We are not worried if the West and anyone who claims that he respects human rights have a discussion with us and say something to us. We must act according to justice. Later we will make these people understand what the meaning of democracy is. Western democracy is corrupt, likewise Eastern democracy. Later, if we get the opportunity, we will prove to the East and West that the democracy we have in Islam is the true democracy and not the one that they have, which is a democracy advocating big-time capitalists and superpowers, which have subjected the people to oppression.
Criteria of virtue in an Islamic society
No suppression exists in Islam; there is freedom for all the people in Islam: for both men and women and for the blacks and whites. From now on, the people themselves should fear their own actions and not that the government. People should be frightened lest they commit a wrongdoing. A government of justice will avert and punish wrongdoings. We should all be afraid of our own selves lest we do any mischief because an Islamic government will not commit any wrong actions. There will not be any more security intelligence related issues, or tortures perpetrated by it. Police officers can no longer coerce our nation or us. The government cannot intimidate the nation anymore. An Islamic government is, and should be, at the service of the nation. If a prime minister oppresses the people, the nation can file a complaint against him in the courts, which will duly put him on trial and appropriate punishment will be meted out if he is proved culpable. In an Islam, there will no longer be any differences between a prime minister and a civilian. At the advent of Islam, the Muslim caliph appeared in the court to face charges filed against him by a Jew and a tributary infidel, during which the judge decided against the caliph, who obediently abided by the court ruling. Islam is this way. In Islam distinction is accorded to a person not because of his status, say for instance, one from the scholastic echelon. The pious ones are definitely above others because his humane virtues are superior. Islam grants merit based on a person's humanitarian nature, which is rooted in his piety and knowledge. The pious and knowledgeable one will be superior over others, and anyone that possesses wealth but lacks piety and knowledge will reap no spiritual rewards.
Nevertheless, I would like the nation to transform itself. The morale that the people had during the taghouti era should be permuted to an Islamic one. At the present time, we have many destitute and wounded citizens; there are many who have been put out of existence during the course (of the Pahlavi regime). The affluent clique should help these people and provide a life of welfare for the needy. The government and the nation should think of these people, build homes for them and give them a decent life. Employees should be given proper living conditions. I told a group of factory owners and managers, who came here, to rectify the workers' situation; I asked them to leave and have a meeting, consult one another and put up some capital to build housing for their workers and employees and provide them with a life of prosperity. If they do not, these workers and employees, God forbid, may stage a mutiny; in which case, there is nothing that factory owners can do to stop them.
I promise to employees, workers and other classes of the oppressed people that Iran will create jobs for them. Islam will create felicitous life for them, and will make homes for them. Islam cares for the destitute more than anybody else.
I implore the Exalted and Blessed God to grant all Muslims success on this propitious day, which is a day of victory of the nation. I hope that the Islamic countries will unite and sever the taghout's hands off their countries.
Sahifeh, vol 6, pp. 410 & 411