Meeting with the People of Lorestan and Khuzestan Accompanied by a Group of National Officials

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

First, I extend a warm welcome to all you dear brothers and sisters who have gathered here from various cities and institutions, especially to the patient and resilient people of Abadan, the brave and courageous people of Lorestan, the faithful and fighting people of Lahijan, and the rest of the dear ones who have come from afar.

I will briefly mention a few points regarding the duties that these various institutions have, whose members have gathered here, and then I will present a brief main point.

Brothers and sisters of the Literacy Movement should know that they are engaged in jihad. Going to remote cities and villages, knocking on doors, holding classes in mosques, and imparting knowledge and literacy—one of the most valuable gifts—without expecting praise or thanks, is a jihad. Illiteracy is a stain of shame for all human societies; however, for a revolutionary Muslim society, in this difficult era when the great powers exploit the ignorance of the people, it is even more shameful. I do not intend to insult the illiterate, but illiteracy is truly a stain of shame. Both the illiterate and the literate alongside them should strive to wash away this stain.

This movement that began this summer, which you dear ones of the Literacy Movement, with the leadership of our esteemed government and president, have undertaken and made progress, was very valuable; but do not let it remain unfinished. Do not stop halfway; go to the end.

When there was no news of science, literacy, and education in the world, our Islam and Quran began with 'Iqra' (Read) and swore by the pen and writing, and freed a war captive in exchange for teaching a few words. This belongs to fourteen centuries ago. The same actions of Islam and our noble Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) led the illiterate Arab society ('illiterate' meaning unlettered; 'He is the one who sent among the unlettered') to become the holder of the greatest universities and the greatest scholars like Farabi, Avicenna, Muhammad ibn Zakariya, and Abu Rayhan, and others, at a time when today's Europe had no knowledge or science. In the early days of Islam, the fight against illiteracy and the encouragement of knowledge and science advanced the Islamic society seven or eight centuries ahead of all the civilized world of that time. Of course, later we regressed, Muslims became lazy, and our situation reached this point; but now we can start again. The revolution happened again, Islam came to power again, and now illiteracy has no meaning.

A word about the police. People should appreciate the police. The police of the Islamic Republic are the trusted institution of the people. Today, the same Islamic inspector you have heard about in various cases, who performed outstanding tasks, is almost identical to this police. The police are those to whom people turn for help in their daily needs and incidents. This police should be appreciated. The police themselves should also appreciate this name and position.

Yes, I agree that during the time of Reza Khan and Mohammad Reza, the police, like the rest of the nation's institutions, were ruined. A police force whose chief was the executor of all the sinister views of Reza Khan and the malicious coup government in the first and second periods, obviously would not find a field for virtues. It was like that then, but it passed and ended.

Today's police and gendarmerie, thanks be to God, have transformed, and everything about them—not just their appearances—has changed significantly compared to the past; however, each officer, non-commissioned officer, and policeman, from top to bottom, should strive with the help of the esteemed ideological and political gentlemen to elevate the police to the level of a complete Islamic police—that is, the refuge of the people—so that if someone extends a hand or opens a mouth or gives a threatening look, they say, 'I will go and tell the police.' That is, people should feel that the place where the police are stationed is their refuge. When they go there, they should return at ease, feeling that their issue has been resolved. This is the meaning of the police.

A word to the brothers responsible for holding the Assembly of Experts elections from the Guardian Council or the Ministry of Interior. All elections are important, but this election is the most important. I have spoken about this election, and if necessary, and until the day of the election, if there is a need and occasion, I will speak again. Now I tell you responsible brothers, both the observers and the executive board, to be careful that your work does not deviate a hair's breadth from the legal criteria. Set aside personal opinions and preferences. The idea that someone, due to their understanding of religion, revolution, Islam, leadership, and the nation, strengthens one person, rejects another, weakens one, pushes one forward a little, pulls another back a little, is against the rules. Apart from the law that has been approved and given to you to act upon, anything you consider a criterion, know that it is not a criterion or rule. The rule is what is in your hands. Act precisely according to this rule, without regard for love and hatred, without regard for lines and directions, and without regard for political aspects.

I have repeatedly stated that religion, Islam, and the revolution are what have been approved in the form of laws by the Islamic Consultative Assembly and have passed the approval of the esteemed elders and jurists of the Guardian Council, or some centers like the Expediency Discernment Council, and so on. The revolution means the laws that have emerged from these places. If the revolution is not embodied and manifested in the form of articles, laws, regulations, and rules, it will become an imaginary and unregulated thing that anyone can interpret as they wish. It is not like that. Religion, Sharia, and Islam are what the Islamic principles have legislated and given to you.

Of course, this statement pertains to the general public; however, there are cases where, for example, a law is presented to a judge that is against Sharia and has remained from the past and has not been altered. This judge, who is also a scholar and jurist, sees that this law is against Sharia. In this case, he must act contrary to that law. Such cases are exceptional. What is available to the general public and even the elite and is the criterion for action in public, common, and comprehensive matters is what has been approved. You must act according to this. Let the enemies and ill-wishers not be able to say the slightest word about an election of such importance and greatness.

There is a hadith that says, 'May God have mercy on the person who performs a task firmly and accurately.' The correctness of work for a tailor, a shoemaker, a blacksmith, and an artisan is one way; for someone who acts according to law and administrative rules, it is another way. In any case, both are firmness.

And now the main point. These days are the days of the breaking of the siege of Abadan. It was a strange event. Those days when the enemy was crossing the Karun and preparing the siege of Abadan were strange days. At that time, I was often in Ahvaz. It was a gloomy atmosphere; the abundance of problems, incorrect and incomplete command, the defenselessness of the faithful and sincere forces, equipment at the minimum necessary, no ammunition, no weapons. The enemy took advantage of this situation. From the other side, when they could not capture Abadan despite all the pressure and saw that it was not capturable, they were forced to bypass, come from this side, cross the Karun, and besiege Abadan from a considerable distance.

During these several months when Abadan was first besieged from two directions, then from three directions, and then almost from four directions, and there was no land route towards Abadan, and they had to go through the water and reach themselves with difficulty, events occurred. So many faithful young people, sincere fighters, and self-sacrificing individuals risked or sacrificed their lives to push the enemy back a foot or prevent them from advancing, that truly recording and containing them was not an easy task. I do not know if these things are recorded in writings and books or at least in hearts to be available to history one day or not? And I wish they were and would be.

Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) said: The siege of Abadan must be broken. Following this command, efforts were made to break the siege of Abadan. The siege of Abadan was broken through a great sacrifice, and the words of the Imam were realized. There were those in the world who thought from afar that the issue of the war would be resolved with the loss of Abadan, and the issue of the Islamic Republic would also be resolved! An Islamic Republic that cannot hold its Abadan—meaning the industrial city and the eye and light of that region of the country—what kind of government and state is it?! It was clear that if Abadan went, the spirits would also go with this city, and Ahvaz would no longer be defensible.

At that time, the enemy was ten or twelve kilometers from Ahvaz, and their 60mm mortars were landing in this city. That is, the enemy was advancing to the extent that Ahvaz was within the range of their 60mm mortars, and they were hitting, and nothing remained. Imam (may his soul be sanctified) found that main point and said that the siege of Abadan must be broken, and it was broken. These days are the anniversary of those glorious days.

How was the siege of Abadan broken? My point is this. The Iranian nation, the fighters, the free ones, the dear families of the martyrs, our dear disabled veterans—who are the apple of our eyes—and those who participated in that event, should return to themselves and ask themselves, what caused the siege of Abadan to be broken? We had not been able to prevent the enemy from building a bridge over the river and coming. For a military force, building a bridge over a river is a very difficult task. Preventing it was much easier than breaking that heavy siege. How did we manage to accomplish this great task? This factor is the main factor. This factor is the same factor that will solve all the problems of the Islamic Republic. This factor is the same factor that has come to the aid of the people in all the various battlefronts of our oppressed system to this day. What is this factor?

This factor is something composed of two or three elements: First, reliance on God and plunging into the sea with hope in Him. Second, self-sacrifice and not considering one's life, comfort, and interests. Right now, among our distinguished and renowned fighters—whose blessed lives, thanks be to God, remain—I see those who, in those days, went to confront the enemy under what conditions. I do not forget those hours and moments when they would plead with anyone they thought might help them to obtain a small weapon. They would go to the battlefield for days, weeks, and months, enduring the heat and cold in these gaps, holes, and trenches, to be able to strike the enemy. Of course, it was clear that the first thing at risk was their own lives. That place was not where one could think of one's life; it was not important to them.

The day that bloody battle occurred around the island of Abadan, and our young fighters, from the army, the guards, and the Basij, fell into the Bahmanshir like falling stars and were martyred, but did not retreat, and went on until they destroyed the enemy and smashed its head against the rock, captured the island of Abadan, broke the siege, and pushed the enemy back, what was not a concern for these young people, these fighters, these Basijis, these officers, and these guards was their lives.

This is how great goals are achieved. This is how the evil of global arrogance is reduced. This is how a nation provides a comfortable and honorable life for itself. It may be a comfortable and good life, but it is not comparable to the comfortable life of captive nations. Is comfort in a prison and cell, where they close the door on you, bring your lunch at noon, prepare your dinner at night, and make you do forced labor like many prisons, comparable to the comfort you have in your own home, even if you have a little more trouble? Some countries are like a prison for global arrogance and the world's bullies and thugs.

You, the Iranian nation, are free today, and no foreign or enemy policy in the world governs you, and you make your own decisions. People are elected from among you and make decisions in the parliament. This Islamic Consultative Assembly of yours, with such representatives and such a composition, is truly a source of pride for any country and nation. These government officials, this president, these other officials who are there, all belong to the people, all are from the people, all are experienced and knowledgeable about pain, and all are free, independent, and proud. No thought other than the thought of the nation is important to them. Is this an easy thing to have achieved?

A comfortable and prosperous life, solving problems, achieving self-sufficiency, igniting industry and agriculture, work, innovation, and creativity throughout the country, reviving dead lands, reviving dead talents, reviving dead resources and mines, and spending them on development and a good life for the people, depend on the same steadfastness and the same self-sacrifice. This is the second element.

Another element that existed was the unity of the people's word. On that day in the Abadan front, no one asked anyone what side you are on, who you are against, which line you are, which connection you are. Thanks be to God, in that era, there were no unnecessary political rivalries and divisions that are sometimes observed here and there and are often due to idleness. Those who caused the division of the people had left and were no longer among the people. The nation, the fighters, the military forces, and at their head and forefront, our great leader and Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified), completed the work with utmost interest.

Now the issue is the same. In all problems, the same reliance on God, unity of word, self-sacrifice, and prioritizing the interests of the country, nation, and revolution over personal, group, and factional interests, and also rejecting cronyism, is the factor that opens all knots. This path was taught to us by the Imam. This path was followed by the fighters by acting on the recommendation of our great Imam, and they succeeded. We must now follow the same path.

Know that if the Iranian nation maintains their reliance on God, their respect for Islamic values, their obedience to the officials, and their unity of word, I do not know of any material power that can confront the Iranian nation with these characteristics and succeed; rather, the Iranian nation will prevail over all of them.

We hope that Almighty God grants all of you success, shows us the way, helps us in traversing that path, pleases the pure souls of the dear martyrs with us, satisfies the holy spirit of our dear Imam with us, and includes us in the satisfaction of the Guardian of the Age, Imam Mahdi (may God hasten his reappearance).

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings