Khameini’s Friday Sermon: Good cop, bad cop and shades of 1988?

Thanks to Josh Shahryar for his second-by-second translation of today’s sermon:

[08:47:04] (Khamenei Starts Again)

[08:47:05] In the Name of God,

[08:47:23] (Khamenei prays some more)

[08:47:44] (Still Praying)

[08:48:36] I ask all you brothers and sisters to fear god in all our actions.

[08:48:45] In the second part of my sermon,

[08:48:58] First, it is imperative that we remember Ayatollah Taleghani and also Ayatollah Madani as today has a connection with them, and these two men, their lives, are part of the history of our country.

[08:49:53] Their memories will remain in our minds and our history.

[08:50:00] One thing I’ll say in today’s sermon and the people who I’m going to say this to are politicians and officials of the government or those who were part of the government.

[08:50:51] Let’s use Ramadan for explaining realities, and preach guidance to listeners and especially to the youth as this will be beneficial.

[08:51:19] The people that we will be speaking to are part of the system; individuals who are inside the system and hopefully, they will be remain in the system.

[08:51:49] This is not just a slogan – this inside the system and outside the system thing.

[08:52:09] One thing is that from the beginning of the revolution to this day, there have been differences that have emerged.

[08:52:31] Some of these differences and rifts have proven costly, but some of them have been solved by the wisdom and vigilance of the people and has not cost the government much.

[08:52:54] These differences of ideas and rifts are not all the same.

[08:53:04] Some of these differences were a result of differences in beliefs,

[08:53:18] But some of them are differences that have been created as result of some people’s personal gains.

[08:53:31] Some of them are just differences of how things should be implemented.

[08:53:36] So these differences are all not the same.

[08:53:43] From the beginning of the revolution, as we were all together with each other, differences emerged.

[08:54:10] Imam Khomeini did not deal with all these the same way, same as Ali.

[08:54:24] Imam KHomeini first tried to guide them. There were different people in the government back then.

[08:54:42] There were people from the old bureaucracy, there were people who had just joined the government and then there were those who were using terror and protests to achieve their objectives.

[08:54:59] He dealt with them all differently.

[08:55:07] Some of these people were at top levels of government…

…

[08:55:19] He even dealt with a president.

[08:55:22] (transmission cut)

[08:55:26] (back up)

[08:55:31] These differences were created,

[08:55:42] Some of them resulted in debates,

[08:55:54] But some became heated arguments,

[08:56:20] To those who were enemies of religion, Imam Khomeini said that he would come to them personally.

[08:56:34] But when came the time that some wanted to force wrong ideas into the system,

[08:56:45] Imam Khomeini hit back against those.

[08:57:08] Now those who are after personal gains, try to make it look as if they’re seeking something else.

[08:57:25] But that’s when they become enemies of the system,

[08:57:42] If someone has a different idea but does not try hit back at the system, the system is fine with them.

[08:57:59] Political ideologies that are different, we’re fine with them, as long as they don’t force it upon the system.

[08:58:05] It’s not about have differences,

[08:58:11] It’s about attacking the Islamic system,

[08:58:18] This what the system will fight against,

[08:58:36] If there are differences over how to implement the system’s goals, then that’s fine.

[08:58:52] The system should have people who could point out the weaknesses in the system,

[08:58:59] criticism makes people work harder,

[08:59:08] But all this must be inside the framework of the system.

[08:59:16] This difference in implementation are not dangerous.

[08:59:33] However,

[08:59:52] The pillars of the system are the constitution,

[09:00:00] Imam’s way,

[09:00:03] Koran,

[09:00:19] Having differences in how to implement, are not a big problem,

[09:00:35] However when some come up with dfferent pillars for the system, that is dangerous,

[09:00:44] As long as they work inside the framework of the system as we said.

[09:01:02] As long as peopel don’t resort to violence, don’t lie or create tension, system will not attack,

[09:01:11] The system will tolerate them.

[09:01:17] If they have a different opinion.

[09:01:40] However, if some people comes with the pillars of the system and create insecurity for people,

[09:01:46] Then the system needs to deal with them.

[09:01:53] (People chant loudly)

[09:02:15] People that have been slandered and humiliated, we say they should have the right to be defended,

[09:02:23] Then the system ALSO has the right to defend itself,

[09:02:33] Some say since the system is political, it should not defend itself,

[09:02:37] This is not right.

[09:02:42] Nowhere in the world is this so.

[09:02:59] In any part of the world, even in countries where they say they are politically advanced,

[09:03:06] People do not disagree with the system,

[09:03:10] They have checks and balances,

[09:03:14] Like our own Guardian Council,

[09:03:30] They don’t tolerate someone who comes and fight against the system,

[09:03:38] The system doesn’t sit back and tolerate such people.

[09:03:50] In European countries, they don’t tolerate such people. They fight back against such people.

[09:03:55] Thus,

[09:04:14] The answer to any attacks on the system have repercussions.

[09:04:38] But having a different opinion – when doesn’t come with slander and lies -, the system will tolerate them.

[09:04:42] Another point,

[09:05:26] A point government officials, influentials and politicians should be aware of is to stay on the path and not diverge.

[09:05:51] The Koran says in different parts of this holy book,

[09:06:11] “The result of some actions takes us to where one says that verses of the Koran are lies.”

[09:06:16] In another part,

[09:06:43] “They broke their promise with God, and disunity was sown among them.”

[09:07:10] “Some people who cannot stand against the enemy and fall, it is because they have sinned in the past.”

[09:07:18] Sins corrupt us.

[09:07:23] It takes time,

[09:07:27] It doesn’t happen all at once,

[09:07:35] One cannot sleep one night a Muslim and wake up an infidel,

[09:07:36] No,

[09:07:40] It happens gradually,

[09:07:48] The cure to this is fear of God,

[09:07:55] We must be cautious,

[09:08:00] We must watch over each other,

[09:08:11] Wives must watch husbands and vice versa,

[09:08:17] Friends should watch over each other,

[09:08:24] People should send letters to officials,

[09:08:26] Guide them,

[09:08:35] So that officials shouldn’t make mistakes,

[09:08:43] As this is dangerous for the system,

[09:09:00] We must ask Allah for guidance,

[09:09:06] Another point is,

[09:09:17] As with people,

[09:09:25] Corruption might find its way into a system too,

[09:09:29] Even an Islamic system.

[09:09:44] The same infliction might afflict an Islamic system – just as in people.

[09:09:51] A system that might look Islamic,

[09:10:01] But its actions would be unIslamic.

[09:10:11] Like I told students last year.

[09:10:27] The system could progress or regress.

[09:11:07] Progress would make society get closer to the ideals of justice and religion and religious character, progress industrially and in terms of education and progress in terms of freedom.

[09:11:23] It would make society stand up more firmly against enemies.

[09:11:35] These are signs of positive progress.

[09:11:57] These would build the life and the afterlife of the citizens of a society.

[09:12:09] But there is regress as well.

[09:12:43] Regress towards injustice, towards economic insufficiency, towards the use of freedom in corrupt actions and for sinful acts,

[09:13:18] instead of standing against unjust powers of the world, showing weakness, backing down from this and smiling at these people.

[09:13:33] Backing down from one’s rights both nuclear and non-nuclear,

[09:13:38] This is regress.

[09:13:47] The system shouldn’t make the society regress.

[09:13:50] It should make it progress.

[09:13:55] This is a danger to the Islamic system.

[09:14:02] People need to be vigilant.

[09:14:26] The Islamic system is an Islamic system when it follows the same things that were being followed in the lifetime of Imam Khomeini.

[09:14:30] (Classic conservatism)

[09:14:52] I tell you that in my past 30 years, every time we have followed the path of Imam Khomeini, we have become victorious.

[09:15:21] But every time we have stopped following that path, we have weakened, have backed down and have even
had economic losses.

[09:15:41] Some think that one should drop one’s weapons against the powerful enemy,

[09:15:59] Some people wanted to do this during the elections,

[09:16:08] They wanted to take the people’s support from the Islamic regime,

[09:16:18] But the support for the Islamic regime was the 40 million votes.

[09:16:42] Then the foreign media kept saying that the regime had lost the people’s support,

[09:16:43] But

[09:16:50] People coming in such number to polls,

[09:16:57] This trust of the people,

[09:16:59] In the regime,

[09:17:05] It shows it.

[09:17:13] People trust the regime and the regime trusts the people.

[09:17:25] You will see that in the next election in 2 3 years,

[09:17:55] The same people – even though enemies from outside and those inside who don’t know and are oblivious – will
have another strong showing in that election as well.

[09:17:59] (people chant)

[09:18:04] The point is,

[09:18:08] We all must be cautious,

[09:18:20] The Islamic system is proud,

[09:18:29] Because it wants to follow the Koran,

[09:18:36] Let’s not have it become secular,

[09:18:43] Not with a secular inside and a Koranic outside,

[09:18:51] An inside that is in love with western ideals,

[09:18:56] And then shows a Koranic veil.

[09:19:07] The Islamic System must be true to its name.

[09:19:13] It should get closer to the Islam daily,

[09:19:16] This is what solves problems,

[09:19:26] This is what gives the society pride and power,

[09:19:44] This is what will make the number of the Islamic system’s supporters swell,

[09:19:55] Some people see all the enemies and they become afraid,

[09:20:05] All the governments in the world have enemies and they have friends,

[09:20:18] This has been the same throughout history,

[09:20:23] Everyone has some friends and some enemies,

[09:20:26] The prophet’s government,

[09:20:29] Ali’s government

[09:20:45] The Islamic system is also the same, it has some friends and has some enemies.

[09:20:58] But it is important is to see who the enemy is and who the friends are,

[09:21:38] There is one government that all those governments that are cruel and unjust and zionist are enemies of it.

[09:21:42] This is something to be proud of.

[09:22:09] Then there are friends of this country which are Islamic countries, African countries, Asian countries, Muslims in Europe,

[09:22:11] Some years ago,

[09:22:26] The Iranian soccer team a few years ago, was playing,

[09:22:40] Some people in Northern Africa in a cafe were cheering for Iran’s team.

[09:22:53] They said, “Iran’s victory is our victory – even in football.”

[09:23:04] During this unrest and violence after the elections,

[09:23:22] People in Islamic countries would ask their friends about it in Iran,

[09:23:44] But people here would say, “The Islamic system is far more powerful then to be damaged by this.”

[09:23:45] Yes,

[09:23:53] There are enemies like America and Britain and zionists,

[09:23:58] Let these enemies be enemies.

[09:24:19] But

[09:24:31] If there is a government with friends like America, the UK and zionists, that is shameful.

[09:24:43] To have as enemies the Islamic countries, that is shameful.

[09:24:56] (no transmission)

[09:25:09] We shouldn’t give up.

[09:25:18] We shouldn’t accept defeat against such countries, we should be cautious,

[09:25:21] Dear youngsters,

[09:25:24] This is your country,

[09:25:26] It is your tomorrow,

[09:26:02] A powerful system – powerful in all parts of it – should make your proud,

[09:26:15] It should be your duty and it is your duty to protect it.

[09:26:35] An Islamic system in reality.

[09:26:46] An Islamic system that Imam Khomeini gave our country as a gift.

[09:27:05] Remember,

[09:27:31] In the past ten years, they tried to change the path of Imam Khomeini,

[09:27:43] They kept said that the slogans of the revolution were old,

[09:27:47] But they will never become old.

[09:27:53] They are always attractive to the people.

[09:28:05] (people chant)

[09:28:25] Next week,

[09:28:31] Friday is Quds Day,

[09:28:48] This is one of the most distinguished marks of Imam Khomeini.

[09:28:57] With this day,

[09:29:10] We have been able to keep Palestine’s cause alive in the world,

[09:29:24] A lot of countries in the world tried to force this cause into oblivion,

[09:29:33] But the Islamic regime did not.

[09:30:00] Now the powerful nation [USA] and zionists are concerned that the Islamic regime will not give up.

[09:30:11] And they keep attempting to avert this.

[09:30:23] We will celebrate Quds Day and we will hold gatherings and rallies.

[09:30:35] In other countries also a lot of Muslims follow the Iranian people,

[09:30:42] Quds Day is for the Palestinians,

[09:30:51] It is a show of unity of Iranians,

[09:30:54] Be cautious,

[09:31:12] So that no one could use this day to create differences and rifts between us.

[09:31:51] They couldn’t break our unity before and they cannot now.

[09:31:56] (People Chant)

[09:32:02] (Khamenei wraps it up and Prays)