Address of Imam Khomeini on Presidential Investiture (9.10.1981)
The Leader of the Revolution and Founder of the Islamic Republic of,
Iran delivered a speech, as part of . the investiture ceremonies of President
Khamenei October 9, 1981. Following is a translation of that speech:
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
First, we should thank the
Supreme Lord for having made it possible for this nation to serve Islam. We should also
thank the nation for having made united and sincere efforts for establishing Islamic
justice and doing away with the seditionists and the former corrupt regimes,
before,
during and after the culmination of the Islamic Revolution, thank them for having
maintained their presence on the scene, for having toiled for the establishment of Islamic
justice and the Divine Canons to the best of their ability and by helping generously and
offering their own lives, as well as the lives of their children.
Today they are present on the scene more than before, and the
peoples turn-out in the recent election and the increase in the number of voters in
the Presidential elections is, in itself, proof of this fact. I think this is without
precedent in the world; despite the fact that no wide publicity campaign had been
implemented and only in a short time, all sects of the nation from the great Ulema of
Islam to the oppressed sects, set to the polling booths and gave their votes without any
expectations [for personal benefit]. Votes in support of Islam.
We are all indebted to these efforts and services. We and you gentlemen
-- be you administrators or in the Armed Forces - are indebted to the efforts of this
nation, for this nation rid us of isolation. This nation pulled you out of prisons and
expelled the oppressors from this country. May God forever support this nation and may He
forever cause these individuals who are toiling in the interest of Islam on and behind the
battle fronts to prosper and triumph.
This is true because for one thing Islam is your ultimate goal and mine
and the nation's, and for another, the nation is united with the government and the Armed
Forces, and the Majlis and the judiciary branch and the rest of the administrative
organisations. People are on the scene, since peoples presence on the scene caused
our victory. The continuation of victory still depends on that same fact.
Perhaps you can compare this country with some other countries such as
Egypt, Iraq, and their likes and also with the big countries which are lying in far-off
places but directly agitate their lackeys in order to attain power here. A President is
martyred in Iran and nothing happens and after a short time another president comes in his
place. Whereas in Egypt, a corrupt president is killed and Egypt goes into chaos. the
declaration of martial law in that country is for one whole year!
The difference between here and there and between this President and
that President is that here we rely on Islam' and our nation has risen up under the flag
of Islam. A President is martyred - the people are on the scene and they will put another
one in his place. Whereas there [in Egypt] the reliance is on guns and machine guns and
Armed Forces. The government is separate from the people and the people separate from the
government. The reliance of our nation is on God while the reliance of the governments in
Egypt and Iraq are on Europe and the United States and the Soviet Union. The nation is on
the scene here, while there, the nation is outside the scene. That is why nothing happens
here in the wake of the martyrdom of our Presidents, while there the government does not
even allow people to participate in the unblessed funeral ceremony of their dead President
and requires that every person have a pass card. Why? Because the people are opposed to
their government.
I feel impelled to remind and warn all Muslim governments that you are
mistaken. You have lost your reliance on God and have placed your trust in worldly powers
such as the Soviet Union and the United States. Your people hate you, and therefore if one
day you turn the spears away, you will be obliterated. Come to your senses and quit this
attitude! Learn from the people and the government of Iran. The Iranian people have now
established peace in the country and they preserve it without reliance on any other power.
The government, too, has discarded reliance on arms and is relying on God and the people.
That is why nothing happens here after the martyrdom of Presidents or Prime Ministers. It
is so because we are under the blessed flag of Islam and our reliance is on the Blessed
and Supreme God, and a nation loyal to Islam. Likewise other Muslim people rely on God and
Islam. Governments should win the support of their own people, rather than continuing
their rule by force of arms.
None of you governments of the Muslim countries have as much power or
as many supporters as had Muhammad Reza Shah; for he was supported by all the world
powers. When I was in Paris, I came to realise that everybody - all - supported him. But
despite that, by their uprising our people broke the spears and crushed the firearms, and
thereby forever expelled the superpowers from Iran. No matter how much the big powers
tried to retain him, they werent able. That was because Iran relied on God and its
own power.
Governments which are dependent on the United States and the Soviet
Union, who deny the Holy Quran, in their dependency have to wake up and remember
that it is in Islam that they will find dignity, and quit shrewd acts, and return if there
is still a possibility for their return to their nations, so that they may not need spears
and so that they may not have to establish martial law.
You have all witnessed that in this great Revolution which took place
in Iran, we never experienced a single day of martial law in any part of our country.
Martial law is to suppress the nation. We have no person separate from the people who has
wanted to suppress them.
Saddam Hussein who with encouragement and prompted by his own visionary
and unrealistic ambitions attacked Iran, today is trying to get himself out of this trap,
and everything in one way or another; he is fixing a new scheme. One day he enters into a
secret deal with Israel and bombards an area of his own country. He bombards a new
establishment and blames it on Iran, and accuses Iran of being an accomplice of Israel. He
claims that Iran, which before the Revolution was against Israel, and which after the
Revolution until now has always been against her/;'and has announced her opposition and
today has boycotted its allies in every respect, is not against hut 'for' Israel! But why
did he have to entangle himself in this trap so that he has to tell such absurd lies and
make such conspiracies?
And another day they do a mischievous act or intrigue in Kuwait
bombarding oil installations and assign it to Iran. Kuwait and the rest of the Sheikhdoms
would be much better advised to take note of facts and remember that such conspiracies
will not do them any good. They should remember that the superpowers will continue to
exploit you and when they see that you are of no good to them, they will throw you away.
We witnessed that before Sadat was killed, the United States had chosen
his successor. Here is Sadat who was living and walking like an animal while the United
States was deciding on his successor. A person who totally humiliated himself in his
promises for serving the United States who was deciding on his successor. A person who
totally abased and humiliated himself in his promises for serving the United States, what
a chaotic situation occurred in Egypt on the day of his assassination. This second imposed
president who even before coming into office declared his solidarity with the United
States and Israel wants to rule Egypt like his predecessor and put himself totally in the
grips of the USA Apparently little did he see of how the people in Egypt sent his wicked
predecessor to hell and will do the same to him. The people in Egypt should know that as
Iran did, they will triumph if they rise up against those plots there. They should not be
intimidated by martial law by taking to the streets as did Iran and throw away the
residuals of the United States. The people in Egypt should not sit back and allow their
shattered government to get herself together to impose her influence on the people.
Today is the day when the nation of Egypt should rise up. Today is the
day of government's weakness and peoples strength. They should show their strength.
They should defy this martial law and take to the streets. It is a responsibility for alt
people in Egypt to stand against 'a government which wants to defy Islam with arms and
distinctly says she will suppress every citizen who is loyal to Islam, as much as it is
the responsibility of all Ulema in that country. For the sake of God, stand up and defend
Islam. What excuses do the Ulema in Egypt have for sitting still against this government
which has declared her opposition to Islam and everybody loyal to it?
Today you are victorious. Today the Egyptian nation has the power in
her hands. It is not certain whether the Armed Forces support the government, except
perhaps those who are pensioners of the United States. The Armed Forces of Egypt should
take note that if they support a government which has openly announced her loyalty to the
U.S. and Israel that she is against anyone who is loyal to Islam and will suppress him,
they will disgrace themselves. Do not give them any chance that tomorrow Israel may rule
over you, or so that Israel or the United States might hold power in your country. What
did the Armed Forces of Iraq gain by Saddam's mistakes, who by serving the U.S. and Israel
- who had been hurt by Iran -- when he attacked Iran? What did the Iraqi Armed Forces gain
other than thousands of them being killed? We and our Armed Forces don't like that Muslim
youths who have been forced to come to Iran, be killed. We like all of the Muslim peoples
and their youths and we want them to go the' way of Righteousness and the way of Islam and
that of their nations. Why are the Iraqi Armed Forces sitting back while Saddam is
destroying troops and her Armed Forces and is defying Islam? Oh Armed Forces of Iraq, the
people of Iraq are against this corrupt and atheist party [Baathist Party.] You -should
oppose too, and don't allow more of your youths to be killed. Rise up and throw away these
worthless residuals. All Muslim nations should rise up and tread the' Right Path, and all
governments should return to their people in a courteous and humble manner. Of course it
is already too late for Saddam and it seems that time had passed too for Sadat.
But as for the people who are busy with plots and convoluted schemes
inside our country, we loathe to see our deceived youngsters, our young girls and boys
with these satans, be inspired and prodded by them. [To the counterrevolutionaries.] You
children -- boys and girls -- what virtue do you find in your leaders other than claims
and deviations? Weren't they the same who claimed that they were for the people and
against aliens? Were they not the same people who claimed and still do that they are
against the United States and the West? You witnessed that they practised contrary to what
they preached and sought refuge in the bosom of the United States and the U.S. supports
them. Why should you young people let others manipulate your judgement? Why do you not
think independently? Why do you not study about your own leaders themselves who have
escaped or are in safe places and leading you to your own destruction? They urge you to do
everything needed to be done. So that they can come here and rule upon you ! Why don't you
think? Why aren't you looking for your own good? If any day they should return here, you
don't know what they will do to you. Those who do not believe in Islam will not keep their
promises. They are the same people who in the past would even kill of their own if they
noticed any sign of opposition in them. And they are the people who after coming to power
will allow only their own party to exist and will even kill their own supporters if they
should say anything against them. Do not believe that they exalt Islam or your people or
this nation. You noticed that despite their claims they eventually fled 'to places which
they claimed to be enemies of -- they fled to places where there, they are against all
oppressed nations. Why don't you think? Why don't you pity yourselves? Wake up and pay
attention and quit this wickedness. Don't allow them to corrupt you for their own dirty
aims. Don't allow them to cause you to be killed. We loathe to see you youngsters who are
the future resources of this country ruined or killed.
I implore the Blessed and Supreme Lord for the health and success of
all people as well as all nations especially the oppressed masses. From all those who have
attained any position by the hard toil of this nation, I expect them to expend their
capability in serving the oppressed masses and the slum-dwellers. God willing, after the
establishment of the
new government which is already finished not one official can have any
excuse for his failure in fulfilling his duties. And if in the past there were
obstructions and obstacles today you have established a good understanding among
yourselves and no one is likely to obstruct the fulfilment of the duties of others. I
expect that you will join each other in a united move and that you will consecrate
yourselves to serving the oppressed people to whom you are indebted. And God willing, you
will succeed, I want our Armed Forces to do away with the troops which are unjustifiably
in our land and God willing, expel them from our country. I hope that God will make you
Armed Forces and the statesmen and the oppressed masses prosperous and cut the influence
of the oppressors over the oppressed masses.
May Peace and the Mercy and the Blessings of God be upon you.
Presidents
Statement on the Occasion of his Investiture (9.10.1981)
Hojjat-ul-Islam Khamenei's address on the occasion
of his investiture:
May peace be upon the pure souls of all the martyrs of
Islam and the Islamic Revolution of Iran. Greetings to the great and dear Imam and thanks
to the resistant, combatant and untiring people of Iran who with their massive presence
and unprecedented participation in the general elections of the 10th of Mehr [2nd of
October] have once again defamed and discredited the propagandistic communication networks
which depend on Zionism and international Imperialism and who with their poisonous
publicity have decided to cause the dissolution of the Islamic Revolution. The people of
the world view with surprise and admiration a nation who in spite of internal and external
conspiracies is strongly and preservingly present on the scene and firmly decisive not to
sit still for an instant until the complete victory of its Revolution. The participation
of almost 17 million self-sacrificing and God-seeking people of our Islamic country in the
last election and, more important than that, the unanimous opinion of more than 15 million
of them regarding one person. reveals once again the divine aspect of this Revolution.
But this unity which created hope and was manifested by our people on
the 10th of Mehr deserves a worthy and meritorious reply. it is now up to us to recognise
and correctly appreciate the value of this general confidence and to be assured that as
long as we progress on the path of God and Islam, the people's votes and confidence will
be the backbone of our path and our task, in any other case the ties of this unity shall
break and that harmonious affection which rises from the heart and the soul shall be
gradually transformed into a crushing hatred, may it never be thus. We know clearly that
our frank and pure-hearted people on the 10th of Mehr did not give their confidence to a
person but to a current which is particularised by ins sincerity to Islam and the
Revolution and serving the deprived and the oppressed.
I presently declare in this honour. able company that in reply to the
harmonious affection and confidence of the people I shall resist until death for the
establishment of the Islamic government which i& our revolutionary nation's desire
like the other friends who offered their lives in the slaughter-house of love for God and
the people and remained sincere to their promise and pact.
Now that the Iranian nation with its firm vote has elected me to the
presidency as the trustee of the nation, I declare with a hopeful spirit, without wrath or
hatred and with a pure and sincere feeling of affection, that in the Islamic Republic and
in the heart of this great and resistant nation there is an appropriate and deserving
place for all the servitors of Islam and the Muslims and all the true lovers of God and
the people. Consequently, declare to all those who have cut away from the people and their
society in the hope of a chimerical mirage to join the future of the people and to become
a drop in the midst of the tumultuous sea of the people. Erase the limitations and the
restrictions of personal and collective egoism from your soul and spirit. The persecutors
should stop persecuting these sincere, kind and modest people and act bravely and
generously towards this brave and generous nation. If this is realised everyone is dear
and popular for the nation and otherwise hated and banished by God and the people.
Secondly, our country's culture, politics, and economics have been
plundered and pillaged for many years by the superpowers. International colonialism has
sucked the soul of this nation for years and years. Presently our nation intends to create
a new proceeding on the international level by cutting all dependency with the
actualisation of the slogan "Neither East nor West." I shall also follow the
great leaders and standing by the side of these people traverse this path firmly and
boldly, with complete faith that our nation will be victorious, since-our Revolution is
the revolution of the' deprived and the divine promise is just and shall be materialised.
Thirdly, I hope and I pray to God to do my best so that the new period
which is presently being started in the Islamic Republic of Iran may be the period for
serving the deprived and the oppressed and the period for the complete manifestation of
the divine intention for the destruction of the roots of the oppressing-oppressed system
'and the social, economic and internal oppressing-oppressed relationship in our Islamic
country. I pray to God to assist me in the relation of the responsibilities that the
constitutional law has granted me. I demand help from the pure spirit of Muhammad Mustafa
(s.), the spirit of the innocent Imams, (a.) immaculate and sacred souls of all the pure
and go, in the path of serving propagating religion and morals and the expansion of
justice, and maintaining human respect and honour and the full realisation of the Islamic
teachings. I thank the dear and great Imam , for the affection that he has constantly
bestowed. upon his student and follower and the kind and pure-natured people for the
unprecedented confidence that they have shown towards their servant and brother.
Imam Khomeinis message on the Occasion
of the Attempted Assassination of Hojjat-ul-Islam Khamenei (28.6.1981)
Imam Khomeini, Leader of the Revolution and Founder of the Islamic
Republic, sent a telegram to Hojjat-ul-Islam Khamenei June 28, 1981. Below is a
translation:
In the Name of God, the
Merciful, the Compassionate
Hojjat-ul-Islam Seyyid Ali Khamenei, we sincerely appreciate the
infinite Grace of God Almighty who has selected the opponents of Islam from among the
foolish people. From the initial stages of the victorious fulfilment of the Islamic
Revolution the conspiracies of the counterrevolutionaries have further substantiated the
solidarity of the Muslim society. The adversaries of Islam have ultimately betrayed their
treacherous inclinations through their provocative speeches. Ironically, they have also
contributed to the enlightenment of the nation through their anti-revolutionary journals.
Their abortive assassination attempts have fortified the national consolidation and the
unity of purpose among Iranian Muslims.
Through their abortive assassination attempts on your life the
opponents of Islam have once again revealed their evil tendencies and their lack of
political insight. You are valued as a sacrificial soldier on the battle fronts and at the
same time as an enlightened and inspiring preacher at the holy shrines and masjids. By
such a mischievous commitment, the political splinter groups have violated humanitarian
values. The political factions have committed this crime right after your illuminating
speeches delivered at the Islamic Consultative Assembly and the Friday Congregational
Prayer. Such an evil blunder testifies to the lack of political insight on their part.
They have made an abortive assassination attempt on the life of a Muslim personality whose
call for the resistance of the oppressed has echoed throughout the world.
The prevalent cruel measures are quite alarming. The parents of such
misguided youngsters should warn them against the phoney ideologies of the political
factions in order to prevent these misguided advocates of such criminal organization from
falling victim to the opportunistic objectives of the Left Wing.
I hereby extend my heartiest congratulations to you upon your
praiseworthy contributions to the prosperity of Islam both on the battle fronts and at the
holy shrines of Almighty God. I fervently pray for your ultimate recovery and welfare.
Ruhullah al-Musawi al-Khomeini
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