Mousavi's 17th Statement: "Killing us will only make us stronger"

Mousavi's 17th Statement: "Killing us will only make us stronger"
Source: Kaleme
Date: Friday, January 1, 2010


In the name of God, the Merciful and the Compassionate,

“Greetings to Hussein, the third Imam; Indeed, I am a friend to those who are your friends, and I fight against those who fight you. I am companion to those who accompany you, and an enemy to your enemies. I wish I were with you; if this were the case, my success would be a glorious victory.”(A Hadith)

Despite numerous requests, neither Hojatoleslams Karoubi and Khatami, nor I, nor any of my friends, issued any statements for the rituals commemorating Imam Hussein. Nevertheless, pious people went to the streets, proving that the vast social and civil networks that people themselves formed during and after the election do not wait for us or our statements. People took to the streets even while lacking a newspaper to accompany and encourage them, or a fair and impartial national broadcasting channel. Yet again, every nation and, indeed, the whole world, witnessed the mourners of Imam Hussein walking the streets and speaking the name of Hussein. They marched non-violently, without any radical slogans, down the roads and avenues of their own choosing. But, yet again, the people were provoked. This time around, they were faced with unspeakable violence: people were run over; they came under open fire from plainclothes police, whose identity (as well as the identity of their leaders) is now known to everyone. This was a tragedy that will echo in our political arena for years to come.

The heartbreaking videos from Ashura ceremonies indicate that slogans and movements radicalize when innocent people are thrown off bridges, gunned down, run over, and assassinated. Interestingly, some of these clips show that beneath the masks and gadgetry of the security forces and Basij, people see their own brothers. And, in those critical conditions, they even try hard to remove them from harm. If State TV had the least bit of honest blood in its veins, it would at least broadcast some of these scenes to calm the situation and bring people together. Sadly, what happened after Ashura – namely, massive detainments, and so on – revealed that he officials [responsible for the well-being of the people] just repeat the same mistakes in larger numbers and on a broader scale. They think that using the politics of fear is the only possible solution.

Suppose you silenced the whole nation with detainments, violence, threats, and the eradication of newspapers and media – what would you do to change the nation’s opinion of the establishment? What would you do to solve the loss of legitimacy of the whole system? What would you do to change the international surprise and reproach towards the brutalities that [our] government has directed at its own people? What would you do to deal with the economic problems of the country and the financial issues that people face in their daily lives; the issues that are worsening every day due to the government’s persistent incompetence? With the help of whose competence, and with which [national] unity and foreign policy, will you take our country away from the shadow of sanctions; away from the greed of [other nations]?


[The people responsible] think that by chasing intellectuals, capable thinkers, university students and other activists away from the political arena, they can restore things to the way they were before the election. However, those who have studied history and are familiar with the complexities of society, know very well that such methods of thinking are illusory and unreal; they are merely based on sheltering [society] with shallow and deceitful tactics. Puny

I will say this clearly and with utmost certainty: calls for the execution, murder or imprisonment of myself, Karoubi and the like, will not resolve our problems. Last Wednesday’s speeches at revolution square and, prior to that, at Friday prayers, by the speakers of the establishment associated any consequence of acts of terrorism directly to the movement. This would only make the deadlock in the current crisis impossible to resolve. Pathetically berating a large group in our society, calling them dirt and dust, and considering it religiously tolerable to spill the blood of the mourners of Hossein, are tragedies caused by certain people within State TV. What kind of speaker from the government would call on people to fight one another, naming one group as the party of God, and another group as the party of the Devil? [These speakers] repeatedly asked people to pay attention, declaring that we are at war! Are these words not an invitation to wage war and civil riots? Are there religious scholars or sources of immolation who can tell [us] how to react to these people?

As one insignificant member of this immense society, I welcome any attack on Islam or on our dear nation [because of the opportunity for martyrdom.] The kind of talk mentioned above reminds me of the words of the great Imam [Khomeini]: “Killing us will only make us stronger.” I am not afraid to be among those who have been martyred for expressing their religious and patriotic rights after the election. My blood is no different than theirs.

I repeat with utmost shrewdness: we cannot solve these problems until the existence of a severe crisis is not recognized within the country. Abstaining from doing so will justify the continuation of repressive solutions. Admitting [our] critical condition can realize a solution that is not based on repression but on national reconciliation. [The authorities continue to make] accusations of irreligiousness, alliances with oppressive foreign powers and relations with individuals of ill-repute (referring to notorious groups like the MKO). Thinking that such accusations could actually remove a number of public servants of society and Islam is the same as turning a blind eye to the nature of our nationwide problems. I talk about this as someone with the best interests [of the Islamic Republic] at heart. The MKO is dead [to people] because of the atrocity and treachery they have committed. Do not revive them to gain political points and induce hatred.

Before I make my own recommendations about exiting the current crisis, I feel a burden of necessity to emphasize the Islamic and national identity of the green movement, its opposition to foreign rule, and its loyalty to our constitution. We are the followers of Imam Hossein. We are the devotees of the path that was led by that oppressed Imam. We are the devotees of the path that was led by that oppressed Imam. We are the followers of the first Imam of the Shi’ites, who could not tolerate taking something valuable from even one member of a minority in the vast Islamic nation. We believe in a compassionate reading of Islam that views people as if they are all equally religious [in worshipping one God, may it be Christian, Jewish or Muslim] or as companions in creation – a reading that promotes the innate dignity of humanity and does not tolerate for criminals to be fed differently than their victims outside the prison, or to be tortured during imprisonment.


Alongside with many of my friends who are currently in prison, I am strongly committed to the independence of this country. We grieve when we see our Islamic market flooded with foreign products. We strongly oppose the current levels of corruption upheld by incorrect policies and incompetence. We stress that if institutions like the Revolutionary Guards participate in financial matters like the stock market, they cannot be defenders of the country, or of its national resources. They will fall into corruption and bring the country down along with them. We stress that today, the blue- and white-collar workers, the laborers and the oppressed, as well as all other layers of this nation – everyone’s benefits and rights are drowning in intense corruption. The green movement is against lying and views it as a harmful disease for this nation. This is why we view political lies, as well as lies in the affairs of security, economy, and culture, as a great danger to our country.

What we want is a government and a system that are honest and supportive, and based on the people’s votes; that look at diversity in votes and ideas as an asset, rather than a threat. We consider the invasion of privacy, the violation of ideas and private spaces, the shutting down of newspapers, and the enforcement of media constraints as against our advanced religion of salvation and at odds with the constitution that arose from our religion. It’s a sin for us to put even a Rial of taxpayer’s money to waste by spending it on personal and partisan purposes. What we are stressing on is that the document [of the constitution] that creates a vision for the future of Iran and has been approved by all the pillars of the establishment is now nothing but a worthless paper. Let us warn you that new economic powers are rapidly rising in the region, growing stronger everyday while unfortunately we are incapable of bookkeeping the annual budget and treasury reserves. We are even incapable of providing the appropriate response to the questions regarding government expenditures from people and accountants, auditors of government and members of the parliament.

We are neither American nor British. We have neither sent any congratulatory letters to prominent leaders [as accusations claim], nor are we hoping for their help. We are very familiar with the mechanism of power on the international stage, where every country acts based on its own national interests. We despise those who do not respect their own nation’s religious beliefs and traditions. Accusations of the desecration of the Qur’an, of Ashura, or pictures of the Imam, are ridiculous. Needless to say, if any desecration had taken place on the day of Ashura, we do not approve of it. However, to emphasize: the worst kind of desecration is killing innocent mourners on the day of Ashura and during the months of mourning.

My proposal to solve the crisis at hand will follow shortly. The current condition of the country can be likened to a wild and massive river, muddy and disturbed with the waves of recent events. Calming this great river and clearing the water is not quickly done. It is not possible to do in a one- or two-stage solution. Requesting things like confessions and negotiations, hoping to solve the problem with some quick back and forth, is not acceptable for something of this magnitude; in fact, these proposals deviate from real solutions.

My proposal involves allowing smaller rivers and springs of clear water into this great river, leading to a gradual change in conditions. I believe that it’s not too late. Our establishment has the power to commit to this important task, if it relies on competence, as well as on a kind and respectful attitude towards people coming from all social layers. Below, I have enumerated some suggestions that could act like springs of clear water and influence the country on a national level, shifting the existing environment, and allowing us to escape this crisis:


1) The government should ensure that it is directly accountable to the nation, the parliament and the judiciary branch. This should be done in a way that prevents it from receiving unusual support for deficiencies and weaknesses. The government must be held directly responsible for the trouble it has caused. Rest assured, if it is competent and just, it should be able to answers to the concerns of the people and the parliament. If it is dishonest and incompetent, the parliament and the judiciary branch should react within their constitutional powers.

2) Propose transparent and credible regulation of the election process to guarantee that the nation has free and fair elections, without trickery and interference. This regulation must ensure people’s participation in elections despite their differences of opinion or affiliations. This regulation must further put an end to the interference of officials based on their political affiliations or tastes. The administration processes of the first few governments after the revolution can be referred to as models on how to handle this properly.

3) Free and exonerate all political prisoners. I am confident that this act will not be read as a sign of weakness, but will in fact demonstrate the visionary nature of the establishment. We are also certain the demising political currents [who are against the establishment outside and inside the country] are against this solution.

4) Among the essential elements that can contribute to a solution are freedom of the press and media, along with the releases of confiscated newspaper licenses. There should be no fear of a free press and in this regard, the experiences of other nations can be of great help. The expansion of satellite networks and their impact has clearly demonstrated the deficiencies of older broadcasting techniques, as well as of our State TV. Wave-interference and internet restrictions can only have a short-term effect. The only solution is to have a sound variety of free media that is well-informed and operates within the country. Is it not time now to rely on thinkers and creative elements, in a brave act that establishes trust and brings together our creative, political, cultural and social forces?

5) Abiding by article 27 of the constitution to recognize the people’s right to form legal congregations and to establish political groups and parties. In just a few months, promotion of this solution could work to replace the atmosphere of conflict within the public, the Basiji and the security forces with an atmosphere of friendship and national reconciliation. This can be performed with astuteness and with the cooperation of all those who have an interest in this country’s future.

More suggestions are welcome. In my opinion, even a thin stream of clear water can be beneficial. It is not necessary to execute all of the above-mentioned solutions simultaneously. Merely observing good intentions will help to lighten up the horizon. Finally, I would like to state that all of these suggestions can be carried out in the absence of agreements, or negotiations. Instead, they can be acted upon from the standpoint of wisdom, competence, and compassion.

Mir Hossein Mousavi

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Mousavi's 16th Statement: The Commemoration of Azar 16th

Mousavi's 16th Statement: The Commemoration of Azar 16th
Source: Kaleme.com
Date: Saturday, December 6th 2009


In the name of God, the Compassionate and the Merciful

I congratulate the coming anniversary of Eid Ghadeer to the Muslim nation of Iran. I pray the Great God to help us get our nation and all the Muslims around the world closer to the ideals of the person [Imam Ali] who the Ghadeer occasion belongs to. In this time of celebration, the Shiite wishes wellbeing and prosperity for one another and ask each other for gifts that would help them accomplish such wishes. They wish for a fine destiny for our nation and country especially in these crisis stricken times. It is expected from us to commit to the same action. It was still our duty to fulfill the wish [of putting our nation onto a path to a find destiny] even if this expectation did not exist. What we can do in this regards is to maintain loyalty in looking for the good [of our nation even when it is not accepted as is] and persistence in thinking for the future [of our nation even when it is not called as such.] Dangers ahead are too serious to let us or others think of our own interests, and the realities we face are too severe to disappear through ignorance. With the help of the ambiance of elegance that the Eid has provided in addition to the anniversary of 16th of Azar (December 7) as the day of University Students, no topic would be better to talk about other than a solution to our current crisis; a solution that is not necessarily bitter to swallow if we put away our prejudgments.

University Student day is ahead of us. In our modern history student movement has always been the flag-bearers and has acted as the reason and purpose for people’s movement. During the bitter days following the coup, and in some of the darkest times in the history of our nation when all hope seemed to be lost, what happened in the 16th of Azar of 1332 (December 7th of 1953) was a clear sign that the spirit of people and their historical demands were still alive. Those ‘three drops of blood’ and ‘three godly Azar’ that created a basis for the University Student day are after half a century later still a vivid and enlightening reminder in the memory of people because they signified the existence of greater reality in the lives of people. In the years and generations that followed, these signs were maintained through the student movements and as it does today. For countless reasons, the society does not reveal its inclinations to those who only see the appearance. Great transformations are often accused to happen suddenly such that they refuse the political players the opportunity to adjust. Of course, basically no transformation has been realized suddenly, it is only their manifestation and rise that takes a sudden form. In such conditions, signs that tell of the unknown abyss of society are truly invaluable.

The student movement in our modern history has always contained reports of formation of deep political and social currents in our society. If the officials have had reacted to this role [of university students] tactfully in the past and now, we would have had a smooth path toward development and advancement. Instead, they violently break these invaluable artifacts. They would rather pacify themselves that silencing a couple of loud and young individuals would solve the problem as if removing the question would remove the problem from its origins. This is story that we have heard over and over. It is the very same story of ignorance towards realities, and interpretation of news from social conditions to the taste of a group in power. No era of power has ever ended without at least a few signs of such stories. “(Saying): “These are but a small band,” as these days they [referring to Ahmadinejad directly] say they are anything but dirt and dust. “And they enrage us.” “And we are all at the state of readiness [to fight them.]” “So God threw them away from the gardens where springs originated.” “and from their treasures, and desired positions.”

It is very sad and bitter to see the same mistakes repeated despite all the similar lessons in the recent past in and even further: those who insist on saying that people are calm again and it’s only the university students now; and that among the universities, it is only those universities in Tehran that are not calm, and among those only Mother Universities are in turmoil. They think that in these Mother Universities there are a couple of organizing centers run by several young members and that if they were to be expelled from the campus, or threatened to deny continuing their education, they would quite down and that would be the end of story. Fine! But these students were threatened, and they were expelled, why is the story still dragging on? It is because the student movement is a proof of realities greater than itself. Alas, I wish they would appreciate this. I wish they would learn from the insight such a movement is providing to the transformations in the distant and far future so that they would adjust accordingly, especially in times like this when university students are not a minority group but constitute one of the most expansive and active social layers in our society. Right now, there is one university student out of every 20 Iranians. If those responsible in power had paid attention to the university students’ role as a proof and sign to our future, today we would not be in such a critical condition.

Of course, this story has two sides to it. University movements are only as strong and as rooted as the relation of their message to real inclinations within the society because the power of social movements [or the student movement for that matter] is tied to the necessities which create and sustain them. When our generation was participating in the student movement, it clearly saw how effective is its connections to the society and how essential it is to sustain its strength. During that time there were many inclinations among the students. If the student Islamic committees were the strongest it was because they were representing a greater number of social realties.

Many of the activist students of today will be the leaders of tomorrow. This is an additional reason why they should not stop serving as the symbol of our social realities. Their vitality and strength depends on this. The secret to the success of politicians is the same thing. They will be able to serve their country or at least remain powerful only until they are willing to understand the needs and inclinations of their society, and even become the symbol and proof of such needs and inclinations. This thought that someone can rule over people despite their inclinations is nothing but an illusion. Even when a government manages to survive by relying on repressive forces it is in fact only relying on society’s inclinations to remain indifferent towards oppression, although such an indifference will never last forever.

Our society is experiencing the greatest transformations these days. Who is to deny this truth after the incidents seen during the recent months? What is the exact nature of such a transformation? This is the greatest question for us and for our opponents. If they know what great and prosper phenomenon is heading our way, they too will put away their helmets and batons and start seeking for means to look after this delicate plant that has just risen out of our land.

Among many beauties of the days before election, the most beautiful phenomenon was the gathering of people with different tastes. They did not put aside their differences and diversities. Rather, they recognized their differences to become successful in their gathering. No one found it necessary to lose their own identity and become a different person in order to contribute in this integration. There was a joy in that integrating which was accepted by our nature. The green human chain that surrounded our cities was not a worthless show. We were not supposed to ignore each other’s fate after passing that bridge and our spirits didn’t want to scatter after experiencing that integration. Undoubtedly such a thing is a sign of rising growth and dignity in the life of a nation.

The dignity of a nation is not based on being rich or powerful. They are only small parts of its effects. The dignity of a nation is based on the greatness of its spirit. Dignity is seen when we can have apparently incompatible proceedings together. A small house is a place only for “me”, but in a big house there is also space for others. An employer which has a small spirit thinks that he can only reach prosperity by alienating labor’s rights, while a great employer knows that benefiting others, is the only way of gaining profit. The difference of a small employee and a great employee is also the same. Based on thousands of reasons, the only way of benefiting is to benefit others, but those who are small [in personality and spirit] do not have enough capacity to be patience with others. It is also the difference of a religious person who is great and a religious person who is not. A great religious man is Imam Sadeq (6th Imam of Shiite) who sat in the House of God and had conversation with an atheist. The truth of the House of God is his heart that has capacity for everyone, and respects everybody’s right, the right of living, the right of hearing, the right of choosing, and the right to make mistakes and to be great. Yes, being great. Otherwise, what a great person has to do with someone who is not? They see an irreligious person in a place where he can face the beauties of religion. If he could not find any truth,he would not ignore the possibility of understanding it by others. Or they can be small and reject whatever they have not heard before. They can be small and refuse whatever they can not understand. They can be small and call others’ ideas baseless without listening to them carefully.

Our nation is now showing the signs of its greatness; this is the wonderful change our nation was in search of. Of course the important thing is the greatness itself and not its signs. I repeat its signs to believe once again that it comes like spring and changes our lives. To believe in its auspiciousness and not to be scared of changes it will bring. This is the growth that our Revolution was founded on. Some times passed, and we neglected it, but our God did not neglect it. He developed the seed which was planted 30 years ago by many hopes, until now when its sprouts are ahead of us.

The greatness symbols of a nation are qualities that are expected from a brave human being. A man who has no ideal is a man worth nothing. However, who can be an idealist while not losing the touch of reality? A brave human being and a great nation.

If people are still demanding the full execution of the Constitution as their main slogan despite of all those bitter scenes they have seen in the last months, is not because their other demands can not be met. It was only and only the realistic sense of people and their wisdom that did not allow a volatile and radical reaction to the horrendous behavior of the rulers.

In another example, imagine the quality of bravery. The courage that a brave person (like a father who is defending his young daughter) shows is not with an uproar. It is not without a foresight and it is not necessitated with accepting an unreasonable price. However, [this courage] is more fearsome and more effective than the strength of others. Haven’t you seen this level of courage in the brevity that people demonstrated?


In another instance, adaptability of a brave person is not translated into giving in. It only means that (s)he has many problem solving options. In the last six months any window [of opportunity] that people opened was closed. However, they have created new solutions without leaning towards confrontations and without compromising on their ideals.

As another example, look at the patience and firmness in the movement of people.

They live their demands in such patience that it looks like they have lived them for a hundred years; A patience that exhausted their opponents; a patience that resembles growth.

As another example, a brave human being is some one who has self-confidence i.e. he is aware of the values that exist within him. We have not been like this for a long time. We had to keep our heads down. The self-confidence of our nation was taken away in two centuries of subordination, until the Revolution repaired this fallen barricade. However, did we reach this goal immediately and cleared the historical damages from our souls?

So why were we surprised when our artists were praised throughout the world?

As if we did not even suspect ingenious form an Iranian. Or as if we were so pessimistic, that if we had the slightest praiseworthy feature in ourselves we were looking through the conspiracy theories. Does a brave human being react like this if he is praised? Or is he aware of his qualities such that neither applauds make him overwhelmed with joy nor deviate him from his path. In the last few months the nation of Iran was praised tremendously. Now compare our people’s reaction to these applauds to their previous reactions so that you believe that the essence of our society is experiencing their symbols of greatness. .

It is mentioned in our 20-year Perspective Document that Iran must be the most powerful country of the region in the year 1404 [2025 in Georgian Calendar]. Are we supposed to tell the truth about our greatness to the world and the region or are we supposed to lie in that year? Are we just supposed to wear the big clothes to look great while we have not grown and prospered? Are we just supposed to inaugurate uncompleted civil projects in the level of the countries in the region? Are we supposed to consider our lost cause [diplomatic] travels as victories with the help of the media? Are we expected to put ourselves in the middle of continued controversies and contempt others so that we can claim greatness? Or are we supposed to be really powerful?

I ask this question because I believe that a country is only great when it has a great nation.

Our wish came true and our great nation matured to a well deserved degree, only by relying on itself. However, the problem is that this great nation will not keep quiet if its votes are taken away. A great nation does not tolerate degraded elections with fixed results. When a nation becomes great, its [public] servants can no longer tell the people what to eat, where to go, who to elect, and whom or what to trust. This great nation expects the guardian council to convince them of the legitimacy of the elections. They don’t accept from the council to claim only one thing [that everything is fine] and to annul all the observations and documented facts.

They ask us to forget about the election results as if the problem is only the elections. How are we supposed to explain that it is not so? The problem of our people is not who the head of the government is or who is not. The problem is that this some are blustering their ego to the face pride of great nation. What makes people angry is that their greatness is denied explicitly.

Don’t you want to be the government and for us not to? The way is to pay attention to the reality: people have no fraternity agreement with anybody. They choose the one who has more respect for their greatness. Paying attention to this fact will solve the election problem too, but if neglected be aware that the problem is not going to be limited to just the election results.

[Dear] brothers of ours! If you are not getting anywhere with your enormous efforts and cumbersome costs, perhaps you have mistaken the battlefield. You fight people on the streets, but you are constantly losing your dignity in people’s minds. If you are not going to tolerate the celebration of Azar 16th in the universities, what you are going to do with Azar 17th, and Azar 18th? How do you capture the minds of those who saw with their own eyes your fear and your useless battles in the universities ? Even if you silenced all the students, what are you going to do with the realities of the society?

These are the words we say with good intentions, but they would not listen. If they listened, we would have been very close to victory. The victory that I speak of is not that of any specific party; it is the expansion of the nation’s maturity; the victory that makes the people, individually and in groups, greater, to the point that even the warder will be ashamed.

Recently I have heard that Basij in one of the universities has given the opportunity of speaking up to the opposition. That is a good start. I have also heard that they gave each other green scarves as gifts for Eid Ghadeer . From our point of view this is the greatest gift. It wasn’t we who chose green. It was green that chose us. Is it possible for green to choose our brothers too? We think it is possible, because the good-hearted is one who doesn’t look at the deceiver’s deception. The way to becoming green is not closed to any one.

Mir-Hossein Mousavi
15/09/1388
[06/12/2009]

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Mousavi's 15th Statement: 30th Anniversary of the Formation of the Basij

Mousavi's 15th Statement: 30th Anniversary of the Formation of the Basij
Source: Kaleme.com
Date: Tuesday, November 25, 2009


In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

5th of Azar (November 26) is the anniversary of creation of ‘Basij of the Oppressed’ by Imam Khomeini. This anniversary is an opportunity to have a second look at this influential institution in the history of the Islamic revolution: What was the Basij? What is it now? and what should it be? What force created the Basij, and gave it a name and recognition? What made it a hero of all the different tastes and inclinations [of different classes] in a period of the modern history of this land? That glorious history and great success known as Basij was not achieved through extensive budgets, and expensive weapons. It was not excellent institutionalized organization techniques that made the Basij as glorious as a tale of magnificent proportions. It was not military power that formed Basij. Instead, it was deep and pure intentions that created this high tower and nurtured role models whose names are remembered as if they were loyal friends of the prophet.

In addition, in the history of the revolution, Basij is the symbol and centerpiece of courage and persistence of our nation. 30 years ago, Imam created ‘Basij of the Oppressed’ to stand against probable military assault of superpowers. This act was the most influential step taken to prevent any such attacks. In the past three three decades, powers great and small carried the most destructive of weapons. The only thing that stopped them from assaulting our soil or made them regret their assault was that they had seen the courage of the people who were not afraid of the strength of the powerful. They had seen people who did not stop at anything to defend their rights and ideals. Basij was a window through which this aspect of our nation was displayed.

Basij was a manifestation of the union of [social] layers and different appetites among our people. When our caring father [Imam Khomeini] was planting this tree, he said: “A country that has 20 million youth, must have 20 million Basij members.” How could have this been achieved if Basij belonged to only one mode of thinking, one group or one class? What he meant by the 20 million army was the color and capacity that could represent if not all, at least a big majority of the colors that exist in our society; something like the flags of prince of martyrs, [third Imam of Shiite] that is yearly raised everywhere throughout our country, and all of our social layers even some of the religious minorities gather around it.

If Basij has turned into one of our nation’s greatest achievements it was because of attention to such secrets. Otherwise, a name [Basij] can not by itself achieve such almost artistic relics of greatness: The art of changing normal people to an army who relies on God, the art of resisting and winning [the war] empty handed and the art of becoming the source and axis for the union and for the pride of a nation.

Today too, it’s the same story. It is not orders of labels and symbols, words and appearances, neither is it types of discourse and accents nor sentences or magic that creates such schools [Basij or purposeful togetherness] of love, and great humans. All the Basijis, whether known or nameless, who are the pride of faith and land, did not become heroes because of their words. They were tested. Of course, there is not one person in this world who is not tested with choosing right from wrong.

“Do men think that they will be left alone on saying, ‘We believe, and that they will not be tested?
[Quran: Spider-2]

“We did test those before them, and Allah will certainly know those who are true from those who are false”
[Quran: Spider-3]

The time has reached for the inheritors of Bagheris and Bakeris. A new generation who are called Basijis and are in the middle of the darkest suspicions and upheaval. Is this new generation similar to those who have fought along The Commander of Faithful in the Battle of Camel? Or such similarities are pointless and those who make such similarities want Basij to be an oppressive machine to hit, capture, hurt and even kill the human beings whom their only sin is asking for justice? Who knows the answer to such questions? What is the real identity of the institution which is currently called “Basij of the Oppressed”? Is this an erratic institution that closes its eyes and breaks the arms and legs of its brothers and sisters when they are ordered to do so? Or is it an institution with the deepest insight that can distinguish the right way from wrong way in the darkest nights of upheaval. The night of upheaval is like a days for those who have doubts in their answers to these questions.

“Whenever you are faced with Fitna (Upheavals) like parts of a dark night, Quran is yours [to get refuge and find your way]”. Hear the response of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) to all these doubts that when upheavals gets into you like parts of a dark night you have to look through Quran! Quran is an intercessor that its intercession is always accepted, and if it becomes a witness against anyone its testimony is accepted. A book that will lead to paradise anyone who considers it as a leader and will drive to hell anyone who goes against it. A book that guides to the best of ways. Quran is a book that clearly and explicitly orders us to be with the truthful.

“O you who believe, fear Allah and be with the truthful”

However, if the truthful were known, the night of upheaval would have ended. On the other hand it is clear that the truthful never lies. Those who lie in their most important political campaign are certainly not truthful. God-conciseness is not their companion and faith is not compatible with them. Haven’t you hear any lies in the past months?


“O you who believe, fear Allah and be with the truthful”

What was the Basij, what will be, and what is to be done?

The Basji that the Imam wanted would not stand against the nation, but would stand behind them and with them. [He envisioned] A Basji whose actions would go beyond political factions and its broad shoulders would protect all, a Basij that would enjoy the friendship of the people, a Basij that would be seeking people’s friendship and unity. A Basij that would overlook the differences of opinion and protect the life and liberty of the masses, that would see them all as brothers or one in creation. A Basji that would protect the privacy of people. Imam did not want the Basij as a tool of authority, but a place for people to project their own power, a place that would allow them to have a part in their own future. It was supposed to be that the actions and behavior of the Basij would be an example to the people, not to have the power of the Basij crush the people. The Basij was not supposed to be on the government payroll and was not supposed to receive bonuses for arresting people for participating in demonstrations. It is a sad day if the Basij becomes just another political party. This is not what the Imam wanted for the Basjiis. The Basji was not supposed to be an instrument to take away people’s freedom in their votes.

My Basjii brothers! What were the faults or flaws in Imam [Khomeini]’s aspirations for Basij that you have abandoned them? Why should you ruin the image created based on the efforts of those before you? You are from the people and with the people. Why do the concepts that our people favour based on their nature, cause such hatred among our Basiji friends? What is bad about freedom? Why talking about freedom causes so much disgust in the heart of some our Basiji friends as if freedom is a unforgivable sin? We know that many of our cities’ major crossroads are called freedom. Don’t we say that subjects like human rights, women rights, minorities rights, and as such are exploited by great powers to hypocritically associate themselves with these concepts and demonstrate a good face?

So why should those who are the main and noble owners of such values and ideals , distance themselves from them? Do they want their school of thought to look detestable? Why do you ban these concepts and consider them as criteria for being non-religious? Religious is like a favorite flower bestowed upon people. Its teachings are moderate and in agreement with people ‘s nature. Lest! Don’t turn it in to a torn bush, that everyone who touches it gets harmed, like what our youth experiences [nowadays] in the streets.

Thirty years ago Basij came to existence just like a flower and a blast of light. If one desires return to that luminous original era, does that mean he has turned his back on the [Islamic] Revolution and intends to turn over the system? Isn’t it a call to justice if one requests to return to the original version of Islamic revolution? if one demands the pure Islam of Mohammad, the one that Imam [Khomeini] was its mouthpiece and referral; if one expresses distaste toward superstitious and superficiality, which is sold to people in the name of religion; if one follows all the articles of the constitution; if one asks for the loyalty to the vows made based on belief and humanity? Is it legitimate to smack such people in the streets, to torture them in the jails, to sentence them to long terms in prison? Do Islam and Koran teachings allow killing of the people who peacefully ask their rulers to be just?

“And they kill the people who asked them to be just. So warn them of a severe punishment.”

What was [the essence of] Basij before ? , and what will it turn into if it continues on the road laid for it? The force that once represented the courage of our nation is now used to terrorize Iranians? It is evident that the newest and the latest strategy adopted by the authoritarian minority is to create fear in people. They wear terrifying apparel and gather in military formations in the city streets to frighten their countrymen? They terrorize people because they themselves are terrified? Or they convict the sons of this revolution to 7 , 10 and 15 years in prison to console themselves? And they don’t realize how they are jeopardizing the national security with these short-sighted behaviors?

It is sufficient for great powers to see [our] people frightened to harass our nation. To see our people’s courage undermined and their strength and their endurance uncertain to believe their dreams of the last 30 years [against our nation] are coming true. Look at our two neighboring countries that are occupied by foreign forces. In both countries they attempted to terrify people and people were terrified. On the surface the [great] powers stepped into these countries with the promise to set them free. But they did not hide their greed in [seeing] horrified faces of people when they established places like Abu Ghraib. They told people of these two countries with outmost clarity that you are the people who were scared of Saddam and Taliban , now it is justified to be more scared of our terrorizing weaponry. Even the radical terrorists still savagely kill these people hoping they can rule them based on their fear as the bloodthirsty [dictators] did before them . The victims of the brutalities of Saddam and Taliban are still paying for their lack of courage. But our nation owes its security and peace to courage and strength shown in the last thirty years.

Now some people in the country want to take this [social] capital away from us. [Our] people are either not frightened by their shows , which they are not and they will take away this last weapon away from them, or they will be scared. In that case will [only]these war toys [weapons] keep this country intact?

In our contemporary history Basij was not just a name , it was a conduct that we will always need. [This is true] to the extent that if those responsible for Basij forget their duties and assignments we need to carry them out ourselves. It is a necessity, even more important than the goals of our movement , that forces us not to let anyone show greed in our fear.

And we should know, there is no color beyond black. [Creating] fear is their last effort. Your opponents made a mistake and used what they had as the last resort against your peaceful strength. The true solutions to their [quandaries] are yourselves. The day you ask your opponents: “are the colorful flags you carry in the support of implementing the full constitution?” and they answered yes, welcome them. That day we will all be green.

Mir Hossein Mousavi

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Mousavi's 14th Statement

Mousavi's 14th Statement
Source: Kalemeh
Date: Saturday, October 31, 2009


In the Name of God the Compassionate, the Merciful,

In our modern history, the thirteenth of Aban [4th of November] is reminiscent of three events. The first was when Imam Khomeini was exiled, and the movement went into a thirteen year recession. After being able to silence the movement by sending the Imam into exile, the Shah’s regime marveled at why such a thing was not done sooner. There was one uprising and one Imam, and when he was far from it, there was nothing left of its spirit. Was the Imam truly alone in the movement he had begun? Never. It is never such that one person can create change in society. He had many followers, but they were not like the friends that would surround him years later, when he said: “our leader is that 13 year old child …”

The second thirteenth of Aban is the day of thirteen year old leaders. Students who had gathered at the University of Tehran for a protest and faced a most violent death. It was the regime’s experience with the events of the 40s [the 1960s] that caused such a bloody reaction. They [the regime] thought that if they act as determined as before, they will once again achieve the same incredible results. But that is while the base of society had changed. The monarchist establishment was no loner facing one Imam. This time, people had surrounded the Imam who may not have known him as well as their fathers did, or who had not heard his speeches, but who had as much spirit and strength in their hearts as the Imam himself. Unlike their fathers, they did not need to be repressed or to see as much evil to join this movement

Much has been said about the third thirteenth of Aban. It is unlikely that anything of that event has remained unsaid. Including the fact that in that event, the Imam followed the Muslim students. On the surface, the students called themselves the followers of the Imam, but in reality, it was the Imam who followed what they did. None of the leaders and commanders of the revolution had a role in shaping what came to be that day. Even the students themselves thought that everything would be over in a few days and they will return home. But the Imam followed the events and called it a revolution greater than the first revolution. Only anImam who has experienced the bitter taste of thirteen years of exile knows that a society which has lived under rigid and severe rule does not have spirit and does not have a healthy existence. He preferred to let people lead because he knew simply passing one historic milestone is not enough in the prosperity of a nation. The nation must have such knowledge and insight to be able to tell right from wrong in every day and age, and to be able to walk the right path. Today, our people are the leaders and this is the great wish that the Imam had for them. He invited us to those thing which promise life.

And now, the thirteenth of Aban, this greenest day of the year is approaching. Today, is it conceivable that the flame of the people’s movement may be extinguished, if a fellow countrymen is kept silent? If such a thing happens, we will lose the fruit of 45 years of our history and our struggle. And if it doesn’t happen, this will show the roots of our revolutionary spirit. It is reliance on these roots that have made us green, roots that if we leave neglected, we will have turned to those very things that our opponents wish. It is thus absolutely necessary that we carefully approach any such extreme efforts.


Our movement will not benefit from leaving Islam to the hands of worshipers of superstition, leaving the revolution to the incompetent and the devious, neglecting the fruits of 100 years of struggle and replacing that heritage with misconstrued and twisted images, and alienating ourselves from that heritage. If some foreign governments insist on such tendencies, that may be because they have personal gains in such an effort. If need be, they will sit at the negotiation tables while turning their backs on the current movement of the Iranians, and they will be content with the little freedom and political progress that exists in neighboring countries, and we can not reprimand them for such actions. It is we ourselves who must be reprimanded if we do not tell wisely the interests of our own country.

These days, people are all asking of victory. When will we achieve it? How will we get there faster? And what will add to its perfection? Our entire existence is prayer and inquisition, and we are filled with the lords words who has said that he will grant us some of whatever we may wish [from the Koran: And he granted some of whatever you asked for.] The mere fact that a demand has been created in society means that no one will be able to get in its way and governments can only attempt to influence factors like time, scale and the shape of its realization.

Can we too influence these factors? Yes. [from the Koran] people will only reap rewards to the extent to which they use their intelligence and insight. In the past few months, our people have been blessed with the rewards of their own wisdom.

Our green path is a path of rationality and shows that we are persistent in standing up for our demands. If we were to be extremists, be certain that there would have been nothing left of us. ٍExtreme enthusiasm leads to unenthusiasm. If you need an example of this, look no further than the foreign policy of this government. The same time when they were busy infusing our international relations with propaganda, and refused to utilize moderation and intelligence, it was obvious that they would soon bargain the interests of our people with nothing. Sixteen years ago, neither the media nor statesmen considered developing nuclear fuel for Tehran’s program very important news. Today, it appears that a large proportion of the product of Iran’s nuclear program, which went on to see this much chaos and was to bring a number of sanctions for the people, must be handed to another country, in hopes that they will be kind enough to offer us some fuel later on. Is this a victory? It is an obvious deception when they call this “the greatest of victories”[Ahmadinejad’s speech].

The statesmen neither solved the problems of the world [which Ahmadinejad had claimed he would] or stressed the rights of their own people but rather, were willing to forgo those rights all together. They showed that in surrendering too they are extremists. Even if with the help of friends, losing the achievements of Iran’s nuclear program will be thwarted, we have not seen the last of this extremism and their actions will pave the way for more sanctions and isolation for Iran.


What we can learn from this is to avoid extremism ourselves. Sooner or later – and, with the help of God, sooner – those who stand against the people will leave. On that day, will only a ruined country remain for the nation? What we must be worried about today is the interests of our country and except for its rightful owners, no one else will be occupied with this. Building tomorrow must begin today. We must be so prepared that if tomorrow suddenly presents itself, we will not be taken by surprise. Each of us must feel the great responsibility that rests on our shoulders.

Our constant demand for the constitution to be carried out is a key solution to building the future. With such an approach, we will have a light to guide us in the dark, and we will not be stepping on the struggles of generations past. Whatever remains in our hearts and desires [that is not in the constitution] we will strive for in our life because formal structures do not reflect, for the most part, the greater realities that exist in society. The greater reality is what goes on in our lives. The superficial structures can arrest the children of this revolution and imprison them like criminals and dress them up in degraded clothing, but the people can look at those images and feel pride, and create heroes out of those very images. Who is the winner in this confrontation? The superficial structure can condemn these people in show trials and the people will be the final judge in those trials. Which of these is the true ruler of society? The superficial structure can degrade these families and attempt to shame them with its abusive behavior but while these families suffer, the people will always know them to be courageous and honorable. Which of these two views will win the hearts of these families? Pay attention, up to now, we’ve only been talking about the power that exists in the view of the people, and not about power they have to actually do other things. The superficial structures can sentence these families to isolation and the people can embrace them. Truly, which of these will triumph? The superficial structures can deprive the students of dormitories for the crime of expressing their opinion and deprive them of a livelihood and the social networks can back them with their support. Which of these groups is more powerful? But this is a wrong way to frame the question because in essence, there is no confrontation between these two entities. One is, and the other isn’t. It is our life that gives meaning to any matter in the external order of society. In the past few months we have changed society not by breaking this external order but by changing its meaning. We have no need to break order when it is we who give it direction in every circumstance.

This will be our path from now on as well. When so many parts of our constitution go unnoticed, the truth is that there is no difference between good law and bad law. Even if the political structure of our country were in the best of orders, what difference does it make when our lives do not give it credibility? Does not give it meaning? Does not approve it and does not ask for it? In the same way, if this structure was backward or wrong, we could only attempt to correct it if we could first correct the meaning and we do this through the path we live in our lives.

There are so many nations who do not choose to exercise this power, who choose to leave power in the hands of the powerful. They will not lead their societies, but we will.

The thirteenth of Aban is that pledge which reminds us that among us, it is the people who are the leaders. I send my deepest wishes to the people of Iran for this day, and I ask the lord for freedom, patience and rewards that are worthy of the creators of this day, some of whom are now in prison, and the other hostages of the green movement.

Mir Hossein Mousavi

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