Statements of the Supreme Leader in the Gathering of the People of Urmia at Takhti Stadium

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

Thanks be to God, the Lord of the worlds. Peace and blessings be upon our Master and Prophet, Abu al-Qasim Muhammad, and upon his pure, immaculate, chosen, guiding family, especially the remainder of God on earth.

I thank Almighty God that, just as after the imposed war, at the first opportunity, I came to this martyr-nurturing province to meet you dear people, and I had the success of meeting you dear ones, now once again I have the success to meet you in this historic, proud, and devoted province.

First, I must thank you, the people of Urmia, and other cities who made the effort and came from far and near for this warm and affectionate reception ceremony. As I observed in the streets of the city, if some brothers or sisters experienced discomfort and physical pressure due to the crowd, I apologize to them. May God bestow His grace and mercy upon all you faithful, sincere, and devoted people.

I would like to take a brief look at the past, present, and future of this province. Regarding the people of this province, what I can say is that the people of West Azerbaijan, which is known today in our national divisions as West Azerbaijan, have given very good tests in various events from the Constitutional Revolution to today. The last test was during the imposed war, where this province, with its great martyrs, warriors, commanders, and its honorable and proud martyr Bakri, and its supportive and brave men and women, gave the best of tests. Even before the imposed war, when there was no news of war and conflict in most provinces of the country, this province was engaged in fighting against counter-revolutionaries and agitators. There too, the people of this province gave a good test. Both the Turkish and Kurdish people were able to take the best stance against agitators and counter-revolutionaries.

If someone reads and studies the history close to our time, they will see that once again, the proud people of this province, during the foreign powers' invasion of this country, during World War I, gave the best of tests. The experience this province went through during the middle of World War I is one of the events that has no precedent in other parts of Iran.

You young people, especially, should pay attention to this point, and it should be included in the writings of historians and reporters of Iranian issues, which unfortunately is very faint or absent. The point is that during World War I, representatives of two or three Christian countries of the world had a weak presence around here. Representatives of the Russians, the British, and the Americans were also present in this province. Under what name? As teachers, as doctors, and the like. Pay close attention! Although these countries were in severe opposition and enmity with each other in various policies, suddenly in this part of the world, they thought of helping each other to create a colonial base centered in this region of Urmia, Khoy, and Maku. Similar to what later happened in occupied Palestine, but there under the name of Judaism, here under the name of Christianity!

The people of this province lived for many years alongside some of our Christian compatriots; they live today, and they will live in the future—like brothers and relatives—with no problems at all, neither then, nor today, nor in the future. That is, in this province, some of our Iranian compatriots, Assyrians, Armenians, Catholic and Protestant Christians, are present; they were there that day too. Muslims behaved friendly with them, and they behaved brotherly and friendly with Muslims. There was no problem between them. But the instructive point is that representatives of foreign and colonial countries, seeing that there were some Christians in this province, coveted that perhaps they could, with religious and sectarian provocations, create a base of Christianity in this part of Iran and separate this part from Iran.

One of the difficult tests for this province—meaning for Urmia, Salmas, Khoy, Maku, and other cities of this region—arose. It was during that period of time and history that representatives of the American government, the Tsarist Russian government, and the British government designed a joint conspiracy in this area and created a strange sedition. Thousands of Muslims and Christians were killed in this sedition, right here in Urmia and Salmas and other places. When I remember what happened to this province and these cities during that period, my heart becomes agitated. They did such things that a historian writes: 'Around Salmas, no settlement remained. Thousands were killed in Urmia. They did such things to the people of this region that when the invading Ottomans entered Iran's borders and entered Urmia and Khoy, the people welcomed them!' Of course, they themselves, after coming, committed many injustices and oppressions until they were driven out. But see what the Europeans and Americans, under legitimate names—under the name of helping the people, under the name of doctors and hospitals and schools and the like—did to the people that day, that the people welcomed the invading Ottomans with open arms!

But the people of this region, despite seeing many hardships and despite the provocations of the enemies, were able to first, with courage and resistance, drive out the enemies, and secondly—and even more importantly—restore the past brotherhood among themselves. Muslim groups united with each other and did not fall under the influence of enemy provocations, and did not start a Shia-Sunni war, a Turk-Kurd war, a Muslim-Christian war. This shows the growth of the people of this province. I have always admired this growth of the people of the province in my heart. This is one of the backgrounds of the people of this province.

After the revolution, you witnessed and saw that the ones who stood and resisted against the enemy's conspiracy were the people themselves. The mobilization of the people, the faithful youth of the people, stood and fought against the sedition and division and provocations and separatism and various malice of foreigners, which were carried out by provoking a number of ignorant people. This is the greatness and spiritual growth of the people, and this is very valuable and precious. Naturally, this province is also one of the blessed provinces of our vast and dear country.

