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

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I have good memories of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari.

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I took a trip to Shahr-e Kord [capital city of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province] in the years of 1980s - when I was the president -

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to embolden and encourage people to go to war fronts [during Iraq’s invasion of Iran].

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This was [part of] a provincial tour when I went to various provinces, [and as part of that tour I] went to Shahr-e Kord.

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Well, all the people came together and answered [to my call],

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but Shahr-e Kord has remained alive in my mind.

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The weather was cold - that region is a cold place -

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[and] the place considered for my speech was where two streets branched from it.

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As I was looking, I saw that as far as [my] eye could see,

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this people participated and were present in both streets wearing local clothes, with various flags

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[and were there] with signs of true and heartfelt presence - not simply physical [presence].

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This presence was so obvious and people’s motivation was so evident

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that with [only] one look, you could understand many things about this people and this region.

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I don’t forget [this memory] and this is [still alive] in my mind.

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Of course, I have gone to Shahr-e Kord both before and after that and have faced people and gatherings,

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but that trip was a strange trip and left a strange impression on my mind.

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On one occasion before that, I went to Shahr- Kord to meet with [the personnel of] Qamar-e Bani Hashem brigade

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and I went to the headquarters of that brigade; that also I will never forget.

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Well, I have gone to headquarters of IRGC [Islamic Revolution Guards Corps] in most places;

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I used to go [to those places] and sat down and talked [to them] and discussed [various issues].

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Some places among these headquarters enjoyed certain specifications which linger in one’s mind;

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one of them was this Qamar-e Bani Hashem brigade of Shahr-e Kord, which I don’t forget.

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I went there [and met with] devoted [and] faithful youths [and saw their] poor situation

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[because] the place that they had was [in a] situation with very limited facilities, but at the same time [I saw they] had strong motivations;

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and I went [there] and spent several hours - now, I don’t remember how many hours - with these [revolutionary guards], [and] I had lunch with them;

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I came out of that place with a feeling of utmost satisfaction.

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Well, what [these] gentlemen said about scientific and military and political records and the likes of that,

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these are all reserved and valuable in their own place.

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The point that Mr. Nekounam mentioned about people of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari coming [to Tehran in the heyday of the Islamic Revolution]

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to disavow of [Shapour] Bakhtiar [an Iranian prime minister under former regime of Shah] is very important. It is possible for people of Shiraz, people of Mashhad, [and] people of Tabriz to come [to Tehran] and disavow of Bakhtiar,

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but it is very different when Bakhtiari people come and disavow a prominent Bakhtiari political figure,

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who had stood against the revolution and against Imam [Khomeini]; this point is important.

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[The fact] that he said people expect that day to be an outstanding day is also correct [and] this is really [a] justified [demand],

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because among nomadic people such nomadic affiliations and bonds are not a small matter, [but on the contrary] are a very important issue.

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These [people] are the same people who in the course of the Constitutional [Revolution] came from Shahr-e Kord -

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[which was known as] Deh-e Kord at that time - to Isfahan and conquered Isfahan and [then] came to Tehran and did great things,

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[and] they did it mostly through local bonds;

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I mean, tribal and nomadic effects existed on people, which [made them] move and come [to Tehran].

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However, when it comes to religion, when it comes to the [Islamic] Revolution,

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[and] when it comes to Imam [Khomeini], the same bonds totally lose their importance

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and become useless and are abolished; this is a very important issue.

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Therefore, it is a very justified and on-time measure this commemoration [ceremony] that you are holding.

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Pay attention to one point: we are faced with an all-out onslaught;

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An undeclared cultural and ideological and political one

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that is, now that I am telling [you], you would naturally accept [this] form me,

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but you are not informed of what is [actually] taking place. I am informed of what is taking place;

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I am seeing what is taking place; the cultural army of the enemy

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and the political army of the enemy, by taking advantage of all tools at their disposal,

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have launched an attack against us to undermine our religious beliefs,

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to undermine our political beliefs, to bolster dissatisfaction inside the country,

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[and] to attract youths, especially active and effective youths, at various levels for [the achievement of] their own goals; [and] they are working [on this].

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Well, steps are being taken against these [plots]; pious youths,

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faithful people, [and] committed officials are taking good steps,

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but more steps must be taken in the country.

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One of the important issues is that such valuable concepts

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like the concept of jihad, the concept of martyrdom, the concept of martyr,

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the concept of martyr’s family, the concept of patient for the sake of God, [and] the concept of being accountable before God must be kept alive.

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Well, of course, this goal can be partially achieved through [strengthening of] external manifestations [of these concepts].

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I mean, I am not against writing [these concepts] on placards and [making] various kinds of statues and naming of streets [after martyrs, and] the likes of these

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- [because] these are good steps; these are necessary, [and] are more than good - but these are not sufficient at all.

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These are just a small part of the work that must be done.

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Do an in-depth work; try to make an impression on [people’s] minds;

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[and] convince your audience with your right comments.

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[Doing] this work needs thinking. Intellectuals, people who have the power to think

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and those who understand [such] issues, along with artists, [and] those [people] who are endowed with the art of presentation and art of promotion [of such concepts]

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- including painter and poet and filmmaker and writer and the likes of them -

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must all of them join hands [and] help the [final] product of [their] work turn out to be something

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that would impress the mind of the audience. I mean, [they are expected] to thwart that conspiracy, which is currently being carried out

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- not that it is being planned; it has been planned a long time ago

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[and] is now being carried out across the country.

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This task is both a responsibility for government officials, and a responsibility for the faithful people,

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[and by government officials I mean] both official authorities and non-official authorities. Any person who has a commitment must be active in this field.

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One part of the work [which must be done in this regard] is this very work of yours; that is, to revive the concept of martyrdom and the value of martyrdom and the value of martyr.

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In this direction, God willing, move [and rest assured that] the Almighty God will help [you] as well.

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Peace be unto you and so may the mercy of Allah and His blessings