Fighting Capitulation

Imam Khomeini
Fighting Capitulation

Imam Khomeyni, who had been briefly aware of the presence of American, British, and Israeli military and security advisers and their detrimental activities in the country, was informed about the incident a few days after the National Assembly had enacted the Capitulation Bill (October 13, 1964) in favour of American military forces. Then, by reading the text of the proceedings of the Majles, he became aware of its details. Immediately, he summoned the sources of emulation and scholars of Qom to hold their weekly meeting and by sending telegrams and couriers he informed the scholars of other cities about that issue. Also, Imam Khomeyni announced that on October 26th he would deliver a speech at his house.

 

When the regime found out about the decision of Imam Khomeyni, it sent someone to Qom to meet with Imam Khomeyni and dissuade him from his decision, but Imam Khomeyni refused to talk to him and so he met with Imam Khomeyni’s son (HajAgha Mostafa) and while using an admonitory and threatening tone he said:

 

“The United States is doing all it can to gain popularity among the Iranian people and is spending money in this regard. Currently, as far as American power is concerned, attacking this government is far more dangerous than attacking the first person in the country! If these days Ayatollah Khomeyni is going to give a speech, he has to be very careful not to criticize the American government because it is very dangerous and will provoke the United States to show a severe reaction. Whatever they say, even criticizing the Shah – it doesn’t matter!”

 

Without being afraid of these threats, Imam Khomeyni announced that he would deliver a speech on the 20th of Jamadi al-Thani, the birthday anniversary of Prophet Muhammad’s daughter, Lady Fatimah al-Zahra. On that day, Imam Khomeyni, while he seemed to be furious and angry, made his historic statement in front of thousands of people of Qom and Tehran who had gathered in the streets and alleys near his house. After uttering the Name of God, Imam Khomeyni recited this verse of the Holy Quran “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajiun” (Indeed, to God we belong and to Him we shall return) which signified the great calamity that has come upon Islam and Muslims. He also expressed his griefs about that tragedy and declared public mourning.

 

“Iran has no longer an Eid; they have changed our Eid into a mourning day... and they decorated the streets with light strings and danced together... They sold our independence but again decorated the streets with light strings and danced together! If I were them, I would call for putting up black flags everywhere and performing mourning ceremonies instead of decorations and dancing!” 

 

Imam Khomeyni’s shocking and impressive speech was accompanied by people whimpering and crying. Following this introduction, Imam Khomeyni, while describing the Capitulation bill which had been passed by the Majles, mentioned its socio-political results with some examples:

“If an American servant or an American chef kills you in the market or insults you, our police have no right to stop him! Iranian courts have no right to prosecute him! ... the case should be sent to the United States and the masters will decide about it over there. The Iranian government proudly endorsed this shameful thing. They made people being inferior to American dogs. Why? Because they wanted to borrow money from the United States. The United States wanted that to happen.”

 

Imam Khomeyni stated that Majles and the government, with which people have nothing to do, are the ones that brought such a disgrace on the country and stressed that if the clerics were able to get into the parliament, they would not allow the United States, the United Kingdom and Israel to dominate the country and impose their agents on the nation and an American puppet (prime minister) do such a wrong.

 

Then, he humbly warned the army, politicians, businessmen, authorities, scholars and elites about this disgraceful law, and while referring to the presence of American troops in Iran addressed Shah:

 

“Are the American troops and military advisers serving your interests? If this country is invaded and occupied by the United States, then why do you cry out? Why are you always talking about progression? If these advisors are serving you then why are you taking them higher than their masters? Treat them as other servants if they are working for you.”

 

On October 27, the leaflet was distributed in Tehran and some other cities, and also a lot of copies of it were thrown into the houses that belonged to Americans. Imam Khomeyni’s speech and statement had different reflections. On the one hand, some preachers in their speeches described the recent legislation of Majles and talked about its negative consequences, whom SAVAK immediately ordered their arrest. But on the other hand, despite Imam Khomeyni had warned sources of emulation, scholars, politicians, and the military forces of Iran and asked for their help, yet nine days after his speech and announcement, none of the major Iranian and Iraqi scholars issued a statement condemning the Capitulation or supporting the Imam. Although five days after his lecture the weekly meeting of the scholars was held in Imam Khomeyni’s house, again no announcement was made by the participating scholars.

 

The silence and indifference of the great Iranian and Iraqi sources of emulation and scholars regarding the issue of Capitulation indicated that they were not willing to stand up against the Shah’s regime, especially as the new government’s motto was making a compromise with the clergies. Hence, following Imam Khomeyni was regarded as engaging in a new campaign against the new government that was apparently trying to avoid tensions with the clergies. Moreover, perhaps the unfortunate consequences of Capitulation and its anti-national and anti-religious dimensions – unlike the bill of state and provincial associations – were not clear to the sources of emulation and scholars and therefore did not elicit many responses. However, after the silence and indifference of the vast majority of scholars, Imam Khomeyni realized that he alone has to burden the responsibility of confronting the Shah’s regime, and as a year and a few months earlier he had a dream, he alone should put out the fire that has spread across Iran.

Shah showed reactions to Imam Khomeyni’s vigorous actions. After several days of study, it was ordered by the United States that Imam Khomeyni should be sent into exile. Hence, on November 4, 1964, hundreds of commandos surrounded Imam Khomeyni’s house in Qom at midnight and rushed to his house and arrested him. They used a Volkswagen car to transfer Imam Khomeyni from his house to the street and then they changed the car and used a Chevrolet. Imam Khomeyni’s car, along with several security guards, quickly passed through hundreds of commandos occupying the square and street near his house and an hour later reached Tehran. 

 

He was then taken to Mehrabad Airport and, with a cargo plane prepared by the Shah the day before, was sent to Turkey along with two security guards. On the same day, the media in Iran reported the arrest and exile of Imam Khomeyni:

 

“According to reliable sources and evidence, since the actions and attitudes of Mr. Khomeyni has been against the interests of the nation as well as the independence and the territorial integrity of the country, on November 4, 1964, he was sent into exile.

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