BBC Reporter: We observe today that a new Islamic movement is growing among such Muslim nations as Turkey and Pakistan; and these are Islamic uprisings. What is the reason of these uprisings in your opinion? [
Imam Khomeini: The widespread propaganda of the Western and Eastern governments over the years has deceived these Muslim nations and they think that the progress of the weak governments lies in their inclination towards one of the two superpowers. But when they tilted towards any one of them, they realized after some time that they do no do anything other than captivating them, taking their reserves and plundering their resources. In our time, our nation has realized that the Shah, due to his ties with the West, particularly the United States, as well as with the Soviet Union, has squandered our resources; he has also wasted our human resources. The Iranian nation has also realized that the widespread crimes the Shah commits are due to his ties with the superpowers. Hence our nation rose up and other countries, including the Islamic countries, have realized this bitter truth and by studying their history, they have discerned that all the problems the nations face have been created by the superpowers. Hence, they have inevitably turned their back to the superpowers. But Islam fulfils all the aspirations of man in a suitable manner and the Islamic rules- economic, political, cultural and spiritual rules- are profound and anybody who pays attention to them becomes inclined towards them. After years of ignorance, the Muslims have now awakened to some extent and pay some attention to Islam. It is hoped that their attention to Islam is enhanced and they recognize Islam as it is. If they know Islam properly, they will absolutely give up their inclinations towards the East and the West and would sacrifice their lives for the implementation of the Islamic laws.