Almighty God has placed many facilities in this province for the use of the people and the revival of the people's creative power. Fertile soil, abundant water, adequate and suitable rainfall, forests, this very blessed and valuable lake, underground mines of copper, gold, and other mines that exist in this province. People with growth and culture and ready land. There should be no poverty and unemployment in this province. Why is there? Because in the past—before the revolution—this province was greatly oppressed and wronged. When I looked at the statistics, I saw that the number of graduates and undergraduate students in this province before the revolution was a very small number. Today, by the grace of God, it is more than ten or fifteen times that. The great oppression of that day to these people was this. The youth of this province did not have the opportunity to study. The craftsman, with his skilled and talented fingers, did not have the opportunity for industrial work. The farmer who produced fruit or grains did not have the opportunity for optimal utilization of this product.

After the revolution, many works have been done in this province. When I saw the statistics, I thanked God that the serving government, in the years after the revolution, has been able to do many works in various sectors. However, what has been done is less than the works that must be done after this.

Our country is a country where there are many work opportunities. When we look at all the provinces, there are features that are sometimes specific to that particular province. Your province also has these features. The large number of young people and adolescents in this province is a point of strength. These are the ones who can provide the workforce for the future, both for this province and for the country, for cultural, economic, constructive, spiritual, and material works. The young force is a valuable force.

We thank God that the government officials and the serving government are seriously engaged in construction. Today, wherever you look in the country, the effects of construction are visible. Both the reconstruction of the war's destruction and, beyond that, the construction concerning the shortcomings and destructions and demolitions of the pre-revolution period; that is, the period of the tyrannical government. Construction has also started in this province, and many works have been done. But the people must strive, and the government officials must help so that this prosperous province, this talented province, this province that has hardworking and talented people, can become an exemplary province. In the reports that have been given, I looked and concluded that in this province, unemployment is a problem. The prevalence of smuggling is a big problem. Some have taken the path of smuggling, which is a very unhealthy path; they oppress both the people and the province. They lead domestic production to failure. Instead of turning to production and making their country and city and province prosperous, they engage in unhealthy and illegal activities that certainly have no effect other than corruption for the people; although it brings them windfall money! This is also a big problem. The cultural problem also exists, more or less, in this province.

My dear ones! The enemies wish to capture the minds and thoughts and spirits of the youth—which have created miracles during these seventeen years of the revolution—through the poisonous and dangerous waves of television and radio. The youth must be vigilant. The youth must know that what comes from beyond the borders, by those who have no interest in the fate of this nation, must be approached with caution. One cannot unconditionally accept everything that is sent from beyond the borders—whether it is cultural goods or promotional and cultural waves. The enemy is lurking; especially lurking for the youth. Look at these advertisements they make! Not a word is said in the direction of the growth and progress of the people's thoughts. The enemy's propaganda is in the direction of destruction and corruption. It is in the direction of delaying the work and thought and body of the youth. It must be approached with caution.

When we talk about the waves sent by the enemies, let's talk about the bad habits that are among us too:

I am committed to reminding wherever I feel there is neglect or injustice towards women. This is one of the points that Islam pays a lot of attention to. As I have heard, in some parts of this province, especially in Kurdish areas, there is insult and disrespect towards women in the husband's house and in the living environment. Sometimes even their inheritance—which is their right—is not given! That is, even relatives oppress women and ignore their rights! The will and desire of women in matters related to marriage are ignored. All these are against Islam. In Islam, from inside the house to the business environment, from the living and social environment to the level of the country and to the level of the world, justice is discussed everywhere.

A sentence about this province, about this coexistence that exists among the brothers and sisters of different ethnicities, which is very admirable and praiseworthy for me. In this province, Turks and Kurds, Shia and Sunni, live together with kindness. This is a very valuable thing. One of the things that, at the time of the revolution's victory, made foreign enemies hopeful about the revolution's defeat was the issue of ethnic diversity in our vast land. Turk, Arab, Persian, Kurd, Lor, Baluch, and Turkmen; different ethnicities. The enemy hoped to exploit this difference; to set them against each other. Wherever you look, you see the propaganda of ethnic nationalism and exaggeration in this matter. If you investigate, you will see the enemy's hand there. The enemy wanted this; but was unaware that the Iranian nation, above all, is Iranian. Turks, Persians, Kurds, Arabs, and other Iranian ethnicities are proud to be children of 'Islamic Iran,' which has raised the flag of Islam in the world.

Enemies came to this province for a while; they incited sedition through elements to perhaps influence our Kurdish people—who are our compatriots, like the rest of our compatriots. Of course, the people of this province responded to them. The Kurds themselves responded to the agitators and slapped them in the mouth.

By the grace of God, the enemy's trick did not work in this province. They could not gather the Kurdish people around their slogans. Of course, there are always some deceived people everywhere. There are also some traitors and their instigators. Today, those same traitors or deceived ones, on the other side of this country's borders, are the hirelings of the enemies who wish ill for this people. Look at what is happening in Iraqi Kurdistan today! The Kurdish people themselves, incited by Saddam and the Iraqi regime and with the green light from the Americans, have fallen upon each other and are shedding each other's blood! Those who wanted to separate the people, mentioning the names of Kurds and Turks and different ethnicities separately, wanted the same situation for this province and other provinces of this region that is ruling over Iraqi Kurdistan today. They wanted the people's blood to be shed in the scenes of fratricidal war and to make the people miserable.

Today, by the grace of God, under the shadow of the dear and proud Islamic system—which today the Islamic system in the world is one of the most proud systems—and under this raised flag that nations and governments look at with greatness, all Iranian groups and ethnicities live hand in hand and know the value of this government, this system, and this honor.

There was a time when if people around the world had any news of Iran, it was because of the legendary stories and corrupt extravagances of the treacherous royal government! They heard the name of Iran through this. In their extravagances and gambling in the famous casinos of the world, they mentioned Iran; because the kings and rulers of this country and this oppressed nation took the wealth of this nation there, lost it, and returned!

Today, in the world, the name of Islam is known for courage and justice-seeking and fighting against oppression. Today, thanks be to God, the situation of you, the Iranian nation, because of your courage and because of standing and showing your personality and honor, has become such that if anyone wants to confront the domination of the arrogant powers of the world, they look at you; they learn from you and imitate you. Today, the name of Iran is known as a center for standing against the greed and excessive demands of global arrogance. The Iranian nation is a nation that considers its government as its own. It has brought it to power itself and supports its government and officials. Here, there is a strong bond between the people and the government, the officials and the people. This is the characteristic of this country and this nation. That is why I repeat for the umpteenth time that the arrogant power of America and its mercenary and hired agents—who try to distance this nation from its principles and values through propaganda and political efforts and economic and cultural work—must know that this nation, by adhering to Islam, by tasting the sweetness of independence and feeling the honor that comes from standing against its arrogant enemies, stands with full power against the conspiracies and threats of America and its agents and against the misconduct of some international assemblies. Ultimately, the one who will leave the field is the enemies of the Iranian nation, not the Iranian nation!

We thank God and bow in gratitude and thanks before the Lord. If the Iranian nation and government are strong, dear, and hopeful, this is God's grace and divine help.

O Lord! Bear witness that we know these abundant blessings from You. We do not become arrogant. We rely on You; we seek help from You and hope in You. We bow our heads in humility before You and know that You will help us. This nation is worthy of help and deserving of divine mercy. A nation whose men and women strive so sincerely in the way of God.

Today, the nation, in every corner of Iran—in every part of this great country—is proud to live under the shadow of Islam and with the honor of Islam. Even those who are not religiously Muslim in this country—followers of religious minorities, Christians, Jews, and Zoroastrians; followers of divine religions—they too are proud that all members of the nation live brotherly and lovingly under this Islamic and divine system—merciful among themselves—but all stand with full pride and honor against the aggressive, oppressive, and malevolent enemy—severe against the disbelievers. This is the meaning of 'severe against the disbelievers.' They do not give respite to the aggressor; but among themselves, they behave brotherly.

Where in the world do you find this?! This very Europe that talks about freedom and human rights; this very America that considers itself the center of coexistence, still, racial differences are rampant among them. In European countries, young people following extreme nationalisms attack others in the streets; they beat them in broad daylight, or even destroy them. In America, blacks and whites, even followers of different religions, including Muslims, despite their large numbers in America, do not have the peace and security that religious minorities have in this country—Iran. As soon as something happens, magazines speak against Muslims and Islam. Muslims, wherever they are, the poor ones tremble. Where in the world do you see brothers living together with kindness and coexistence like here?!

My dear ones! Preserve this state. Be wary of the enemy. The enemy tries to disrupt this national solidarity, this unity that is spread throughout this country, in various ways. Be wary of the enemy, the enemy is seditious. The Iranian nation, with complete growth, follows its path behind the officials and with their help. The future of this country and this nation is bright. By the grace of God, tomorrow's Iran, with its revealed and blossomed talents and, God willing, with astonishing and dazzling progress in the eyes of the world's nations, is a prosperous Iran.

We hope that your province and the cities of this province, in this construction competition—which, thanks be to God, has started in this country today—can move ahead of others. Many works must be done. Today, thanks be to God, the serving government is doing the construction work. The brothers who are accompanying us on this trip—from ministers or other government officials and revolutionary sectors—are observing and studying the corners of the works of this province. God willing, the delegations will go to all the cities and will meet closely with our dear people in different cities. We hope that the brothers accompanying us can see the problems with precision and diligence and strive so that, God willing, these problems, in due time, with your help and cooperation, with the capable and active hands that, thanks be to God, you people possess, will be resolved in a suitable manner.

I hope God bestows His grace and favor upon you and includes you in the pure prayers of His Holiness, the remainder of God, may our souls be sacrificed for him, and grants success to the respected and dear scholars of this province in their duties and activities, and grants success to each of the various cultural and economic sectors in their specific works, so that all can, God willing, hand in hand, carry out the important tasks entrusted to them.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings