Full Text of the Supreme Leader's Statements in Meeting with Judiciary Officials and Families of the Martyrs of the Seventh of Tir

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

I extend my greetings to you dear brothers and sisters who have come here - both the officials and servants of the esteemed Judiciary and the families and survivors of the dear and highly esteemed martyrs of the Seventh of Tir.

One sentence regarding these dear martyrs, who were among the prominent figures of the revolution and the country, and whose memory will not be forgotten - especially the late Ayatollah Beheshti (may God elevate his status) - is that these esteemed martyrs became martyrs on the path to realizing the Islamic system and the sovereignty of God's religion. At the beginning of the revolution, two currents stood against each other; one current was the current of revolution, religion, and the Qur'anic and Islamic sovereignty and religious values - which Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) and the majority of the nation followed - and the other current was one that was not satisfied with the sovereignty of God's religion in this country. Of course, some of these individuals were motivated by opposition to the essence of religion. Others were motivated by support for the presence of America and foreign powers; however, they themselves had no issue with religion. Some of them appeared to be religious, but they understood well that when a system and government based on religion and religious principles is in power, the intervention of the arrogant and foreign powers is not possible; they understood this well. Therefore, instead of debating and arguing with the system on this issue or that issue, they questioned the very principle: Why should religion intervene in societal matters? Why should the religious authorities - that is, the scholars of religion - have anything to do with society? Why should Islamic jurisprudence, which determines the affairs of people's lives - both worldly and otherworldly - based on divine decree, intervene in law, legislation, and the selection of officials and similar matters? Thus, they set out to confront the essence of religion. They knew that as long as religion and the sovereignty of religion exist, there is no way for the enemy to operate.

Of course, I ask thinkers and scholars of society to analyze this statement correctly: why, when religion is present, can the enemy not come? One reason is the very religious rulings and the Qur'anic verses and the framework of the Islamic system that do not allow the arrogant, oppressive, conspiratorial, and plundering powers to intervene at all; another reason is that now, a government that believes it should not allow foreigners to enter, with what tools does it intend to achieve its goals, except with the tools of the people and the will of the people? Only in a religious government does the will of the people, along with love, enthusiasm, devotion, and sincerity, mobilize all their existence in confronting the enemy. In a non-religious system, such a thing is not possible. This is a very important point. The way to separate people's support from a system is to not involve their beliefs in their defense; to create a separation between their presence, will, and beliefs - especially their religious beliefs; you know that the difference between religious belief and political or party belief is that religious belief is faith, and it contains love and enthusiasm. In any case, they were confronting the essence of religion.

The first current - which was the current of revolution, religion, and Islam - had logic and discourse and stood firmly against the tumult of the opposing current. Anyone who had more resilience in this lineup was more targeted by attacks. You can see that during those two years and more when the opposing currents were very active in this country, against whom they conspired; against whom they slandered; with whom they engaged more in the realm of mentalities and debates? They were more hostile to those whom they saw had greater capacity in enlightening the thoughts of the people. Some were removed from the field with slander; some were eliminated with weakening and insult; however, some like martyr Beheshti could not be removed from the field with these tactics; then they resorted to assassination and martyred Beheshti and others in that incident. Later, they also martyred the late Shahid Bahonar and Shahid Rajai and others like them. These are the martyrs of the original Islamic identity of the system; because they stood against the enemies. Their pure blood had a significant impact; it truly awakened and enlightened the people for many years; even today, it continues to inspire.

Of course, the motivations of the enemy still exist today; they existed yesterday; they will exist tomorrow; the enemy is not idle. What is important is that the Islamic front, the religious front, the revolutionary front, the front of Imam - which we call the self front - must recognize the enemy's tricks; to know what the enemy is doing and what it intends to do and what its goal is. Thanks be to God, our active and knowledgeable leaders are doing valuable work and have valuable activities; thus, today the value of these martyrs - whether martyr Beheshti or other martyrs of this incident (may God elevate their status) - is clear to the people.

Regarding the Judiciary, I must say a few words. First of all, I must sincerely thank all the brothers who have worked hard in this Judiciary, who have made efforts and accomplished these great tasks - as mentioned. The work is very hard; especially {P. This refers to the head of the Judiciary. P}

When the strengths of the system are precisely those things that the enemy makes a fuss about! If you observe what the enemies have focused on in their propaganda in recent years regarding the Judiciary and what they have criticized, you will notice that those very things are indeed the strengths of the Judiciary. Wherever the Judiciary has shown decisiveness, the enemy has launched severe radio and newspaper propaganda against it worldwide. Wherever the Judiciary insisted on implementing Islamic rulings and laws, the enemy started its uproar right there. The strengths of the Judiciary are those very things that the enemy focuses on and criticizes. Therefore, it is truly necessary to thank the brave judges and active members of the Judiciary in various sectors.

The purpose of the existence of the Judiciary is for people in society to feel at ease; to know that if someone violates their rights, there is a place that will address it; to know that if the strongest individuals - even the government - overlook someone's rights, or God forbid, trample them, there is a judicial system that courageously and impartially manages the situation and delivers rights to their rightful owners. If you can create this feeling in society, you will be successful. If this sense of assurance arises in society, none of these fabrications and enemy statements will reach anywhere; because people will observe the presence and readiness of the Judiciary in practice and will see the judges' decisiveness and their fearlessness from threats and uproar. Uproar is heavier than threats; because uproar is an actual attack and against the dignity of the judge. If people see that the judge carries on with his work without paying attention to these words, then uproar and slander will also have no effect. If you cannot achieve this main objective, all those criticisms will be valid. To evaluate the Judiciary, you must use this criterion; see how much this sense of trust has been created in the people; the more it has been created, the more successful you are. If it is ninety percent, if it is eighty percent, if it is fifty percent, or if, God willing, one day it reaches one hundred percent, then the Judiciary has succeeded to that extent. These arrangements we are making - from organization and other matters - are a prerequisite for this.

Another point is that our Judiciary is based on Sharia. If it is not based on Sharia, it is wrong; because the system is an Islamic system. Any part of this Judiciary that is not Sharia-compliant, that does not conform to Islamic judicial regulations, that part is neither a source of pride nor a source of reward nor a facilitator. It is Islamic jurisprudence that is facilitative. It is Islamic jurisprudence that can prevent all corruptions. This problem of Western jurisprudence - which the Westerners also adorn and beautify in their promotional films - has shown that it is ineffective. Anyone who is informed can see that that judicial system falters and serves oppression. The judicial system that has the capacity to confront oppression in all circumstances is the Islamic judicial system. Do your utmost to make the judicial system more Islamic. We hope, God willing, that the Almighty God grants you success and that the sacred heart of the Guardian of the Age (may our souls be sacrificed for him) is pleased and satisfied with all of you.

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