Statements in Meeting with Members of the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council

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

I am very grateful that dear friends and members of this esteemed council take the time to hold these sessions. As Mr. Khatami mentioned, good decisions are made in some cases, although there are also criticisms and objections regarding the council's work.

The criticisms I refer to, before they come from individuals outside this blessed and useful council, are raised by some members of the council itself. Over the past year - since the last meeting we had with you regarding culture, universities, and religiosity - several esteemed members of this council and their associates have written to me with reminders that all express their grievances about the progress of the council's work. Of course, as Mr. Khatami pointed out, it is true; I also welcome criticism and consider it a means of development. However, I believe that the Supreme Council itself is the best authority to address its own performance - where there are objections, whether from others or from its own main elements. Some of those who are critical have been part of this council since its inception twenty years ago. In any case, they must be addressed, and if there are problems, they should be resolved.

What I would like to express in this very good cultural, scientific, religious, and friendly session is that it seems we need to reevaluate the concept of culture. I feel that we have somewhat underestimated the concept of culture in the Islamic Republic. In my opinion, the impact of culture, both as a main and determining factor in the individual and social behaviors of our country and nation, and as a carrier for political influences and effects, has been overlooked and is not given the attention it deserves. Words are spoken, things are said, and I myself repeat many points; however, in practice, we see that it is not given the necessary value.

I have a perception that I would like to share with dear friends: I feel that all our individual and collective behaviors as responsible individuals and the behaviors of our nation are influenced by two sets of factors: one set is the talents and capabilities - the intelligence, abilities, and potentials of the people. Consider an individual; part of their effort and activity in any field relates to their own talents and capabilities or the environment they utilize. The second set is the effective and guiding factor of mentality. By culture, we mean those mentalities. Wherever I use the term culture, I mean that general meaning of culture; that is, the prevailing mentalities that guide a person's behavior - either accelerating or slowing it down - this is at least half of the determining and driving factors of all behaviors.

To make the issue completely tangible and to clarify the concern I have in mind - why I sometimes dwell on this issue - imagine a battlefield where a group of soldiers, with self-sacrifice, decisiveness, will, and steadfastness, are fighting; like the war we had for eight years. At that time, if you entered an area, you would see a group of devoted, selfless, and faithful young men standing and fighting. If you asked each one why they were fighting, they would say: "It is my duty. The Imam said so; it is my religious command. The enemy has invaded my country, threatening my borders and honor; we are a living nation, and we must defend ourselves!" They present a set of mental beliefs to you, including belief in God, belief in the Day of Judgment, belief in martyrdom, belief in the Imam's command, the necessity of obeying the Imam, belief in the enemy being an aggressor, and belief that I am a nation that must defend itself. This intertwined set of religious beliefs manifests in their statements. You see that these beliefs have caused this young man to stand, to give up the comfort of his home, his life, his education, and to go to the front lines, risking his life; he may even be killed or wounded and live with that for the rest of his life, as you can see many of them today in wheelchairs.

Now, if at the same time this young man is fighting with such fervor, someone comes along and begins to undermine these beliefs, for example, saying: "What you say about this enemy being an aggressor, what aggression? We attacked first!"; they start to infiltrate his mentality and weaken his belief in the enemy being an aggressor and the virtue and value of martyrdom, weaken his belief that when the Imam commands, the Imam's command must be followed; weaken his belief that an individual must defend their country, homeland, and borders. Well, you see what this faithful young man, who was moving like a burning bullet towards the enemy's chest, becomes with this change in beliefs?! He turns into a regretful, unstable, hesitant being, and possibly turns his back on the front. That is, this same person, this same character, with the same talents, the same physical strength, the same intelligence, with the same capacity in terms of physical and mental ability and willpower, with a change in their mental content, transforms from an active, progressive, influential being into a passive, defeated being. This is very clear. Well; it is also possible that someone goes and strengthens those feelings, that faith, and that belief in him, or creates this faith in someone who does not have it, and turns them into an influential, active, progressive being. I have realized that what is meant by the saying: "The pen of scholars is better than the blood of martyrs" is this. It is the scholar who can transform the content of human thought into something that, from this body - in today's common terminology, from this existing human hardware - creates an elevated human, a progressive human, and an active and resilient human. A scholar can do this; "the pen of scholars" is truly "better than the blood of martyrs". Because those young clerics of ours in the battlefield - that group of propagandist fighters - would go to the battlefield - I have seen them there many times - and they would transform ordinary people into resilient individuals; they would turn weak individuals into strong ones and unstable individuals into steadfast individuals with resilience.

This is the role of culture. Now, you can generalize this to the entire country. We are currently in a country and a system that needs the steadfastness of the people, the intellectual capabilities, the resolute determination, and the immunity of the people against their enemy. Who should take on this responsibility? Who should clarify to the people who the enemy is and how their enmity manifests, and what this country needs today? Who should convey and deliver the religion, which is the source of pride and steadfastness for the nation and the reason for people's self-sacrifice and their refusal to succumb to various attractions - material attractions - to the people, to the youth, to students, and to the individuals in society? Is it right for us to sit and wait for the seminary and the clergy to carry out these tasks with the same old methods and the same speaking sessions, or no, we who are today an Islamic government and the Islamic Republic system - we have taken on a responsibility and as religious figures and religious officials, whether they are clerics or not, and all those who have accepted a responsibility in the system, have actually accepted the responsibility to establish and solidify the Islamic system in this country and to advance it? Well; who else is responsible for transforming the people, if they are unstable, into resilient individuals; if they are in doubt, to remove their doubts; if there is a disturbance in their beliefs, to provide them with correct and strong beliefs; if they are in doubt and hesitation regarding the goals and responsibilities of the enemy, to eliminate this doubt and hesitation and make them determined and resolute, so that these people can defend the right that this country has taken up the banner of? Who is responsible for guiding the people in this direction? Besides us, besides the officials, especially the cultural officials of the country, including this Supreme Cultural Revolution Council, which was established for this very purpose?!

If we today raise these people to be religious, committed, and aware of religious principles and endowed with religious knowledge, the more we advance in this direction, we have guaranteed the future of this country and this nation; the more we allow infiltration into these barriers and permit damage to the beliefs and sacred values of the people - in the matter of martyrdom, in the matter of jihad, and in the enmity of the enemies of Islam and Muslims - the more we allow this, the more we jeopardize the future of this country and this nation and weaken the possibility of the happiness that this nation rose for and undertook this great movement, and increased the possibility of the enemy's presence and dominance!

These are only achievable through strengthening cultural work, and truly the cultural officials of the country - whether the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council, or esteemed elements of the government who are in this council, or non-governmental organizations like the Organization of Propagation and others who have cultural responsibilities - must feel a sense of responsibility and duty and get to work. This is the foundation of our work today. Today, the gentlemen have brought a report of the discussions from previous years that we had with you, the managers and our sisters; I looked at it and saw that last year I had made similar statements and emphasized that we must strive for religiosity to prevail in society and for the people to move towards religiosity. By religiosity, I do not mean mere superficiality and inclination towards appearances. Of course, appearances are also very important; they must certainly be observed. The issues of religious slogans should not be underestimated. These are very, very effective; however, alongside this, deep, foundational, intellectual, and belief-based work must be done.

Before the revolution, those who had the capacity for religious propaganda worked as much as they could; today, those efforts must be multiplied thousands of times - it cannot be said tenfold or hundredfold - today, a system and government of this magnitude - with such abundant resources at our disposal - must drive these people like a flood towards Islam, towards the goals and principles of Islam. If we are determined and have the will, what can stand in our way in this field? That is why I truly have grievances against some governmental sectors, and I have expressed my grievances. I believe there is a lack of effort. I once mentioned in this session - two or three years ago - that the intention is not to eradicate the opposing thought; we are not in favor of eradicating thoughts. We are not seeking this and do not believe that eradicating a thought is, firstly, possible and secondly, beneficial. We believe that a thought should be presented, discussed, and written about; but we, who possess the correct thought and logic and sound reasoning, must demonstrate with logic and reasoning that this thought is incorrect. There must be work done in response to the intellectual expressions - whether in political or Islamic contexts - that are raised by opponents and enemies of Islam and those who confront Islam and Muslims and the Islamic system. If it is observed that some individuals truly enter the field and engage in cultural mobilization, I would be pleased to see those words being spoken more than they are currently. However, what is important is that we observe this mobilization. The Ministry of Guidance, the Ministry of Higher Education, the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, the Ministry of Education, the Organization of Propagation, and the media must show that they have a mobilization. The arrangement of cultural forces must be a religious, Islamic, and revolutionary arrangement; there is no alternative to this. It is wrong and dangerous for us to suddenly feel that our arrangement has been disrupted by enemy forces and that we do not recognize each other; like a battlefield! You suddenly look and see that instead of your forces taking cover against the enemy and building fortifications, their fortifications have gone deep into the enemy's territory and the enemy's fortifications have come deep into yours, and you are mixed up! Occasionally, you have built fortifications against some of your own! This is concerning. I am worried about this today.

I look and see that very little work is being done in our cultural environment as Islam. For example, the Ministry of Guidance does not come out and announce that it wants to create "Islamic cinema"! What are we ashamed of?! Once upon a time, there were people in this world who were ashamed to say "In the Name of God" and to mention the name of Islam; we came and made Islam the common currency and the Shah Abbas rate in the world. Now, are we ashamed to say that we want Islamic cinema and theater?! Why do they not announce it? They should explicitly say that we want to make our cinema Islamic. What does "Islamic cinema" mean? It means we want to make the content of this technique, this form, and this art, which we have taken from others - like many other things - Islamic. We want to eliminate everything that contradicts Islam from this form. What is the obstacle to saying this?! Why is it not stated that we want a Muslim director in our performing arts and in the university and in such programs? It should be explicitly stated that we want to create Muslim directors, screenwriters, and actors and make the atmosphere of society Islamic. Why is this not stated? Why is it not stated in the university that we want to make the university Islamic?! A few years ago, I raised this issue. Of course, I am aware that you have meetings; God willing, these meetings will yield good results. I say do not be ashamed to say "we want the university to be Islamic" and do not be afraid of this. This is what this nation rose for, and you and I are the outer shell and appearance of this nation. Our will, thought, belief, and spirits do not reflect the profound depths of the layers of this nation! The layers of the nation are those who brought about this revolution, managed this war, and sacrificed so many martyrs. They are still present; if a test arises, they will sacrifice their lives just as they did before, they will be killed, and they will endure hunger. The people are faithful.

There was a discussion with Mr. Khatami regarding his speech - perhaps yesterday or the day before - he said a sentence in his speech that I liked very much. He said: "Iran's identity is with Islam." See; our country is the one that has the greatest share in all Islamic sciences over the past several centuries. This is not a coincidence. Why should Iranians have written the most tafsir (interpretation), the most hadith, the most jurisprudence, the most Arabic literature, the most philosophy, and the most mysticism?! What does this mean? It means that this nation, which you and I today govern and have taken the reins of, is deeply Muslim and Islamic to its core. The Pahlavis came and could not do anything. The communists came in a different way and could not turn this nation back. A spark was ignited, a cleric, an Imam, and a source of emulation came to the forefront; you saw what happened! You all witnessed how the people moved! What a uprising, what steadfastness, and what self-sacrifice they exhibited to bring this system into existence! This nation is Muslim. If you and I do not want Islam, if we are ashamed of Islam, and if these people know this, by God, they will not hesitate to expel us like a date pit from their mouths and throw us aside! We must cling to Islam. Islam is what is the means for the growth, progress, and elevation of this nation and this country, and its place is right here in culture.

I have expectations from the Ministry of Guidance. Of course, Mr. Mohajerani - apparently - is not here and has relieved himself from coming and listening to our words! In any case, it does not matter; whether he is here or not, my objection is this - I have said this objection many times, and I am saying it now in your presence - the Ministry of Guidance has not presented any Islamic work as Islamic in the two years that he has been at the head of this work! This is my first objection. Suppose I myself have had less than a week without an objection or a moment of displeasure regarding the media; however, the media has done many things as Islamic work, produced Islamic programs and artistic Islamic programs, and has had reporting and scientific programs. If there are mistakes and errors, on the other hand, there is also effort and work. My question is how many books has the Ministry of Guidance created to strengthen Islamic thought, how many films have been made to reinforce Islamic and revolutionary foundations, and how many appropriate theaters have been held? Regularly, in the halls affiliated with the Ministry of Guidance, performances and theaters are held; some of them are completely anti-religious and anti-revolutionary! Some have gone, seen, and reported back to me. Well; now, if alongside two or three examples of such performances, they had shown us five or six examples that we created this theater or we executed this film that promotes Islam, I would not have objected at all. I would have said, after all: "Mix good deeds with bad ones; perhaps God will forgive them"! But this is not the case; everything is from that side! This is my objection. I am not satisfied with the behavior of the Ministry of Guidance.

Suppose regarding novels, I have always been fond of reading novels; today I am not disconnected from novels and am aware of what is happening in the world of novels. Today, the most corrupt novels are being published! Of course, in the last three or four months, this has somewhat stopped - apparently due to the attacks from the parliament and the objections from this side and that side, this action was taken - well; has the Ministry of Guidance taken charge of a few novels and provided funds and resources to individuals who are ready to sit down and write a revolutionary novel or a few novels about the war? How many of these works have been done?! This is our question. Is it not the duty of the Ministry of Guidance?! The Islamic Ministry of Guidance exists to promote Islam. Of course, I have the same objection to the Organization of Propagation; however, with weaker dimensions in terms of resources and so on compared to the Ministry of Guidance. The same goes for the university. I now tell Dr. Moien and Dr. Farhadi: Dear gentlemen! Dear brothers! I consider you two to be religious and revolutionary. There is a current in the university environment that seeks to isolate and pressure the faithful and revolutionary elements of the university; you must not allow this. The name of that pressure group can be whatever it wants; even if it is called the Islamic Association! Some of these Islamic associations are not only not Islamic, but they are actually corrupt! Some of them are anti-Islam! You cannot defend and support this type of Islamic association; such a thing is impossible - neither from the government budget, nor from the resources of the government, nor from the ministry that this Islamic system has given you - you must defend Islam, the revolution, and the line of the Imam; these must be defended. What the people are willing to sacrifice their lives and blood for today is Islam. Experience has shown that some are not willing to give up even the slightest comfort; however, in this society, there are still those - thank God, there are many; they are not few - who are willing to sacrifice their lives for the sake of God and for Islam.

In any case, I believe that the role of culture is a determining and fundamental role, and we are currently under attack. As Mr. Khatami pointed out, it is true; I fully confirm this. We must scientifically and fundamentally pursue the issues of cultural invasion. Of course, at the time I raised this, some interpreted it as political motivations; but between us and God, there was no motivation other than divine motivation. There was no political motivation; it was the truth of the matter. Because I am familiar with magazines and have a strong connection with the written culture of this country; it is still the same today. I also look at some sports magazines. Back in the days - in the years seventy-one and seventy-two - I saw what issues they were introducing into the culture of society! It started there; it was the beginning of the conspiracy. I raised the issue of cultural invasion there; of course, now its broader dimensions have become apparent in society. We are truly under attack now; however, this culture that has now fallen upon this revolution and these believers and Muslims and the religious is doing everything it can - although it is from a small group, not a large one - carries a political agenda! This is not even culture! There is a time when a person does not accept a thought and rejects it philosophically; but this is not the case. Now, what exists in the scene carries a political will and a political orientation. In any case, my expectation from all the dear attendees and friends in this assembly is to take the issue of culture and the issue of cultural mobilization against the enemy seriously. This is our duty. This is what I feel if I am killed in this path, I have been killed in the way of God. Whoever is killed in this path has been killed in the way of God, and whoever bears a burden in this path has borne it in the way of God. The issue is not a small one; the enemy surrounds us from all sides - through books, newspapers, radios and televisions, foreign voices, news agencies, fake news, and the production of various cultural tools - and we just sit and occasionally coordinate and harmonize! This cannot be. The Islamic system must defend itself, and to defend the truth of Islam and the revolution, it has much to say and a wealth of cultural resources, and its center is this very assembly of yours. I consider this assembly to be an important one. Regarding the issue of law that was mentioned, I believe there is no legal ambiguity here; I say this decisively. I am not unaware of the constitution; this is legal because the Imam emphasized and approved it, and whatever the Imam and the leadership approve and establish is according to the constitution, is the law, and has no problems. If there is any ambiguity in the constitution and in the meaning of these concepts, ask the Guardian Council; they will certainly respond accordingly.

The Supreme Cultural Revolution Council and various other councils exist, all of which either directly or indirectly are decrees from the time of Imam, may God be pleased with him. In any case, they are decrees from the leadership and legally have no issues. Now, many problems arise for the government that are resolved through this means; they must be resolved, and there is no legal issue. At the same time, to ensure that there is no ambiguity, I will think of a way that, God willing, this council will not be subject to the doubts of some individuals - who may have some doubts in their minds. God willing, we must also think of this, and we will. In any case, my request is that the gentlemen who are the executors of cultural works consider the decrees here as legal and binding. It should not be that whenever they feel like it, they act according to it, and whenever they do not want to, they do not act. Suppose the members of this council have met in multiple sessions and approved cultural policies that were good cultural policies, then - for example - it goes to the Expediency Council and is not given any attention there. This is not right. This is a fundamental and important center; this is for cultural work, certainly has priority over the Expediency Council. At the very least, this is established for cultural work, but that is a collection of advisors to the leadership. Here, those appointed by the leadership must sit and discuss cultural issues and policies, and when they send that discussion to the Expediency Council, it should also be viewed with respect to these. I do not say that everything that was said here must be approved exactly in the Expediency Council; the Expediency Council also has the right in this decision, but it should be viewed with respect and attention, which did not happen. Of course, after that, in our office, some compensation was made, and the cultural policies that had been observed here were included in the overall policies of the system for the third program.

In any case, we hope that God will assist you and us so that we can all fulfill our duties and be able to respond. The main thing is that we can be accountable for what we do; we must think about this that we must answer these. God Almighty will question us: "Then you will surely be asked on that Day about pleasure". This is a great blessing that God Almighty will certainly question us about; we must, God willing, be able to answer.

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