Statements in Meeting with Members of the Martyrs' Congress Headquarters of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad and North Khorasan Provinces

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

Thanks be to God, and peace and blessings be upon our master Muhammad and his pure family.

Thanks be to God, our meeting is fragrant with the scent of martyrdom. Brothers from the two provinces of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad and North Khorasan, you have gathered here in the name of the martyrs, in memory of the martyrs, and to serve the martyrs. God willing, may God reward you and sustain your intentions and steadfast resolve, and may He accept your services and efforts, and may the benefits of these valuable cultural services reach our people, who are in great need of them today.

Since the two groups you represent are of the same kind, we have decided to address both groups together; because the mention of the martyrs and the memory of the martyrs is a blessing that will, God willing, be spread among this gathering and this discussion. Although nearly thirty years have passed since the end of the Sacred Defense—28 years—nevertheless, the memory of the martyrs and their names will not fade or be lost. The reason is that the Almighty God has said: "They are alive with their Lord"; they are indeed alive. Just as the martyrs of history are like this; so many great scholars, great personalities, and great politicians have passed away throughout history, and few of them remain in the memories of society, but the martyrs who are recognized as martyrs have their memories alive and will remain alive. Our martyrs are the same. The memory of the martyrs is alive, and we must pursue the preservation of the name and memory of the martyrs as an important matter. Because the martyrs carry glad tidings: "And they rejoice in what has come to them from their Lord, and there is no fear upon them, nor do they grieve." The martyrs tell us not to have fear or sorrow. Do not be disheartened or hopeless. They keep the divine grace, the divine kindness, and the divine blessings before our eyes, and this is what we need today.

Today, the enemy's goal in the soft war and the hidden war is to distance the people from the arena of jihad and resistance, to make the people indifferent to the ideals; that is their goal. The extensive propaganda that they spend billions on is carried out with this aim: to discourage the Iranian nation, which has been able to thwart global powers and great dominations in many of their demands through its resistance and steadfastness, and to remove them from the scene; that is the goal. Even if they exert economic pressure, that is the goal; if they exert political pressure, that is the goal; if they exert security pressure, that is the goal. The idea that we think the enemy wants to start a war and seize a part of the country is an old notion; today, these matters are not on the agenda, and the enemy does not want that. Today, if the enemy hypothetically carries out a military action, it is with that goal; with the aim of seizing the intellectual and spiritual space of the country; if they engage in economic actions, it is with that intention; if they engage in security actions, they are conducting psychological operations, using cyberspace, satellites, radios, and televisions, and employing paid propagandists around the world, all with this goal.

Well, in such circumstances, what can keep the nation standing and create enthusiasm and vitality in them is the memory of the martyrs; that is, among the important factors, the memory of the martyrs is crucial; hence, the issue of commemorating the martyrs and the great congresses held for the martyrs is very important; these are very valuable.

The reports you provided; whether from the brothers who spoke about actions in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad or those who spoke about actions in North Khorasan, these actions are good. Of course, not all of these actions are of equal weight; some actions are good, some are better, some have deeper impacts, and some do not; but in any case, safeguarding the memory of the martyrs is a duty today.

There are several fundamental points here that must be considered. One is that in narrating the biographies of the martyrs, we should strive to explain their characteristics and lifestyle and how they lived; this is important. The excitement of war and going to the battlefield is one matter, which is valuable, as it is something that people risk their lives to go and fight; however, the spirits, the characteristics of life, the intellectual and ideological background of the individual is another matter, which is very important. The martyr you get excited about in memory of his sacrifice and martyrdom in the battlefield, how did he conduct himself in family life, how did he act in ordinary life; these are very important; or regarding the issues that are important to us today, how did they act?

For instance, suppose today we show sensitivity regarding extravagance, regarding encroachment and violation of public assets, regarding elitism; these are issues that are very important for the concerned segments of our society today; these are pressing issues; how were our dear martyrs when they were alive and living in their cities, in their families, regarding these matters?

A television program aired a few days ago about some martyrs that I happened to see for a few minutes; what was said about those martyrs, or what was written in their wills, truly astonishes one with the greatness of the spirit of these martyrs. One of them said, "I studied, and I fear that this studying of mine—which has incurred expenses—has been a burden on public assets, and this will be on my conscience; when I become a martyr, sell my motorcycle and give the money to public assets instead!" These are lessons; these are lessons.

What was the ordinary life of the martyrs like? Suppose we consider their marriages; in the memoirs of the martyrs, which are the biographies of the martyrs—now to the extent that I have seen and read and looked at—marriage is discussed in several instances; how they married, their behavior in choosing a spouse—what kind of spouse they were looking for—then the marriage ceremony, and their behavior with families; all these are peaks of Islamic ethics. Today we are in need; we need these things today. Today, our youth think about marriage and choosing a spouse in a certain way; how should they think? That model should be kept before them; these martyrs are models. Sometimes some complain to us that we do not show models to our youth; well, there are thousands of models; 3,000 models in this province, 1,800 models in that province, and thousands of models in various provinces; highlight these; keep their radiant images right before the eyes of the youth. Of course, I have no objection to albums like this, but this is not their main task; expressing what they did in their lives, how they acted, how they behaved, how they spent, how they viewed their duties, this is one of the very important issues that can create modeling.

Our artists should come to the field, the art of writing, the art of textual and book illustration, these are very important. They should not just pursue films; films are good, films are very necessary, I have emphasized this many times and recommended it, and I still recommend it, but this emphasis on films should not distract us from books. If those who are skilled in writing, those who are good at penmanship, those who have a talent in these meanings, sit down to illustrate, to produce short books that the youth can read, they should create these books; there is no need to exaggerate, there is no need to say anything contrary to reality, just express what is there accurately, beautifully, and eloquently; this will attract hearts; it will influence people.

Therefore, this is one point that we should illustrate the lives of the martyrs, the lifestyle of the martyrs, for our youth, for our future generations, to show them what was and what happened. Because the imposed war, which was actually the Sacred Defense, was not a small matter; even after many years, we have not been able to properly explain the important dimensions of this war to our audiences; it was an international war, a war against Islam, against the sovereignty of Islam, against Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified); it was a war like this. Now, the tip of the spear was that unfortunate, foolish Ba'athist Saddam, but behind him, his backers were others; those who helped him, those who guided him, those who provided him with the means of action; if at any time he might have weakened, they would strengthen him so that he would not weaken; we were faced with such a war. Who were those who managed to save the country from such a calamity? This is important for our youth today. Who were those who managed to save the country and go into the midst of the battlefield? This is important. Therefore, this is one point that the behavioral analysis of these youths should be clear to today's audiences.

Another issue is the ideals of these martyrs. Well, what were the ideals of the youth? With what lofty goals did those who went to fight go to war? Was the issue merely a territorial and border war, and like this, that an enemy has encroached upon our borders and we want to push the enemy back? Was it only this? What were the ideals of the parents? This father and mother who raised this youth, who would not allow a thorn to go into the foot of this youth, who would not allow this youth to get even a slight illness, sends this youth toward the front, while they are not very sure he will return; this is very important. With what ideals did these parents send their youth? These are important; pay attention to these; many try to keep these hidden. Their ideal was Islam, their ideal was God, their ideal was a religious and Islamic government; this was what drew this youth to the front. Anyone who does not believe should look at the wills; that Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) used to recommend that after fifty years of worship, may God accept it, go read these wills once; this is because these wills show why this youth came; what attraction, what magnetism moved him; to pass over youthful desires, to pass over his studies, to pass over his university, to pass over the comfortable environment of life beside his parents, to come to the cold of the west or the heat of Khuzestan, to fight the enemy and risk his life. Fighting the enemy may seem easy from a distance; until someone goes there, hears the sounds of cannon, gunfire, and explosions, they do not truly understand what is happening. This youth rises and goes there, risks his life, passes through dangers, for what? This is reflected in the wills; for God, for the Imam, for hijab. You see how much is recommended about hijab in the wills of the martyrs; well, hijab is a religious command; this ideal of the martyrs should not be forgotten. It should not be thought that "it was just a war like the wars that others are having in the world; after all, every country has an enemy, sometimes a war occurs, youths go to the front and fight; they are killed or return alive or are injured; they are just like them"; this was not the case; the matter was a matter of religion, a matter of divine ideals, a matter of the sovereignty of Islam, a matter of revolution, it was a revolutionary Islam that drew them.

The parents were the same; if it were not for the sake of God, if it were not in hope of divine grace and favor, how could they allow their youth to go to the battlefield; and then endure. I have often told the families of martyrs, to the parents, that it was your patience that caused this movement, this flame of resistance and struggle in the path of truth not to extinguish and not to perish; it was the patience of the parents; otherwise, if the parents, when their youth went and became martyrs, cried and lamented and complained and quarreled, the next family would not send their youth. It was these families of martyrs, it was these spirits [that preserved the revolution]; the spirit of self-sacrifice, of passing.

I may have told this memory many times—of course, there are many memories, hundreds of them, perhaps many more than this—when I went to one of the cities during my presidency. After I spoke and was about to leave, people gathered around us and expressed their affection, and as I was going toward the car to get in, I heard a woman from behind in the middle of the crowd calling out my name repeatedly. I understood she had something important; I stopped. I said, let this lady come forward to see what she needs that she is calling out like this in this crowd. She came forward and said, "My son was captured—if I remember correctly, she said he was my only son; I think she said that— a few days ago I found out that he was martyred in the prison camp; tell the Imam that—perhaps in this expression, now I do not remember the details, of course, I have noted it down, I have said it many times—may your head be sacrificed; and if I have another son, I will send him too." This was a message from a mother of a martyr. See this spirit! I came and told the Imam about this, and he was moved to tears; hearing this word and this feeling brought tears to the Imam's eyes. For whom was this spirit, for what? Except for God, one cannot observe such things, that a mother of two martyrs herself buries her children and does not cry! Or wants her relatives not to cry, saying, "I have given my children in the way of God," and is happy; this is the ideal.

Therefore, let us not forget that the ideals of the martyrs, which were God and Islam and the revolutionary Islam and the sovereignty of religion, should not be forgotten, and let us not normalize the issue; or say it was like the other wars that occurred; well, some were killed, some were [injured or captured]; in all wars, ultimately some youths are killed! This was not the case. This is another point.

Another point—thankfully I saw in the speeches of the gentlemen that they are paying attention to this—is that take advantage of the remaining opportunity to talk with the parents. Many parents have passed away, and this opportunity has been taken from us and you to see the origins of this youth. When parents speak, it shows that this youth has grown up in such an environment; this is very important. From the social position, from the social class, from various inclinations, it should be made clear in what environment he was raised; in addition to that, it can clarify details of the martyr's life for us. This is another benefit; do not miss this; understand the parents. And finally, now nearly thirty years have passed since the end of the war, many parents have passed away, some others are on the verge of decline and extinction; you have little time. Consider this one of the priorities and go first to the parents who are still alive and the spouses of the martyrs—those who had spouses—or the brothers and sisters; those who have brothers and sisters. Ask them about the martyr, about the character of the martyr, about the spirit of the martyr, and provide these to the younger generation.

In these congresses and gatherings, really good works are being done. Some of these works are eye-catching, which is good; eye-catching works are necessary. The blessed names of the martyrs, their photos, their images, some of their words in some streets or passages that one moves through, are eye-catching and necessary; but more importantly, the substantive issues. Efforts should be made to strengthen the substantive, educational, and guiding aspects of these memorials. Every memorial you create has a fundamental impact on a large gathering. We do not say that it will affect everyone; after all, individuals are different, and their impacts are varied; but at least in a gathering, in a collection, it will have effects; the situation of the war and the front should be depicted through their words. A youth today, a teenager today, should know that when we say the Sacred Defense, what this Sacred Defense was; this should be expressed through their words; just as some of the books that have been written, of which I have also made notes alongside some of them, are very good in that they show the details that existed there, the innovations, the sacrifices, the estrangements, the passings, the bravery and courage that individuals displayed during operations and before operations, the actions they took during those difficult moments, these are well depicted in some of these writings; these should also be explained to the younger generation.

God willing, may God grant you all success. And we hope that God will also grant us the grace to truly understand the rank and status of the martyrs. And may our society, God willing, become a society of martyrs; if this happens, God willing, the world and the hereafter will be secured for our country, our people, and our society.

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