When the Imam was residing in Najaf, the dispute between Iran and Iraq concerning the border strip and the ArvandRiver occurred. The Ba‘athist regime wanted to take a written statement from the prominent theologians of the Najaf Seminary against the despotic regime of Iran. They were under the impression that because the Imam was exiled and was disgusted at the Shah’s regime, he would definitely issue a thorough pronouncement in favor of the Ba‘ath Party in order to take his revenge on the Shah. However, the Imam categorically declared at a meeting with the provincial governor of Karbala, the head of the secret police, the head of the police services and the governor-general that, “The government of Iran is wrong and you are wrong too. This matter does not concern the Shi‘ite Sources of Emulation and the TheologicalSchool that they should come and give a statement in your favor. Go and solve it yourself.” After the angry response of the Imam, the Ba‘athist agents were infuriated and one of them said: “Tomorrow we shall expel him from Najaf.” When the Imam heard these words, he stated: “They think that I am very happy here in a place where Islam is literally being repressed; where the honor of Islam is disregarded and where the sanctity of Islam is not observed; what kind of a place is this to live in? Here is my passport; send me wherever you want to; wherever I go will be better than here. I am comfortable only in a place where the Muslims live in welfare. What has this place got to offer to make me feel comfortable.” This was at a time when some of the senior religious authorities were anxious and worried at the Imam’s attitude with the Ba‘athist regime lest the government in power attack the Holy city of Najaf with armor and well-equipped soldiers and annihilate and destroy them.[1]
[1] The government of Iran was wrong and you are also wrong: Ayatullah Karimi