Speech in Meeting with Commanders and Officials of the Ideological and Political Organization of the Law Enforcement Force

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

Dear brothers, diligent and devoted commanders and officials of the Law Enforcement Force and the esteemed ideological and political officials of this force! Welcome. I hope that God Almighty grants you success in fulfilling your critical duties in every part of this great and efficient organization and in every responsibility you have undertaken.

It can be said and understood that today the Law Enforcement Force is a revolutionary institution; it is an entity that the revolution has desired and brought into existence. Naturally, revolutionary expectations are also placed on this great entity. When we consider an organization as a revolutionary institution, it means that we have expectations consistent with the revolutionary state, which naturally has its own characteristics; today, thanks be to God, the Law Enforcement Force is like this.

Beyond the separation of responsibilities and missions and the division between different sections, there is a mission that is fundamental. For the fulfillment of this mission, the Law Enforcement Force and the respected clergy serving in this force must work collectively and jointly. That mission is to maintain Islamic security in the community; this is the most fundamental task of the Law Enforcement Force, and it is a very significant task.

You have heard that: 'Two blessings are unknown: health and security.' Whether this saying is from the wise or the saints, it equates security with health; this is very important. In the Quran, there is an even higher reference; in Surah Quraysh, it says: 'Let them worship the Lord of this House,' then it says: 'Who has fed them against hunger and made them secure from fear.' It places salvation from hunger alongside salvation from insecurity.

Consider how much effort and resources a government system expends in any country to save its people from hunger; or how much effort is mobilized to save the nation from diseases and physical calamities; the equivalent must be spent to save from insecurity. Of course, insecurity has various forms and factors; one of the most important is the insecurity in streets, alleys, cities, villages, roads, deserts, and throughout the country, which must be combated. When can it be properly combated? When there is religious adherence and commitment to principles. Without religious adherence and commitment to principles, security will be severely compromised. Even police forces known for discipline worldwide will not be effective if they lack that spiritual restraint, that inner governance, that feeling that overcomes all temptations. What is that feeling? Some use patriotism, nationalist sentiments, or organizational feelings; but it has become clear that all these falter in certain places. The feeling that is effective everywhere is the religious feeling and the sense of presence before the Lord of the worlds. Wherever we are; whether in the center of this organization in Tehran or in a remote outpost on the country's borders facing attacks, this sense of divine presence is necessary for a person to be effective, feel empowered, and not feel fatigued.

From here, the work of the ideological and political brothers becomes clear. All ideological and political efforts are a prelude to creating this sense of presence before God and this spirit of religiosity in each individual; this is the direction. We must measure lessons, cultural efforts, classes, and selections—these things that often fit into the work set—with this criterion and see if they bring individuals closer to God; if they revive this sense of presence in their hearts or not. If they do, it is good; otherwise, it is not.

Of course, our dear clergy know and must always be aware that action is more effective than words. The best speakers and the most eloquent teachers and preachers, if their actions falter, all this eloquence will be in vain. We must correct our actions. The criteria are high-mindedness, purity, indifference to what people possess, indifference to worldly adornments, and more than what socially belongs to us, firmness in expressing and implementing truths, and not wavering or trembling.

This great revolution of ours, this solid republic that, thanks be to God, has come into existence, this high position that the Islamic Republic has achieved in the world of politics today, this prestige that Islam has gained today thanks to the Islamic Republic, these are miraculous works. These miraculous works could not have been achieved with words, propaganda, endearments, or force. If Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified), who was the leader of this caravan, had not aligned his words with his actions, it would not have been possible; but that great man did not say anything unless he acted upon it; and he acted more than he said; and in personal and collective action, he stood like a mountain on his declared positions.

The essence of Islam was the same. One of the wives of the Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his family) was asked to describe the character of the Messenger of God; she replied, 'His character was the Quran.' That is, whatever you read in the Quran about the method, action, behavior, and morals of a person as good and commendable, was embodied and manifested in that great man. This is why the movement he started, the ball he launched into the space of history, is still moving forward with intensity. We and all the Muslims of the world are still advancing from the blessings of that spiritual and miraculous hand that set it in motion more than fourteen centuries ago.

Our morals must be according to what we say and invite to; 'Be callers to people without your tongues,' meaning 'with your actions.' If we were indifferent to the adornments of the world, if we firmly stepped on the paths we believe in and are advocates and promoters of, if we practically demonstrated our adherence to religious principles, Islamic principles, the words of Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified), and what is established in the Islamic Republic system, our words will have an effect in the environment where they are spread; then there will be little need for insistence, pressure, and force; rather, the very attraction of action will compel others to harmony, alignment, and accompaniment.

I must say that the expectation of Islamic security is not too much from this force. We have a situation in the country's Law Enforcement Force that is unprecedented from the beginning of the history of the Law Enforcement Force until today. From the time when the gendarmerie and police were established in this country, until today when we, thanks be to God, have a unified and comprehensive Law Enforcement Force, the situation that our Law Enforcement Force has today in terms of being good and positive has never existed at any time. Never has the force had a commander as good as this, and commanders at this level. Never have the law enforcement forces had a population as large and of such quality as the current population. Never have the law enforcement forces had as much acceptance among the people as they do today. In past periods, the law enforcement forces did not have much acceptance among the people. Those who have long-standing experience in the law enforcement forces—meaning the gendarmerie and police—know what I am saying and what the people's opinion of the law enforcement forces was. Today, the Law Enforcement Force enjoys acceptance among the people. People love your uniform and respect it. All these are divine blessings; but if you abandon the work and do not perform those duties with the necessary firmness, it will not remain this way.

Some time has passed since the formation of the new structure of the Law Enforcement Force, and people are looking with anticipation; they want to see what this entity, which they perceive to have many merits and have heard much praise from officials and those whose words they trust, will do now; whether it will create the necessary confidence in the hearts of citizens or not. This is one of the secrets of the progress of the Law Enforcement Force.

Every citizen must have complete trust and confidence in the Law Enforcement Force; for example, when he closes his shop, if he is worried, he should say the Law Enforcement Force is there; if he goes on a trip and leaves his house, he should say the Law Enforcement Force is there; if he gets into a car to leave one place and reach another in the deserts, he should say the Law Enforcement Force is there. Any security-related problem that arises for him—if they say a thief has come, if they say offenders have appeared in the street, if they say someone is threatening people's honor, if they say someone is distributing harmful substances, if they say someone is assaulting people's dignity—there should be a light of hope in his heart that, after all, the Law Enforcement Force is there. People must look at the Law Enforcement Force as a source of security and a pillar of security; you must create this.

In the Islamic society, it is not allowed and should not be allowed for anyone to insult and violate the religious dignity of people in public. Which center should stop these? The Law Enforcement Force. In the Islamic society, it is not allowed and should not be allowed for violations of the living, urban, rural, and desert regulations of the Islamic Republic to occur; for someone to disrupt the atmosphere and destroy the health of the environment. Which center should stop these? The Law Enforcement Force. In the Islamic society and the Islamic system, whatever is prohibited according to religious laws, the laws of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, and the prevailing regulations of the country, in the public aspect of people's lives—privacy is another matter—is not allowed to occur, if seen, a strong and powerful hand must come and stop this law-breaking. What is that? The powerful hand of the Law Enforcement Force.

The Law Enforcement Force must gain its popularity in what? In decisiveness based on law and based on what is demanded of it in the regulations; not in considering someone, considering a group, or respecting the will of a class or group; absolutely not. If such work is done and such considerations outside the law are made, it is a violation. The only consideration that the Law Enforcement Force must make is the consideration of law and the consideration of ethics in the implementation of the law. Of course, in implementing the law, there are two ways to act: one with bad manners, ill temper, being sullen, arrogance, and pride; the other with good manners and kindness, but with decisiveness. This second type must be practiced; exercising decisiveness, along with good ethics.

Sometimes they call here, or write letters and complain that in a certain neighborhood, people have appeared who are assaulting people's honor. In these matters, where will we refer? To you; it is clear that it is your duty. Sometimes they call, complain that a certain house has been turned into a place of corruption and they do not let us rest and sleep; they create noise and commotion and create moral insecurity. Where should we really refer in such matters? To the Law Enforcement Force. Sometimes they complain that individuals come and distribute substances in a certain alley, or conduct buying and selling. In such cases, where should we refer? To the Law Enforcement Force.

Do not forget that the criterion is the Islamic and revolutionary society. If a society is not Islamic and revolutionary, the Law Enforcement Force has the sensitivities appropriate to that society; but in a society where the criterion and standard is Islam, the sensitivity of the Law Enforcement Force must be consistent with what is intended in this society. What are the sensitivities of this society? Preservation, protection, and action according to these sensitivities, without any consideration, returns to you who are the Law Enforcement Force. This is a difficult and heavy task, but it is a very effective task.

Insecurity is not only when a thief comes to houses, shops, markets, or streets—this is one type of insecurity; it is financial insecurity—we also have honor and dignity insecurity; you must also prevent that. We also have moral insecurity; there, too, you must enter the field. Of course, moral insecurity has a cultural work stage, a hidden work stage, a root-finding stage; those are the work of other agencies; but where it is visible and causes moral insecurity in society, the one who must enter the field is the Law Enforcement Force.

No action should be taken that would make someone say that after the integration of the law enforcement forces, these sensitivities have decreased; in the past, there was a specific organ for these matters, but now not. Of course, it is not like this; but if insensitivity is shown, these words may be said. These words are wrong and incorrect; the country needed this integration, the parliament approved it, an active and diligent minister pursued it, and, thanks be to God, interested officials carried it out. Today, the Law Enforcement Force is also a very good, reputable, and powerful force; but its effectiveness must be proven in all fields.

Brothers! Today, at the global level, we must ensure that Islamic action and Islamic desire in our country are prominently placed before the eyes of nations. You see how in these Muslim countries, where Islamic fronts and Islamic factions express their feelings, the enemies of Islam show what sensitivity and how they use all means to suppress these feelings. Supporters of Islam must be able to show Islam to them in such a sweet and attractive way that their feelings never cool down and this hope remains in their hearts; and this will not happen unless our society, in terms of material, spiritual, order, security, social efforts, and all the measures and standards that are considered in an advanced society, is a pioneer; one of them is your work, which is the work of the Law Enforcement Force.

We hope that, God willing, God grants you success and supports you. You dear brothers, wherever you are, try to maintain this love, harmony, and alignment at all levels and help each other in fulfilling the important duty you have. We hope that the pure prayers of His Holiness, the Guardian of the Age (may our souls be sacrificed for him), include you and that the sacred heart of the Imam and the pure soul of the martyrs, God willing, are pleased with all of us.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings