Do not be disheartened by the incarceration of Mr. Taleqani and

the engineer. We will not succeed without the occurrence of such incidents. The ultimate goal which must be borne in mind at all times is more important than the release of a group of people. The objective is Islam ; it is the country's independence; it is the proscription of Israel's agents; it is the unification of Islamic countries. The entire country's economy now lies in Israel's hands; that is to say it has been seized by Israeli agents. Hence, most of the major factories and enterprises are run by them : the television, the Arj factory, Pepsi Cola etc. Today even eggs are imported from Israel. Make firm your ranks. These are the agents of imperialism and they must be uprooted.

Gentlemen, do your utmost to raise the flag of Islam in the universities, to promote religion, to build mosques, to perform prayers in congregation and to let the act of prayer be seen by others. Religious unity is of the essence. It is religious unity that makes this society so great and cohesive; if you would like Iran to be independent then be united in religion.

The regime came to realise that it could no longer bear such opprobrium. It sensed the aversion felt towards it by the Islamic countries and was subjected to pressures from all quarters of the Islamic and non-Islamic world. Thus, in acknowledging the hopelessness of the situation, it decided that I was to be brought here during the night, "to ensure my safe arrival", as they put it. They repeatedly said that they must offer me protection and that they feared people might harm me!! Having suffered so many public scandals, they realised there was nothing more they could do. They didn't enjoy the favour of any nation or foreign government; and when they saw that the period of Hajj and the month of Muharram were approaching, during which time nothing was predictable, they chose to release me. However, shortly afterwards they decided to turn public opinion against me, believing that via the press they could make me despised and could create a rift between the people and the clergy.

A few days have now passed since my release but I have not in fact had the opportunity to read a newspaper. In prison however, I was entitled to leisure-time and so I used to read; or so it was, until I was handed the Ittila`at newspaper dated Tuesday, April 7, 1964 (Farvardin 18, 1343 AHS). I am upset with the gentlemen (`ulama) for not having given this paper to me sooner. In the editorial of this abject newspaper, under the heading "Holy Alliance", it was asserted that a compromise had been reached with the clergy and furthermore that the clergy are in favour of the "White Revolution" of the Shah and the nation. Which revolution? Which nation? Is this revolution really anything to do with the clergy and the people?!

Those of you who are in the universities, let the clergy's opposition to this "revolution" be known to everyone. Unfortunately we don't posses the media necessary for such publicity. They have taken everything from us. They have taken the television and radio from us. The television lies in the hands of that fraud and the radio is in the hands of the regime itself; and as for the press, that too is corrupt. Whatever they write or say immediately travels to the most remote of places; and knowing no better, people think that they speak for the clergy too. Let it be known, the clergy do not favour such scandalous deeds, and as far as the Ittila`at newspaper is concerned, if it doesn't make amends for its misdeeds then it will have to contend with the tough counteractive measures taken by us. (A member of the audience : Boycott it! Imam: No, this is not the time. There is a right time for everything).

Even if they threaten to hang Khomeini, he will not compromise. Reforms cannot be made at gun point; nor will the country be reformed by writing "Khomeini the traitor" on the walls of Tehran! Now do you see that you were wrong? Do you realise that you made a grave mistake? Submit to the doctrine of Islam. We will help you in this; but if by releasing me you have other ideas in mind, if you actually want to have a riot on your hands, then so be it - go ahead.

When I was brought from Qaytariya prison, the newspaper of August 4, 1963 (Murdad 13, 1342 AHS) wrote something to the effect that the clergy will not interfere in politics. I will now tell you the truth of the matter. A person who will remain anonymous once said: `Take it from me, politics involves nothing but lying, deceiving, cheating, misleading : in brief, politics means chicanery! And you should leave that to us!' Because the time was not right I didn't want to argue with him so I merely commented: `From the very beginning we played no part in the kind of politics of which you speak.' Today however, because the time has come I say: this is not Islam. I swear by God that Islam is politics in its entirety but it has been misrepresented. Political science originates from Islam. I am not one of those mullahs who merely sits with rosary beads in hand. I am not the Pope to perform certain ceremonies on Sundays only, spending the rest of my time imagining that I'm a sultan and not concerning myself with any other affairs. This is where the key to Islamic independence lies. This country must be rescued from these difficulties. They don't want this country to be reformed. The foreigners don't want this country to flourish. Even water has not been provided for this nation! The water used by us in Qum wouldn't even be given to animals in Europe! If they are truly in earnest then they ought to provide jobs for the unemployed. After twenty years of studying, this young man wants a job. When he graduates in the near future he will be left wandering aimlessly. If he is not provided with a means of living then he will not be able to retain his religious beliefs. Do you really believe that the thief that climbs walls at night in spite of the dangers entailed, or the woman who sells her honour, is really blameworthy? No, it is a low standard of living which gives rise to all of these crimes and vices of which one reads in both the morning and evening press.

Whilst I was in prison they informed me that the temperature in Hamadan had reached thirty-three degrees below zero. Then they brought the news that two thousand people had lost their lives due to the cold. I was unable to do anything under the circumstances. What could I have done? This was the state of affairs in Hamadan, but in Tehran and other cities too further lives were also lost. In spite of all this however, what action did the government take? Under such dreadful circumstances they had flowers flown in from Holland with which they could receive their masters from abroad. How they squander the money of this poor nation! To hire the aeroplane in question actually cost this country three hundred thousand tumans! For God's sake make amends for your misdeeds; observe the laws of Islam.

Whilst in captivity, I read something about the state of hygiene and the material conditions endured by those living in southern Iran. I was surprised at how they had allowed such a thing to be written. After having made investigations about the living conditions of people living in the south, a reporter had written that in the rural areas in southern Iran there was absolutely no evidence of health care; there was no current water, and in one village the majority of people were actually blind. In short, they were deprived of all basic facilities and the very bare necessities of life. At the E.C.A.F.E. conference however, where delegates of world governments had assembled to find a solution to the global economic situation - if they should ever wish to implement it - as participating members from countries both large and small discussed their economic problems, the Iranian body of delegates declared that our economic situation was wholly favourable and was without flaws or drawbacks!

Is the economic situation in Britain bad and that of Iran good?! Is the state of India's economy after making such great progress bad, whilst that of Iran is good?! Likewise, is Japan's economy in an unhealthy state whereas the economy of Iran is healthy?!

Those lords seated in their palaces speak of "the developed nation"; does a "developed nation" die of starvation?! `Ali (pbuh) the emir of Islam, used to eat barley bread, but now they spend five hundred thousand or one million tumans, if not more, for the receptions arranged in honour of their masters; and all they ever talk about is the "development" programme! They maintain that our country is on a par with advanced countries, but how can the admission of a few women to Parliament cause a country to be developed? You won't put the country right by implementing Israel's policies.

Islam calls for man to abide by certain rules and regulations during his life. These apply to all stages of man's life; that is from the day he is born until the day he is buried. It is not a question of opposing a particular person. At the end of the previous government's term of office, I was approached by someone in prison who criticised the said government claiming that the new government (by contrast) had some progressive policies. I told him that we in the clergy have no personal grievance with anyone and that we are concerned with the deeds of individuals. This poor nation needs to be rescued. Yesterday I held an audience here with the families of those martyred on Khurdad 15. I was most disturbed by the fact that I was not informed of the event of Khurdad 15 until I came out of prison; unlike the first time that the madrasa was attacked, when I was in fact informed of the affair on the afternoon of that very same day. The slaughter which took place on Khurdad 15 was worse than the behaviour exhibited by a military force towards a foreign nation. At least they would not have killed the women and children. Today is no time to celebrate. As long as the nation lives it will mourn the events of Khurdad 15. A government official once said in a speech that Khurdad 15 was a disgrace to the Iranian nation; I wish to complete this statement: Khurdad 15 was a disgrace to the nation because weapons were procured with the money of this nation and it was with these very same weapons that they killed the people!

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1-  Ayatullah Sayyid Mahmud Taleqani (1910 - 1979 (1289 -1358 AHS)) after having acquired education in Islamic sciences at the madrasas of Razaviya and Fayziya in Qum, went to Tehran in the year 1938 (1317 AHS) to preach and lecture in Islamic teachings. In 1939 he was arrested and imprisoned, charged with opposing the Pahlavi regime. From 1948 (1327 AHS) onwards, his classes were held at Hedayat Mosque in Tehran which was the central gathering place for religious intellectuals and the religious members of the National Front (Jibha-yi Melli), who later established themselves as the Liberation Movement (Nihzat-i Azadi). In the years 1951 and 1952 (1330 and 1331 AHS) he travelled to Jordan and Egypt. He participated in the struggle for the nationalisation of the oil industry and was arrested following the coup d'etat of Murdad 28 (August 19) accused of hiding Navvab Safavi, the founder and leader of the Fida'iyan-i Islam (Devotees of Islam) in his home. The late Taleqani was repeatedly imprisoned because of his activities and this was the case yet again in 1964 (1343 AHS) due to his support of Imam Khomeini's movement, his release being granted in the year 1967 (1346 AHS). In 1971 (1350 AHS) he was exiled to Zabul and then to Baft (a town in the province of Kerman); and in 1975 (1354 AHS), having been betrayed by one of the Munafiqin (see footnote 5 to the book's introduction) he was arrested and sentenced to ten years imprisonment. On November 9, 1978 (Aban 18, 1357 AHS) he was freed along with Ayatullah Montazeri and a group of other political prisoners. Following the victory of the Islamic Revolution he was appointed as head of the Revolutionary Council and selected as a member of the Assembly of Experts; and following Imam's request he led the first congregational Friday prayer which was held at Tehran University. Among the many literary legacies of the late Ayatullah Taleqani are expositions of the Qur'an and books concerning Islamic teachings and socio-political issues.

2-  Here Imam is referring to engineer Mehdi Bazargan. Mr. Bazargan (b. 1907 (1286 AHS)) held official positions during Dr. Muhammad Mussadiq's government at the Tehran Water Board and the National Oil Company, whilst also holding posts in education as an academic member of staff and as head of the Faculty of Engineering at Tehran University. He had played a significant role in founding the Liberation Movement of Iran and had spent many years in the regime's prisons. At the height of the Islamic uprising in the year 1978 (1357 AHS), he was sent by the Leader of the Revolution along with others to attend to the affairs concerning the National Oil Company workers' strike. After the victory of the Islamic Revolution, the chairmanship of the provisional government was consigned to him; and the day after the occupation of the American embassy (the "spy" den) by the Muslim students following Imam's line, he resigned from his post as Prime Minister. Later however, he became the Member of Parliament for Tehran during the first session of the Islamic Consultative Assembly.

3-  The Sabet Pasal and Elqaniyan families were among those mediators of world Zionism who resided in Iran. They engaged in certain joint ventures with the Pahlavi family and with both indigenous and foreign capitalist networks. Elqaniyan was the owner of Iran Leyland Motor Company, Iran Goodrich, the factories of Pars and America, the S.R.S. company and dozens of other factories, companies and mother companies. The names of some of the factories and companies owned by Sabet Pasal, the Baha'i Zionist, are given in note 36 of speech number 11; also refer to Dowlat va Hukumat Dar Islam, pp. 264-267.

4-  During the Shah's "land reform" programme the country's agriculture and dairy farming were gradually ruined and what remained of the oil revenue was spent on the purchase of wheat from America, oranges from South Africa, chickens from Holland, eggs from Israel and other needs from various other countries. The cost of eggs imported from Israel in the years 1976, '77 and '78 (1355 - 1358 AHS) amounted to two hundred and twelve million, two hundred and fifty-four million and one thousand and twenty-two million rials, respectively; figures that had been continually on the rise. Refer to Iran: Tasvir-i Amari-yi Bazargani-yi Khareji, p. 264.

5-  The quarantine and detention of Imam Khomeini.

6-  Maraji`, clergy, politicians, bazaar merchants, students and other sectors of society had persistently requested that the Shah and the government grant Imam Khomeini's release from prison. Likewise, prominent religious figures from countries such as Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Kuwait as well as those from several other countries had pressed the Iranian government for Imam's release, certain personages such as Shaykh Muhammad Shaltut, the distinguished Egyptian thinker and clergyman, making great efforts and actually taking action to secure Imam's freedom. Refer to Barrasi va Tahlili az Nihzat-i Imam Khomeini, Vol. 1, pp. 516-555.

7-  Having undergone ten months detention, Imam eventually entered his home in Qum at 10 pm on Tuesday April 7 (Farvardin 18, 1343 AHS). He did so under the watchful eye of the regime's officers who were concerned to ensure that no one yet found out about his release. Later that night, cars and taxis repeatedly beeped their horns and by doing so informed everyone of the affair. Once informed, people immediately advanced towards Imam's home and they, along with the theological centre in Qum and people of Tehran and other cities, held celebrations for his home-coming which in fact lasted for several days, people actually travelling from all quarters of the country to Qum to visit their leader.

8-  The editorial of the Ittilia`at newspaper dated April 7, 1964 (Farvardin 18, 1343 AHS) carried an article entitled "Holy Alliance" in which was written:

" . . . It was the Shah himself who personally engineered the "six -point programme" on the basis of which a new society was to be formed according to modern ideas and traditional cultures. This programme in fact deserved to be carried by twenty million votes, for it was for everyone; for people from all walks of life. Everyone has a part to play in this national endeavour, no matter what sector of society they are from, or what class they belong to. How fortunate it is that the clerical community has also now joined forces with the people in executing the programmes of the Shah-People Revolution, for indeed this revolution has been founded on the most worthy ambitions of the early leaders of Islam. It is also fortunate that the present government is fully aware of the public's support and spares no effort in

achieving "national unity for the national programme" and in attaining the mutual understanding of different sections of society."

9-  The present speech was delivered at Imam's home in Qum, in the presence of a group of Tehran University students. Refer to the introduction of this speech.

10-  Sabet Pasal, the renowned Baha'i capitalist who was also responsible for the television's executive affairs at the time of the Shah. See note 36 of speech number 11.

11-  After the event of Khurdad 15, 1342 (June 5, 1963) the Shah ordered for certain insulting remarks against Imam to be written on the walls. However, when confronted by the people's anger he was forced to order for their erasure! Barrasi va Tahlili az Nihzat-i Imam Khomeini, Vol. 1, p. 565; also certain instructions given by SAVAK in this regard can be found in the file compiled on Imam at the offices of SAVAK.

12-  The article "Religion and Politics" printed in the Ittila`at newspaper of August 4, 1963 (Murdad 13, 1342 AHS) reads:
" . . . Some believe that the government is out to weaken the position of the clergy and they have thus based their judgements accordingly; but this is not the case. The Shah himself holds a special respect for the clergy. He worships Almighty God and is proud of the fact . . . it is the clergy who have exchanged their true mission to guide and lead the people with the sordid world of politics. That is to say, instead of offering people leadership and guidance they become involved in matters well below their station and dignity . . . one hundred and fifty years ago in certain countries it was rightly realised that religion and politics should be separated and hence His Imperial Majesty, the King of kings, the sole Shi`i Muslim ruler in the world, warned the clergy to dissociate themselves from those clergymen who are involved in non-religious activities. Therefore, it is essential that the eminent `ulama and fuqaha, and in

particular their eminencies Ayatullah Khomeini, Ayatullah Qummi and Ayatullah Mahalati, who have now agreed to compromise, accept this point and ensure that others accept it for the sake of glorifying the standing of both the clergy and Islam."!

13- Pakravan, the commander of the army and head of SAVAK, during an audience with Imam on August 2, 1963 (Murdad 11, 1342 AHS) at `Ishratabad garrison said : ". . . I took great pains to obtain a document confirming the relationship between a great marja` and a foreign country; and to this end I even sent an Arab person to see you but I didn't find the least evidence of a relationship between your great eminence and foreign agents . . . Your eminence is about to be released, but before this I have to tell you that politics means cheating and deceiving; politics means lies, hypocrisy and trickery. In brief, politics means chicanery. These matters are our concern and the leaders of the clergy must not soil themselves with these things; they must in no way indulge in politics." Imam in response to the latter part of Pakravan's comments said: "From the very beginning we played no part in the kind of politics of which you speak." See Barrasi va Tahlili az Nihzat-i Imam Khomeini, Vol. 1, p. 575.

14-  Another part of the article "Religion and Politics" printed in the Ittila`at newspaper on August 4, 1963 (Murdad 13, 1342 AHS), reads: " . . . The truth of the matter is that His Imperial Majesty has realised that the foundations of religion have become weak in this country. The mosque and the pulpit have both been forgotten and in comparison to other Muslim nations, the Muslim nation of Iran is in a (spiritually) distressed condition. The Shah has realised that part of this moral and spiritual backwardness and depression is due to the fact that some individuals among the clergy have sacrificed their true mission of leading and guiding the people for politics and the sordidness which accompanies it . . . Thus, to rescue both the country and the nation from this group, he has adopted an approach to achieve that which the churches actually achieved one hundred and fifty years ago and that is to separate the Church from politics. As a result of this measure, no Christian now slights the fundamental precepts of his religion. They all attend church and perform their prayers and they listen with enthusiasm to the preachers' sermons and act accordingly . . ."!

15-  Among the serious problems faced by the people of Qum was the severe shortage of water, the high salt content of the water, the unhygenic state of water held in reservoirs and the ill health which ensued from that very situation. Although this city is densely populated, is significant from both a geographical and a religious point of view and caters for many visiting pilgrims, it nevertheless lacked a current drinking-water supply.

16-  Indication is made to a student.

17-  The winter of 1963 (1342 AHS) in Iran was extremely severe and many lives were lost due to the acute poverty and hardship faced by the people as well as road obstructions resulting from bad weather conditions and the neglectfulness of the regime's functionaries. At the same time however, the governmental officials and their co-workers in these districts were in fact supplied with their needs by helicopter. See the press reports of winter 1963.

18-  The splendid ceremonies of jubilation and festivity were meant to beguile and divert the Iranian people. The year 1966 (1345 AHS) witnesses the commemorative ceremony of a quarter of a century of Muhammad Riza's reign; in 1967 the royal coronation ceremony was held; and four years later we saw the celebration of two-and-a-half millennia of monarchical rule as well as other festivities. Great expense was afforded for each of these affairs, but the actual figures involved were never published. Moreover, these celebrations were in addition to the routine galas and parties of the Royal Court. A major item of expense in these celebrations was having the most expensive flowers flown in from Holland. In his description of the two-thousand-five-hundred-year festivities, Pierre Blanchet, the French author, writes in his book entitled: Iran: La Revolution Au Nom De Dieu: " . . . Private Boeing aeroplanes made daily deliveries of fresh flowers from Holland."

19-  With regard to the health and material conditions of Iranian villages at the time of the Shah-People Revolution, a report by one of the head supervisors of the organisation established for the programme of the Shah's regime reads: "In