Speech in Meeting with Families of Martyrs and Various Segments of People Along with Police Commanders

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

I extend a warm welcome to all dear brothers and sisters who have come from various parts of the country, especially to the esteemed families of the martyrs, the dear disabled veterans, the dear freed captives, and their honorable and suffering families.

At the beginning of my remarks, due to the presence of a group of families of the esteemed relics of the imposed war, I must say that the Iranian nation must never forget the sacrifices of the devoted ones in this war. If it were not for the blood unjustly shed in the war, and these oppressions, sacrifices, and courage, today there would be no honorable name of Islam in the world.

At the onset of the revolution, global arrogance, after careful study, concluded that the Iranian nation must be subjected to severe pressure because of the revolution that elevates Islam, in order to make them regret the revolution and to make the situation of the Iranian nation a lesson for other countries. When the war broke out, all the significant forces of the world of disbelief and arrogance stood behind the warmongering regime. Their definite decision was to destroy the Islamic Republic; but the will of Almighty God was otherwise. It is always the case that God's will prevails over the will of the devils; but the condition is that the believers sacrifice in the path of God's will.

If these sacrifices had not been made, and if our armed forces - whether the army, the Revolutionary Guards, the police forces, or the great popular mobilization - had not come to the field and defended with courage and sacrifice, the enemy's desire would have been realized. God's will was manifested and realized through the actions of your children, those young people who were martyred, or those who became disabled, or those who were captured, or those who sacrificed and, thanks be to God, remained safe. Their actions embodied and realized the divine will.

Therefore, today not only the country of Iran and the Islamic Republic system and the honor and dignity of the Iranian nation are indebted to the sacrifices of those dear ones, but today the Islamic world is indebted to these sacrifices. If today Islam has the prestige in the world that it can attract the masses and intellectual youth in Islamic countries, it is thanks to these sacrifices. If today it is observed that, thanks be to God, Iran and the Islamic Republic are proud and respected in the world, and the country's constructive works are on track, and the Iranian nation is moving towards increasing honor and happiness, this too is thanks to these sacrifices. Therefore, the Iranian nation must never forget this great memory; and the families of the martyrs, who are the owners of the revolution, must honor the blood of the dear martyrs and let the same self-respect, the same sacrifice, and the same faith be manifested in them.

I would also like to mention a point due to the presence of the brothers from the police forces - as today our police force is in a new phase - and that point is that today the police force must be the embodiment of three important things: First, religion and what arises from religion; such as chastity and good morals and Islamic ethics. Second, power; the police force must be powerful. Throughout the country, there is one police force, and it carries heavy burdens; therefore, it must maintain power with its material and spiritual factors. Third, vigilance and intelligence. The characteristic of military and police forces is this vigilance and intelligence; not being deceived and being present everywhere. The police forces must increasingly develop these three characteristics of "faith," "power," and "vigilance" in themselves and enhance whatever exists; the people must also look at them as brothers who maintain order and security.

The main issue that I have in mind today, also due to the presence of some technical brothers in our session, is that the country of Iran must be built by Iranians; this is a thought and a method. The intention and determination of the Iranian nation must be to build the country themselves.

In countries that have lagged behind the caravan of scientific and industrial progress, there are two ways of thinking:

One way of thinking is wrong and a source of misery for the nation; one way of thinking is correct. The wrong way of thinking is the same thought that prevailed during the dominance of American factors over this country; and that is that science and industry and technology and technical matters must be prepared by foreigners, Europeans, and Westerners and provided to us as a product; we must give money and oil and use the product of their work; this was one way of thinking. Unfortunately, even now this way of thinking exists in some colonized countries; they say we give money, Westerners build for us, bring it here, and install it! Sometimes they foolishly imagine that this is a kind of mastery over Westerners; that we are wealthy, they come and build for us!

Today this way of thinking exists; it also existed in our country in the past. During the oppressive monarchy, this thought was in the determining and decision-making layer of the country; we even heard this talk from the mouths of some of their factors. Of course, this does not mean that they were not thinking of bringing factories into the country; no, but even those factories were under foreign control and management. They brought a steel factory to Iran; but in the hands of foreigners, with foreign management, even with foreign ownership!

The day the revolution triumphed, a large number of foreigners who were here from the sensitive factories of this country left; those whose job was not to come and teach the people of Iran science and technology; their job was to come as a big employer and as a knowledgeable person, to select a handful of subordinates from this country, to both take the country's capital and keep the key to the country's industries in their own hands. Therefore, if you look at the industrial map of the country, you will see that Westerners and Americans and some Europeans had arranged this map in such a way that if they left this country and the gates of this country were closed to them, Iranians themselves would be unable to advance and manage the industry; that is, they had deliberately created missing links in the chain of this country's industry, with the intention that this nation could never stand on its own feet and straighten its back; they wanted it to always remain dependent on them.

This way of thinking also affects universities; academic sciences are also shaped based on this method; our engineer does not become innovative and creative. This was what they did that day, and for a long time, the bad results of their mismanagement have plagued our country, and perhaps it will continue for some time in the future.

One way of thinking is the correct way of thinking, and that is that we may take science and technology and industry from a foreigner who has it and we do not; but we will take control of that work ourselves; we will choose the industry ourselves; we will create what is necessary for the country ourselves. A person must learn science from whoever has it; but not to learn to be their servant. Westerners wanted this for the Iranian nation and other Muslim nations.

We must learn science to build the country ourselves. Among our nation, there is a lot of talent and creative spirit. This is the same nation that until a few centuries ago was the torchbearer of science in the world. We lack nothing in terms of potential scientific talent and ability; why should we lag behind the caravan of science and industry, to the point where they make even the smallest things for us?!

During the oppressive monarchy, they did not allow Iranian engineers to repair or even approach the aircraft they had paid for and bought from foreigners, lest they become aware of its secrets! This is the greatest injustice to a nation.

Today the situation has changed a lot. Thanks to the revolution, the Iranian nation, in terms of science and industry and relying on talent and managing industrial life by themselves, is incomparable to before the revolution. Many young people, whether in the field of industry, in the field of medicine, in various fields of science, both men and women, have reached high levels and have done outstanding work. The Iranian nation knows some of them, and some will be known in the future when the work is completed, and the information will be provided to them.

The nation has progressed; but this method of self-reliance must continue. Various sectors should not be tempted to hand over work to foreigners in a closed and sealed manner. A nation must know that only it can understand its needs and meet them. We do not say that the scientific and industrial knowledge and achievements of others should not be used; no, they should be used; but we must also strive ourselves.

Science does not belong to one person or one nation; science belongs to humanity and is passed from nation to nation. There was a time when today's civilized Europe was in the utmost ignorance and unawareness; Muslims were the great scholars of that time and taught science to Europeans. This is something they themselves have said and say; they have written and write; it is not an unknown claim that we make. There was a time when science was in Asia, a time when it was in Europe, and a time when it was in another place. Science belongs to all humanity. Science is not something that a nation can say is mine and not humanity's; no, science belongs to humanity. Wherever we find science, we will acquire it.

Our Prophet said fourteen centuries ago: "Seek knowledge even if it is in China" (utlub al-'ilm walaw bis-Sin); if knowledge is in a distant place, go and learn it. You must also use their scholars and use them in science and industry. Therefore, the scientific and industrial achievements of others should be used; but we must also strive to learn and build.

Our young people who are present today in technical, industrial, and scientific centers must know that they must build Iran. In a broader view, consider the Islamic world. Why should the Islamic world be so weak and needy? Why should everything be begged from the doorstep of its enemies? Today some wealthy Islamic countries pay money and even bring their fruits and vegetables by plane from European countries! Machinery aside, port construction aside, exploration aside; why should it be this way?! What does the Islamic nation lack?

Today there are more than a billion Muslims in the world; in these sensitive countries that we Muslims have. Today a large part of the world is under the feet of the children of Islam; with all these rich resources, and with this geographical position. Should America and Britain and such governments still rule over these countries?! Muslims must wake up; among themselves, like a family, use each other's science and industry and resources and money and form a strong front against the global enemy.

What is the situation that Muslims have today?! Especially today when America thinks the world belongs to it. Of course, this is a foolish thought; but American statesmen have this thought. Because their rival - which was the former Soviet Union - has been fragmented and brought to weakness and humiliation, they think that the world is theirs! As if the world belonged to two rivals, and now that that rival has sat down, its share also belongs to this one, and the whole world belongs to this one! Who has instilled such a wrong logic in these shallow-minded, uninformed statesmen about human instinct and nature?! Humans are free. Humans and nations are independent. What do the world's issues have to do with you?! They think everywhere in the world belongs to them!

They interfere in all matters! Wherever in the world there is an incident, a dispute, and something profitable, they immediately rush there; like the bullies and thugs of former neighborhoods, who were present at the time of extortion and at the time of husband and wife quarrels! What does it have to do with you?! They consider themselves the sheriff of the world! Who are you? The reason you feel powerful is that some nations and governments have not been willing to understand and feel their own power; otherwise, if Muslim nations understood their power and realized what a great power they have, who could you boast like this in the world?!

They stand behind the usurping, aggressive, rude, ill-mannered, harsh usurper of this region, Israel, to completely eliminate the rights of the Palestinians. So when will Islamic nations assert themselves against these oppressions? They repeated a name, dragged them there, sat them around, signed, and violated the rights of a nation. No matter how much Muslims give in, that malicious and shameless enemy will become bolder.

Now see what they are doing in southern Lebanon. There is hardly a week, and sometimes hardly a day, that they do not come and bomb an area and kill a number of poor villagers in southern Lebanon for no reason. These human rights organizations are dead. Not a word comes out of anyone, and no one breathes; but if four Russian Jews were not allowed to leave the Soviet Union and go to Israel, the whole world would make a fuss about why you are preventing it; a Russian citizen wants to come under the shadow of the Israeli government; why does the Soviet government prevent it! All the world's media - which of course belong to the Zionists themselves - would be full of noise! Human rights organizations that claim human rights would also coordinate with them! So now you are dead?! Why are you silent?!

They are massacring the Palestinian nation, they are massacring the Lebanese nation; but no one says anything! Of course, we should not expect anything from them; because they are the enemy. What expectation is there from the enemy? They are hostile to Islam and Islamic nations and to anything that stands in the way of their oppressions. We should not expect anything from them; we should expect from ourselves and from Islamic nations. Why do Islamic nations not wake up? Why do Islamic governments, especially some Arab governments, not come to their senses?

You, the Iranian nation, appreciate your position. You are the only nation that powerfully and loudly says: Palestine yes, Islam yes, Israel no, America no, global arrogance no, bullying no. This is thanks to Islam. Islam has made you alive, awake, and independent. You are not under anyone's flag or ticket. Powers cannot tell you to do this or not to do that; whatever your duty is, you do it; this is a very great blessing and honor. Now there are Muslim nations whose hearts are also full of blood, but they cannot do anything; of course, in our opinion, they are also lacking in courage.

Preserve Islam. Preserve adherence to Islamic laws and standards and Islamic methods and Islamic order. Preserve Islamic unity among yourselves with full strength. Do not let these malicious enemies we mentioned be able or hope to create discord among you. It is hoped that, by God's grace, your unity, cohesion, faith, and power will also awaken the Islamic world. We ask Almighty God to include us in the pure prayers of the Guardian of the Age (may our souls be sacrificed for him).

According to the narration, next Tuesday - the third of Jumada al-Thani - is the martyrdom of the Lady of the Women of the Worlds, Fatimah al-Zahra (peace be upon her). I ask the Iranian nation to close their shops and places of business on that day and respect Fatimah al-Zahra (peace be upon her). We do not say anything to government departments and factories that have specific work; but shopkeepers and merchants and markets and streets should show respect. God willing, close Tuesday so that we can benefit from the blessings of Fatimah al-Zahra (peace be upon her).

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings