Full Text of the Supreme Leader's Statements After Visiting the Book Exhibition at Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) Hosseiniyeh

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

As usual, it was a sweet and good day for me to spend an hour among publishers and in the collection of books. Of course, I was not satisfied with the trouble of the gentlemen; it was a difficult task for you to come here and spread this arrangement. The friends from the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance suggested it, and we accepted this kindness. In any case, I thank all of you who have worked hard and come here.

In my opinion, the publishing class in any sector of publishing and printing is considered one of the valuable collections of society; because the producers of books and their publishers provide the most important means of cultural transmission to our people. Here, no one should say that publishers are seeking to earn income. Of course, this statement is correct; publishers are indeed seeking to earn income. Sometimes, authors and translators may think the same way; but this does not diminish the value of their work. A doctor, for instance, whom you thank so much, may also earn an income from his medical work; or a nurse, or any other aid worker may earn an income for themselves. The fact that someone earns an income for their work does not diminish the intrinsic value of that work. Of course, if the person performing this work has sincere intentions and does it for lofty and divine goals, their value and reward become multiplied and increased.

My dear ones! Your work is hard from various aspects; just like the work of the doctor I mentioned, it applies here as well. If you are careless in prescribing and providing medication and offer something to the book customer that is harmful to them, you have also caused a great spiritual loss. Ultimately, neither your shoulders nor ours nor the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance and the relevant deputy will be free from the burden of that written work that, when you provide it, becomes detrimental; you should know this. This point, which we repeat many times, stems from a logic and a strong argument. It is not that due to emotions or fleeting perceptions, one complains about what comes in the realm of publishing and printing and is harmful; no, because the damage is as significant as the importance of the work of authorship, publishing, and cultural transmission.

In my mind, I categorize negative cultural work - meaning that which is bad according to our standards - into three types: one type is that writing or book that presents a logic or statement that, in our view, is incorrect. It is an idea, a suggestion, an opinion, which may be in any field; however, only the opposing opinion holder is thinking of presenting their opposing view and has no motivation behind it. The presentation of such an opposing and incorrect idea - from our perspective - in society is beneficial; its existence is better than its absence; because if a wrong idea is not presented, a correct idea does not emerge. This is logical, and we prefer that what is correct from the perspective of its owner, but incorrect from our perspective, be published; in various fields as well; just as, for example, in the realm of jurisprudence or in the realm of philosophy - now that part of our work; that is, Islamic philosophy - and other scientific discussions, some write things that are considered wrong by another group. They also write their responses; the result is that the matter grows, develops, minds become stronger, and discourse and knowledge advance.

The second type of work that is wrong is that its motivation is not merely to present a scientific statement or a philosophical, social, or political opinion; rather, it is part of a framework for a subversive plan. Publishing this is also harmful. When the enemy wants to attack a country, society, and system with cultural tools, they target things that, in my opinion, exist in our country today. They exist in the realm of books, in the realm of press, and in the realm of art. Of course, when we say that this wrong idea, or this wrong plan, or this incorrect statement is part of a security and subversive plan, the owner of that idea may not even know what they are doing! This does not mean that they are also a partner in that subversive plan or sabotage; no, sometimes they have no share at all, but the enemy uses them. Here, a well-meaning person, upon seeing that their words, their speech, and their work are being used as part of a sabotage scheme in this country, if they do not wish to be part of this sabotage or destruction, should immediately withdraw. That is the rule; if they do not withdraw, then they are also complicit and a partner. This is the second type of wrong ideas.

The third type is that cultural work whose effect is immediate and cannot be responded to. Like when obscene sexual images are widely spread among the youth in a society! How do you intend to respond to this?! Is it even possible to respond?! This is not at all answerable. When an artistic work, a writing, and a photo have a destructive moral impact, this is not answerable. The cultural work must be prevented; this is the necessary censorship that should not lose sight of the goal in the uproar against censorship. I consider it the duty of the system, the duty of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, and your duty as publishers, that when such a thing is raised, you do not allow it and do not assist it. This has nothing to do with whether we agree or disagree with free thought. It is natural that we oppose certain freedoms; does anyone doubt that? We oppose some freedoms. We oppose sexual freedoms; we oppose the freedom of sin, and this is what leads people in that direction. Right now, it exists in our books; published books are currently available. If it were not for the fear that by my saying this, the name of a wrong work would be repeated, I would mention its name. A book that clearly leads the youth, through artistic methods, towards sin! This is not a matter of thought that we say now this book should be published, and we will publish our response; this has no answer!

It is a mistake if someone thinks that we, who show sensitivity towards the issue of press, books, writing, and publishing in society, are opposed to free thought, free ideas, and free discussions; no. We are the ones who have given the first slogans on these issues, and thanks be to God, we have followed them until now; but we oppose the freedom of sin and the freedom of destruction. One cannot allow the youth of a country, who come to us in trust, to buy books from you and say these are the religious people and are in charge, to be misled or corrupted through this means; or for the enemy to do something through this means.

My dear ones! Know that today - of course, not that it is specific to today; it has been for a long time - there is a current and a cultural and political movement that is more intense and vigorous from the opponents of the Islamic Republic - who are actually opposed to Islam - that is focused on the mentality in our society. The target is the minds. The mind, in the sense of what includes thought, includes ethics, includes psychological and spiritual characteristics - I have all of these in mind - is the target. Because they know that the Islamic Republic - which is the code of perseverance and steadfastness of a nation against global domination and thanks be to God still is - and this country and this government and this human and geographical collection cannot be defeated by any method accompanied by force; the truth is just that.

