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June 24, 2004
Ayatollah Khomeini's 1964 Speech Condemning U.S. Immunity
As I just posted, Bremer's last act is expected to be bestowing of blanket immunity to U.S. troops and perhaps contractors. "History repeats itself, first as tragedy and then as farce," goes an oft-quoted phrase from Marx. I fail to detect the farce yet but repetition there is a lot of.
So, here's a trip down memory lane with excerpts from Ayatollah Rohollah Khomeini's key speech in 1964 condemning a similarly blanket immunity deal the U.S. struck with the Shah of Iran. The very, very popular speech led to Khomeini's exile in Najaf -- marked a turning point in his rise:
...All American military advisers, together with their families, technical and administrative officials, and servants - in short, anyone in any way connected to them - are to enjoy legal immunity with respect to any crime they may commit in Iran! If some American's servant, some American's cook, assassinates your marja'-i taqlid in the middle of the bazaar, or runs over him, the Iranian police do not have the right to apprehend him! Iranian courts do not have the right to judge him! The dossier must be sent to America so that our masters there can decide what is to be done!The previous government approved this measure without telling anyone, and now the present government just recently introduced a bill in the Senate and settled the whole matter in a single session without breathing a word to anyone. A few days ago, the bill was taken to the lower house of the Parliament and there were discussions, with a few deputies voicing their opposition, but the bill was passed anyhow. They passed it without any shame, and the government shamelessly defended this scandalous measure. They have reduced the Iranian people to a level lower than that of an American dog. If someone runs over a dog belonging to an American, he will be prosecuted. Even if the Shah himself were to run over a dog belonging to an American, he would be prosecuted. But if an American cook runs over the Shah, or the marja' of Iran, or the highest official, no one will have the right to object.
...
Gentlemen, I warn you of danger!Iranian army, I warn you of danger!
Iranian politicians, I warn you of danger!
Iranian merchants, I warn you of danger!
`Ulama of Iran, maraji' of Islam, I warn you of danger!
Scholars, religious students! Centres of religious learning, Najaf, Qum, Mashhad, Tehran, Shiraz! I warn you of danger!
It is a dangerous situation. It is clear that there are things kept under cover that we know nothing about. In the Parliament they have said that they have to be kept secret! It is evident that they are dreaming up further plans for us. What else can they do that is worse than this? What are they planning? What will this loan inflict on this nation? Should this impoverished nation now pay $100 million in interest to America over the next ten years and at the same time should you sell us for this? What use to you are the American soldiers and military advisers? If this country is occupied by America, then what is all this noise you make about progress? If these advisers are to be your servants, then why do you treat them like something superior to masters, superior to a Shah? If they are servants, why not treat them as such? If they are your employees, then why not treat them as any other government treats its employees? If our country is now occupied by the US then tell us outright and throw us out of this country!
Posted by zeynep at June 24, 2004 09:55 AM
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Comments
As Yogi Berra once said, "Deja vu all over again!!" Is there no end to this imperialist nonsense? Is there an echo in here? Extinction anyone?
Old & In The Way
Posted by: Phil Cicchi at June 24, 2004 08:13 PM
"History repeats itself, first as tragedy and then as farce." Was that Karl Marx or Groucho Marx?
Old & In The Way
Posted by: Phil Cicchi at June 24, 2004 08:34 PM
It is right that Khomeini said these in 1964, but is it right to post a "dead immune" person comment on your "respected" weblog? The speech source is from Iran National TV's site - no need to say a propaganda machine for an "immune regime". I think it was more appropriate to post a comment from a less "criminal" personality in respect for all who have died from his direct on indirect influence or decisions - no need to make the case. The case of immunity in that form in the late clonized and even non-clonize world - in case of iran - has not been a rare issue. Even Mossadegh wrote, published and distributed a free book in Iran about immunity as a youngster. As you know the case of Modern Immunity deeply rooted back to The Vienna Conventions of 1961, and its 1963 companion on Consular Relations. I beleave you have to see the case of Immunity in more global prespective. I think it was more appropriate to argue the case of Immunity under the Rome Statute of 1998 and the possibility of proceeding before the ICC. As you know both Iraq and the US are not under ICC jurisdiction, so it does extremely worth to discuss such issues in more details. The fact is at last combatting Impunity and principles against impunity in the global justice system not the reapiting historic speech transcription.
Posted by: orsi at June 25, 2004 03:56 AM
Check immunity provisions in the Philippine-US Visiting Forces Agreement. The US soldier is allowed even pedophilia.
Posted by: JAZMINE at June 28, 2004 04:00 AM