Statements at the Meeting with Organizers of the First National Congress Commemorating Four Thousand Martyrs of Golestan Province

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

Dear brothers and sisters who are present here! Welcome. I thank Mr. Nourmofidi and also the other brothers involved for establishing this great work and this lasting movement regarding the dear martyrs of that region and for taking action.

The issue of martyrs is a very important matter, and we still have not truly assessed the significance of the work that our youth have done during this long period after the victory of the revolution until today, especially during the Sacred Defense; that is, we have not yet recognized the true weight of this work in protecting the revolution, the system, the country, national dignity, and our future and history, and perhaps we have not expressed or demonstrated it either. Therefore, the work you are doing is very valuable in this direction and on this path.

Well, the statements of Mr. Nourmofidi were comprehensive, and he expressed completely good and correct points regarding the issues of the revolution, and the statements of the gentlemen were similar. Although some of the points mentioned were related to the government and such matters, they were nonetheless about an important region, which is Golestan.

Let me say a few words about the merits of Golestan. Golestan is a region that, due to various reasons, is truly one of the distinguished areas in terms of human resources and population. Firstly, one point that Mr. Nourmofidi emphasized, which is very important, is that the people present a desirable and effective coexistence among ethnicities and religions—in Gorgan, in the Golestan region, and in Turkmen Sahra—which is very important. Today, the money spent to create discord among Islamic sects and between Sunnis and Shiites, and what the think tanks—who sit and think, design, and plan—are doing, if explained to the people, they would truly be astonished at how much effort is being made to ensure that two Muslims, one Sunni and one Shiite, do not sit next to each other, do not talk to each other, are at odds with each other, are enemies, and take up arms against each other. Despite all this, in Islamic Iran, exactly the opposite of what they wanted has occurred, and one of the best regions in this regard is Golestan, where I have been since before the revolution, and I have visited Gonbad Kavous, Gorgan, and some other cities like Galikesh, and I know how much the people there have been diligent and active in preserving this coexistence, cooperation, and mutual love. This is very valuable; it must be preserved and maintained. A few years ago, during a trip I made to Gorgan, I spent a day or half a day—I do not remember how long—I went to Gonbad. The people in Gonbad who expressed their affection for us were predominantly Sunni brothers. Well, this is exactly the opposite of what the Saudis and the Takfiris, and behind them the United States and the CIA and intelligence services, are working on; this is exactly the opposite; that is, political work in the true sense of the word is purposeful, directed, correct, incisive, and decisive. This is one of the merits of the Golestan region, which I believe is very important.

Recently—just a few months ago—I received a letter from the family of that Turkmen lady who was martyred in the events of Mina. Her family wrote to me that she had gone to Mecca and had interceded for someone on my behalf who had gone for pilgrimage—either this trip or a previous one—this is very important. A Turkmen lady, without me knowing her or knowing her name, rises on behalf of me, goes on pilgrimage to Mecca, and then intercedes for this—she was martyred, wrote and signed, and sent it to us a few months ago—these are the things that are the true strengths of our country and our nation. This asymmetrical war that is spoken of means that one side has tools and resources that the other side does not have and sometimes does not even recognize; one example of this is exactly this. These affections, these connections, these harmonies are things that our opponent—the global arrogance, Zionism, America—does not know and cannot even analyze; they are not even analyzable for them. This is one point.

Another point is the loyalty of these people to the revolution and the issues of the revolution. I came to Gorgan in 1964; I used to give sermons there. About a year after the events of Khordad 15, during the second or third decade of Safar, the gathering and movement that the people made and the reception they showed were astonishing to me; it demonstrated the awakening and interest of the people in this movement; at that time, there was not much news yet, and the struggle had not yet become widespread and all-encompassing.

Then there were the events of the revolution. The issue of the fifth of Azar—which the gentlemen referred to—is an important day in the events of Gorgan. The people in Gorgan heard about the attack on Imam Reza's shrine in Mashhad and spontaneously took action; no one invited them, nor did anyone host them; they came to the square, and they were attacked. A week or two later, this incident also occurred in Gonbad Kavous, and it happened in Galikesh as well; that is, the people came to the square. Or at the beginning of the revolution, in the movement that occurred there due to the Marxists—that massacre and that separatism—the main thing that was able to save Gorgan or that region or Turkmen Sahra was the steadfastness of the people. Because those who had come there had settled in and had recruited some soldiers from there, they did not have popular support. When a group does not have popular support, it is quickly defeated. The people were with this side; the people were with the revolution; the people supported Imam. In any case, thanks be to God, the merits of the people are many.

During the Sacred Defense, both the army—the 30th division that was mentioned—and the 25th division of the IRGC in the Golestan region and Gorgan truly shone and accomplished great works, some of which he referred to. One day, Mr. Nourmofidi was also there when I went to the center, and a group of friends from Gorgan had come there; I think the late Mr. Taheri was also there; may God, God willing, have mercy on him and elevate his ranks; he also played a significant role. In any case, their presence in the battlefield and the activities they carried out were extraordinary activities. Now, regarding the people of Gorgan, whatever we say in this regard is not enough; I send my greetings from here to each and every one of our dear people, both Shiite and Sunni, and especially to the scholars of the region from both Shiite and Sunni; this effort should be made by Mr. Nourmofidi on our behalf to convey my greetings to all the scholars there and to all the active officials there and also to all the people; I truly feel affection, trust, and sincerity towards the people of Gorgan.

As we mentioned, the issue of martyrs must be taken very seriously. We must regard the martyrs with the same values that God the Almighty regards them with, as He said: "They fight in the way of God, and they kill and are killed; a promise from Him that is true in the Torah, the Gospel, and the Quran." Those who strive in the way of God and put their lives in their hands, both their killing of the enemy and their being killed have value; before God the Almighty, there is a divine promise of mercy for them. Now, the one who loses his life in this way, we have in the narrations that as soon as he leaves this world, he sees the signs of divine mercy; that is, in the narrations, it is said that as soon as the martyr falls from his horse—at that time they fought on horseback—he has not yet reached the ground, and he receives the divine promise; that is, even in this world, his eyes are opened, and he sees the truth and perceives divine mercy and divine grace in a tangible way; this is the value of the martyrs. If it were not for these martyrdoms, if it were not for these sacrifices, this system would not remain; this sapling was under attack from fierce storms. The reason this system remained and this sapling did not perish and, thanks be to God, turned into this mighty tree is due to the sacrifices, selflessness, and martyrdom-seeking and entering the battlefield; this must be preserved. The enemy must be recognized; the enemy's plots must be recognized.

Today, you observe in global affairs, where global arrogance has a fundamental plan for this region, the central point is Iran; why? Because of the Islamic revolution, because of this believing nation, because of the Islamic faith that exists here. We are the target of many attacks; fortunately, God the Almighty has given us power and capability; we have both human resources and a blessed country; we have a large country, a large population, a talented, insightful, and active young generation; these are our capabilities; these are not insignificant resources; they are very significant resources; these must be utilized. And primarily, the audience of these words are the officials; and then the general public; everyone must feel that in the face of this great event that occurred—that the flag of Islam was raised—they have a duty; this is not a small matter. In a time when all hands, policies, and powers were trying to isolate religion, especially Islam, at that time, the liveliest of religions, namely dear Islam, and the most eloquent divine texts, namely the Holy Quran, were able to rise in a country and take hold of the expanse of the country and, in addition to this, break geographical boundaries and enter various regions of the world; this is a very strange and important event. The enemy saw this event and felt threatened, and from the very first day, they began to work and strive against the Islamic system, and until today, thanks be to God, they have not been able to, and after this, certainly, by God's grace, they will not be able to [do anything]; however, the condition is that all of us must feel a sense of responsibility; that is, we all must feel a sense of responsibility and each of us, wherever we are, must truly make the primary and main duty of defending the Islamic system our priority and align our actions with this. Your work, which revives the names of the martyrs and elevates their names and commemorates them, is certainly in this direction and effective in this path, and God willing, it will be a continuous charity and a lasting good deed, and God the Almighty will reward you with goodness, God willing.

Try to convey these publications and these products of your work to the minds of the audience. That is, we should not just be content with the fact that we have produced a book; undoubtedly, producing a book is important, or producing a film and artistic production is important; however, alongside this, finding an audience or, in a sense, producing an audience is also important. Try to ensure that the book reaches the minds of the audience. Today, our youth need intellectual nourishment. Many of our youth today, even our active and good youth, have neither understood the revolution, nor Imam, nor the era of war, nor are they aware of these various issues. Now, you mentioned the fifth of Azar; well, the youth of Gorgan know what happened on the fifth of Azar? This is very important. They should know what happened on the fifth of Azar that has been recorded in history; that is important. It is very important for the youth to know their history, their past, and in fact, their revolutionary identity. This must be done as much as possible. This also requires work; that is, it is not a simple task. More difficult than writing a book is getting the book into the eyes and minds of the audience; this is very important. This requires art, precision, and subtleties that must be able to be introduced into their minds.

The issue of Sunni and Shiite that was raised—both he mentioned, and I have mentioned—is a very important issue; Shiite and Sunni youth should know how important this is. Today, the enemies are using these differences, these grievances that sometimes arise—either from this side or that side. Groups like ISIS and the Takfiris are using these things; we must prevent their exploitation. This cannot happen unless the Shiite youth and the Sunni youth know that the work they are doing now, this coordination and coexistence and dialogue and empathy that exists between them, is a very significant thing; this is the greatest weapon against the enemy of Iran, the enemy of Islam, and the enemy of the Quran. They must know this and preserve it. These must be conveyed and reflected in a tangible way to the minds of our young audience.

God willing, may God grant you success. May God, God willing, elevate the ranks of your predecessors and the great scholars of Golestan—whom we were closely acquainted with and visited—may God, God willing, increase the successes of the friends who are present now—Mr. Nourmofidi, you, and the other brothers who are active—day by day, and may you be able to take firm and steady steps in this path, God willing.

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