reconciliation then what will his war be?
You gentlemen who are living abroad at this time, you are duty bound to unite with your Iranian brothers. Their uprising is not for themselves alone, they have arisen for you too. You are their partners. Their success means your success. Many of our young people cannot return home now because of a word, just one word, that they have spoken over here; perhaps during a visit by the Shah, they expressed their concerns or demonstrated against him and their names have now been added to the list so they cannot return. These people who have risen up, from school children to high school and university students, are giving their lives. The people of the bazaar are sacrificing their lives. The clergy are sacrificing their lives. They are all being persecuted and they are all crying out. Every day there is a demonstration and every day the cries of death to this man, death to the Pahiavi monarchy ring out. The people want the country to be in their own hands, they want to administer it themselves. They have the youth, they have the scientists, they have everything, but they are not allowed to do this. The people want to remove this class who will not let their country progress, who will not let their youth be educated properly. They want a government of Islamic justice, which will help the people, a government whose leaders will put the needs of the people first. They want a ruler who will eat oaten bread because he is afraid that somewhere in his realm there is someone who has to eat bread like this or worse( 103) Of course we can’t find somebody who will act this way, but we can find someone who will not steal from us at least~
We are all duty bound to help our Iranian brothers as much as we can. Explain your problems to as many of these Europeans that you meet with as you can; tell them what these Iranians who have risen are saying; tell them what their demands are. Whenever you come across an article in a newspaper or magazine, which runs contrary to the facts, voice your objections, tell the person who wrote the article that he has not understood the matter correctly. This will be effective. Try to inform at least ten Europeans or Americans of the facts; try to make them understand just what our problems are; try to make them see that because the Iranian people have risen in opposition it does not mean that they are uncivilised, it does not mean that they can no longer be given freedom, that if they were given freedom they would set everywhere aflame. No, you must make them understand that it is the Shah and his regime that have inflamed the people; they have caused them to shout so. The people are shouting because of the fire they have had to endure.
Your numbers are many in Europe, if each one of you could acquaint even ten people with the facts, then a wave of public opinion would be created. Spread the word. Now that the Iranians are giving their lives, you ought to give your voice at least, you ought to at least make people aware of the truth. Do not simply sit at home under the delusion that because you are here you can be comfortable. Do not simply listen to accounts of the killings in Iran, expressing sorrow at news of the murders of eight- and ten-year-old schoolgirls attacked in their schools. Go and tell your friends and colleagues about these events. If you are able, write about them in the press over here. Wherever you are speak out. If someone has written a report which contradicts the facts, confront him, tell him that he has not presented the true facts, ask him why he is not doing so, complain to him, and God willing an even greater wave of public support will come about. I can assure you that, God willing, our nation will win, because this is a national uprising, it involves all sections of society. When this roaring flood of people begins to move in one direction, no matter how weak they are, neither tanks nor America can stop them.
Thirty million people have begun to move. Only a few hundred people have not joined the movement and they are the hirelings of the regime. This roaring flood of people is on the move now and neither Russia nor America can stop it. This is a just act. This is the hand of God and no one can stop it. This is an obvious call for justice. A nation is calling out for its freedom and no one can say they do not have that right. They are human beings too. The situation is very difficult for the Shah and his regime now, hut they cannot continue to confront such a just call with bayonets. Martial law cannot be imposed forever. This regime may not be able to survive a day without martial law, but it cannot be in effect forever.
In any case, you must explain the situation to these foreigners. Give your friends the facts. If you attend schools over here, speak to the people who attend with you and tell them what is really happening. Form groups, gradually they will increase and you will become preachers and speakers, telling the people about the problems of Iran. If you do this, a wave of public opinion will come about which the reporters will not be able to counteract; then it will be the people here who stand up to the false propaganda. This is a service that we who are abroad can do now for the nation of Islam.
I beseech God the Blessed and Exalted to assist you and to grant you success.
May He keep you safe from harm and protect you. May you be successful.