Now they write that America wanted to attack, wanted to do such and such; of course, a government may make a wrong decision out of arrogance; but certainly, any military attack and military movement dependent on the enemy will turn against the enemy and in favor of the Islamic Republic. Now that these probabilities are fortunately less; but even when these probabilities were more in minds, at that time we said that if the enemy is wise and wants to decide wisely, they will not make such a decision. Therefore, military action, forceful action, and pressure-based action have no effect on this country. What is important for them is the people. The people, just as Molavi says and he is right: "O brother, you are all thought" - meaning the thoughts of the people, meaning the faith of the people; that which brings the bodies of the people into the field and places the tongues and arms of the people in the service of a truth and directs them against attacks. This work is currently being done. Of course, the Islamic system has stood firm by God's grace and continues to do so; but we must be very vigilant. Both the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance must be vigilant - especially these sensitive sections - and you publishers must be vigilant, and other relevant sections - in the government, in the parliament, in the judiciary - must be vigilant. We must not allow the enemy to do whatever they want.

If we want to depict step by step, it is like this: to influence the minds; then to eliminate the barriers to penetration in the pillars of the system; like the Guardian Council. Now you see that there is a lot of attack on the Guardian Council as well. This discussion of "supervisory oversight" and these things that they are still making a fuss about are among the very baseless and rootless uproars whose goal is to weaken the Guardian Council and, in fact, to infiltrate elements opposed to Islam and opposed to Imam and opposed to the Islamic Republic into the legislative pillars. Their barrier is the Guardian Council. They think that the same calamity that once befell that first-rate scholars' council can be brought upon the Guardian Council as well, which of course they will not be able to do, and certainly such a thing will not happen. This is the goal; this is the next step. The political, security, and psychological warfare planners of the enemy calculate that if this work also succeeds, then the next step is infiltration in the parliament, and this means infiltration in the government and infiltration in the pillars of the system. This is how they want to enter.

So what is the first step? Infiltration in the mentality of the people. The minds of the people, the faith of the people, the hearts of the people, the emotions of the people, and the love of the people are the targets of the enemies, and infiltration in these is through cultural means. Of course, they think they have succeeded and believe they have progressed; but they have erred; they have made a mistake. The pillars of the system are solid, and the officials of the system are vigilant and must be vigilant. I now - Mr. Minister of Culture is also here - especially say, you must be vigilant, and your vigilance must be a multiplied vigilance. Do not be afraid of the uproars and being accused of being against freedom. Even if you give the highest types of freedom, but maintain your principles, they will still say that you are against freedom! Just as now in this region, there are countries that have never seen a national electoral assembly in their entire history; they are not accused of being dictatorial systems, but our country, which has had twenty free and popular elections in its twenty years of existence, is accused! There is no expectation from the enemy. One cannot change their correct, logical, and wise approach because of the enemy's words. Therefore, do not consider any considerations.

Today, the dominators everywhere in the world - each in proportion - are thinking of cultural domination; one example is this satellite issue that I see they have raised the satellite discussion again. This logic is not correct that we say because satellite technology will advance in five years and without a dish, people may receive satellite images, so let us open the way for it now! This logic is not correct. The one who raises this logic must say what new actions should be taken to prevent it. This logic and reasoning should yield results in this way. Of course, the enemy advances technology. In response, you must think about what actions you can take to prevent satellite infiltration with the development and advancement of satellite technology. But this reasoning, that because the enemy is advancing, we should remove every obstacle from its path, is not logical. This obstacle is, for the time being, an obstacle. It is like saying the enemy has come to our borders, and then saying, we cannot resist for more than two hours, so let’s go! No, my friend! Resist for those two hours; you may succeed. What kind of statement is this?! The law prohibiting satellites - which the Islamic Consultative Assembly passed several years ago - was a completely correct and appropriate law. At the very least, you have been able to push back this infiltration for several years, and God willing, you will be able to do so again.

You must, alongside this work, provide means of protection. Protect the youth, protect the minds, protect the hearts so that if, despite you, one day the enemy manages to infiltrate, you have previously created immunity. This is the way; this is how to deal with the enemy's onslaught. With this spirit of resistance and this spirit of steadfastness, we have been able to keep a power like global arrogance and like America at bay for twenty years, and we can still do so! The Iranian nation is strong, and this perseverance is a faith-based perseverance. This perseverance stems from religion, from Islam, and from faith, and wherever it exists, it will cause the enemy's failure. We must preserve and strengthen this. We must strengthen religion; we must strengthen the faith of the youth; we must strengthen the avoidance of corruption. This work is correct; this path is the right path, and you dear publishers have a responsibility regarding these matters. Of course, you are a small group of publishers in the country who have gathered here, and fortunately, we have visited you today. Most of you, or all of you, are those who, in principle, accept these words. Now, some may not accept them; after all, this is also an opinion.

Anyone who has a responsibility in the country must act decisively, courageously, and strongly according to Islamic beliefs and the sense of duty they feel. This is the duty of all. We hope that you, we, the government, the parliament, and the judiciary will know our responsibilities and not take this matter of influence on minds and faith lightly. This is a very important matter; this is a very sensitive juncture; this is a very great work and should not be passed over easily. This work is much more important than fighting against corrupt medicine and expired history and against quack doctors. In any society, this is the essential point. We spent two hours with you. We thank you, our friends in the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, and others who arranged this meeting, and the respected sisters who came here, and all of you brothers. God willing, may you be successful and supported.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.