Statements in Meeting with the Head and Officials of the Judiciary

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

Firstly, I also extend my condolences to all the brave and resilient members of our nation for this tragic event. I hope, God willing, that in this trial, as in all previous trials, this nation will emerge with honor. Secondly, I must express my profound sincerity to the faithful, courageous, dedicated, and efficient judges.

Indeed, the group that deserves the most investment, both materially and spiritually, in their abilities, efficiency, and successful efforts, is the judiciary. The reason is clear and has been stated many times by everyone. The reason is that if the judiciary possesses the necessary conditions and performs its duties correctly, corruption, decay, oppression, discrimination, immorality, and other things that corrupt and paralyze a society will soon be eradicated in the country. If, God forbid, the judiciary is not healthy or diligent, then all these crimes will grow, and these microbes will find the courage to live, multiply, and become active. For this reason, the judiciary is truly everything for us. It makes no difference whether it is during the reconstruction period, which is today, or during the war period, which was yesterday, or in the various events that a revolutionary nation and a great country always face with both prosperity and adversity. In all conditions, the judiciary is the one thing that cannot be allowed to stagnate, become inactive, or, God forbid, become corrupt. If anything else is damaged, we say, God willing, the judiciary will go and fix it; but the judiciary itself must be at the level of reform and righteousness.

We thank God Almighty for bestowing upon us, thanks be to God, a worthy, deserving, and righteous figure from every aspect for this task. Truly, Mr. Yazdi (may God prolong his life) is a blessing for the judiciary. All the qualities that one thinks are necessary for a manager in this great institution, when observed, are found in him; namely, the same religion and piety, knowledge and understanding, compassion and sincerity, and the pursuit of responsibility and duty. These are the main pillars. All the requirements and conditions of good management will be achieved with these present. Without these, even if the manager is good, it will be wasted.

In truth, we are not satisfied with this level of the judiciary. We appreciate you gentlemen and observe the progress of the judiciary like all those with insight. The movement and efforts of the judiciary, thanks be to God, are good and noticeable; but you should set the example of the administration of the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him). Let us measure ourselves against him, not say it is impossible. Yes, it will not be like that; but it is possible to be close and similar to him. We live in a country that for many years had a disordered judicial situation. Therefore, we had gradually forgotten the basic human principles in the matter of justice.

Of course, after the revolution, the oppressed martyr Ayatollah Beheshti (may God's mercy be upon him) and the other dear and respected gentlemen who collaborated with him in judicial work, worked very hard, and it is very fitting that on the occasion of these days, we honor the memory of that great martyr who, with his initiative, effort, and strong management, started and set many things in motion. We were close witnesses to the hard work and efforts of the other gentlemen who were with him; however, compensating for that long, ruined past is truly difficult.

In Iranian society, it is very easy and familiar to the minds of all the people that the right of an individual is consumed, and even after years of running around, they do not reach anywhere. Which of you and which of the people of this nation has not heard such a scenario, or heard it repeatedly? This should not be. In an Islamic society, every oppressed person should feel that there is a refuge there; like someone who, for example, is moving in a very harsh storm and blizzard, or on a dangerous road at night, and there is a refuge at a point, they will crawl to reach it and are assured that once they arrive, they should be at ease. That refuge is the judiciary. It makes no difference; all classes should have this feeling. It is wrong for us to say that certain people should not come near the judiciary because we cannot reach them. No, we reach everyone.

Of course, in our country, like many other places, the deprived and poor classes, the barefoot and villagers, and the oppressed classes have been more oppressed. The probability of oppression against them is stronger than against a wealthy, resourceful, and extensive landowner. The pain and grievances of everyone should be addressed; but to those in whom the probability of oppression is greater—the oppressed and lower classes of society—more compassionately should be reached. Especially in our country, these young people who underwent a tough test on the front and during the war; the same Basij, the Revolutionary Guards, and the combat forces who roared like lions against the enemy on the battlefield, sometimes in a small personal matter, due to not knowing the law or the natural magnanimity of a believer or a revolutionary, they are deceived and suffer losses. You must extract the hair from the butter. You should not allow anyone, especially the oppressed classes, villagers, dedicated youth, Basijis, and combatants, to be oppressed.

The judiciary is an institution where the clergy have had more presence and investment than anywhere else in this country. If, God forbid, a flaw occurs in this institution, its damage will not only reach the institution itself but also the clergy. Therefore, here, a lot of effort and magnanimity must be exercised. Truly, the gentlemen who are in this institution, from judges and prosecutors to various officials, must, for the sake of God and to preserve the dignity of the revolution—which is this judiciary—and to preserve the dignity of the clergy—which almost fills the body of the judiciary—give up many worldly pleasures.

Now, in your gathering, it is clear that the clergy and those wearing turbans are more than the non-clergy. It is the same throughout the country; that is, the clergy have a significant presence in the judiciary. Many things that an ordinary person pursues, some of which are lawful and pure, are for an ordinary person, not for someone who has responsibility, especially the responsibility of justice, which may have bad consequences and reputation. These should be disregarded. The gentlemen should disregard them. It is no joke; the issue is about creating a new path in human life. This revolution is such.

You see what is happening in the world. This revolution has opened a new path in human life. It must be able to maintain its sharpness and cutting edge so that this path remains open and wide, so that nations find hope, so that the enemies cannot find a pretext to strike this revolution, and so that the revolution does not collapse from within. The main elements of the revolution, and more than anything, the judiciary, must consider these aspects.

The right of all people is to enter political currents, express opinions, and be part of political groups. In the judiciary, this has a special state. Having a political belief is something inevitable and natural. Perhaps a small amount of it, due to political inclination in interactions, is unavoidable; but the officials of the judiciary and those whose hands hold the fate of people's difficult cases must strictly avoid being involved in political matters and incorporating political inclinations into that important work they are tasked with—namely, justice. It is very important. It makes no difference which direction the political inclination is towards and how it is. In any case, becoming affiliated, becoming deeply involved in a political current, in such a way that it is evident and noticeable in practice and shows itself in various interactions, is beneath the dignity of the judiciary and is not appropriate; although for ordinary people and perhaps for many non-judicial officials, it is not so.

Two things are important in the judiciary and can truly be the goal of a judge's work: one is speed, and the other is precision. If work is not done quickly, it becomes the same big defect that was previously in the judicial systems of the tyrannical era, and its signs and traces still existed in some corners after the revolution. Such and such an institution, in such and such a section of the judiciary, had thousands of old and accumulated files. It is really a very bad thing. This issue should be avoided. Any work that ensures and guarantees speed is desirable. If people see that the investigation was conducted quickly, they feel calm and reassured that justice is being served.

Why is the delay of divine limits, legally forbidden and prohibited, and no one has the right to delay the divine limit from its time, and once it is judged, the limit must be executed? Because with delay, the effect that is associated with the execution of the limit is almost lost, or greatly diminished. Now someone comes to file a complaint, and this file is kept for six months, a year, two years, ten years; especially in some cases where people are imprisoned because of this and are prohibited and banned from using their property. With this delay, everything remains suspended between heaven and earth until this file is eventually brought out. This is a very bad thing.

The second is precision. If we quickly review and complete the files, close them, and set them aside; but they are not precise, is that very good? An investigation that is not precise, considering the aspects of the case and the evidence and reasons, whether it is fast or slow—let's assume it is slow—what benefit does it have? Such an investigation, if it is not done at all, is better than if it is done. When it is determined that there is error, mistake, and falsehood in it, in this case, what merit does speed have? Therefore, these two aspects—precision and speed—must be observed together.

If you feel somewhere that your responsibility causes things to stagnate, definitely relinquish the responsibility. Some brothers are such that, God willing, the respected officials of the judiciary should come up with a proper and calculated plan for them. There is a gentleman who has a lot of engagements. Now, for example, a court, a tribunal, or a prosecutor's office has been entrusted to him. He does not reach the work, and it remains there. This job should be entrusted to another person who comes and quickly completes this work. That is, it should not be that for us, the job is the first issue. The first issue is the work.

The point is, this judgment is very important. Now, I do not want to read those narrations and verses that you yourselves know, and some also, because of those narrations and verses, do not approach the judiciary. Some should not say, now that it is so difficult, then goodbye to you! No, a virtuous work means this. This revolution depends on your work. Let me say, alongside this five-year program of the honorable president and the efforts that this government is making—which, as I evaluate, are truly extraordinary efforts, and these policies they have, God willing, are successful, correct, good, and necessary policies for this country—if there is not a good judiciary and successful judicial efforts, be assured that this will not be to the benefit of the country and the revolution. The main condition is here. They are all form; this is the spirit; because justice will be ensured by the judiciary, and the executor of justice is the judiciary.

Of course, the greats and scholars and those who see in themselves the ability for this work should hasten to this important work. If today, our scholars and great clergy do not come towards the judiciary and do not take on this great work and this heavy burden, when will this work be done? Today is the day when believers and the righteous, whatever capital they have, should put it in the service of this revolution and pour it at the foot of this sapling and let this sapling grow. For Islam and the Quran, this sacred sapling is what will be beneficial. Beyond this, there is nothing. It is this that will lead us to the government of divine justice and will provide the desired and aspired society to Muslims. Whatever there is, we should pour it at the foot of this. We are all soldiers, and we are all obligated. We all have the duty to do whatever task is assigned to us.

Of course, I observe the progress that has been made, and truly and fairly, it is very valuable. This speed that was shown in some different cities made people happy and hopeful. People understood that the judiciary is determined and resolute to uphold the right. This is very valuable. Like those divine leaders, in dealing with right and wrong, where there is right, one should defend it with all one's being, and where there is wrong, one should confront it with all one's being. For upholding the right and nullifying the wrong, there is no excuse and no condition. One must, God willing, uphold the right and nullify the wrong to the utmost of one's ability and power.

We pray that God Almighty grants complete success to the respected gentlemen. God willing, you will lift this heavy burden that you have taken upon your shoulders, and this blessed movement that has begun will, God willing, better, more, stronger, and more comprehensively cover and encompass the corners of our society day by day, and those just rulings that you will give in the matter of justice will, God willing, attract divine mercy and favor.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings