Speech in Meeting with a Large Group of Freed Prisoners

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

Whenever one meets with any group of you dear ones, the thought becomes more alive that truly the place of Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) — that kind father, that intimate guide and mentor, that compassionate and esteemed teacher — is empty. If he had seen you brave children, who today, thanks be to God, have returned with pride to the embrace of the nation and country, he would certainly have observed the divine promises in this regard materialized. We thank God that you have returned victorious and Islam has become proud and honored.

In these twelve years, all events were like this. Every incident they created to disgrace Islam, the Quran, and the Islamic Revolution turned out the opposite, and Islam, the Revolution, and the Islamic community became proud. Your return was of this kind. Up to this point, we all have a very valuable experience. You endured many hardships. We can guess how much you suffered in prison and captivity, at the hands of such people with such malicious and dark hearts, far from humanity. Moreover, you were in captivity during a time when your nation was facing various hardships.

During these years that you were absent; whether during the imposed war, or the two years after the imposed war that passed over us, and during the various incidents of the war — victories, advances, retreats, defeats — the Iranian nation went through very strange tests. Certainly, you were worried about these events from afar, and this was another hardship. But now, thanks be to God, you are free and have returned, and you are pleased and happy that you did not surrender to the enemy and came back with pride, and the nation is also happy that it did not pay tribute to the enemy, did not back down, did not show weakness, and did not say that I have thousands of captives, so I should back down a little in such and such a matter. No, the nation and the officials, like a Muslim should be, held their heads high throughout these ten years, relied on God, and did not back down in the face of any incident.

The nation is also happy that it did not back down, did not show weakness, did not retreat, and under the shadow of this patience and perseverance, today it receives its dear ones with honor. There is a difference between obtaining what one wants with humiliation or with honor. Our nation preserved its honor and took you back; you also preserved the honor and dignity of Islam and your country and returned to the embrace of the homeland. We are proud of you. You are the good, brave, and proud children of this country and Islam. From now on, we must use past experiences in other fields.

We are now stronger than before, by the grace of God. Today in the world, there is no material analyst, enemy, friend, left, right, or otherwise who does not recognize the Iranian nation as powerful, and the Islamic Republic system as a strong, rooted, and stable system; all admit it. This is due to the guidance of our great Imam. He specified a path that this great nation is moving on today with tranquility, confidence, and firmness of heart and has not deviated an iota from that path. The officials are among the best; the nation is the best of nations and is advancing powerfully on this path.

With your arrival, the power of this nation became more apparent. Today, the enemy is hopeless about encroaching on the Revolution; however, it is not regretful of its enmity. Our nation must be vigilant. Our first duty is to make our country powerful in every aspect. Today, all the programs of the Islamic Republic government are in line with empowering Islamic Iran. Islam is also our support. You, as experienced, tested, and seasoned elements who have passed through fields of danger, can be among the brightest jewels of this collection.

Continue the effort. No one should say I have done my duty, so my work is finished. In Islam, it is not like this. Our great Imam was someone who spent nearly ninety years of his life in effort and in the last days of his life, he was working and striving and never considered himself a creditor to the nation, to God, or to the world, and always considered himself a debtor; even though there is no one in the world who does not recognize the role of that powerful hand in advancing this Revolution. We all owe the Revolution. Everyone must strive. And today you are the most qualified, or among the most qualified elements who can strive for the advancement of this Revolution and the empowerment of this country; the field is open.

We hope that God will bestow His highest blessings upon you. We hope that God will always keep your hearts and your families' hearts joyful. We hope that God will soon bring joy to the hearts of those families who are still waiting for their dear ones. We hope that God will gather those dear and lonely martyrs who were martyred during captivity with His dearest saints.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings