How the Islamic Republic Referendum was held

Dr. SadiqTabatabei: “I said sir (to the Imam), now that the world has accepted and acknowledged this great revolution and your leadership, what need is there for a referendum? I am sure that if you announce that the political system of the country is an Islamic Republic, all the (Iranian) people and the whole world will accept it. He answered: ‘You do not understand it now. Fifty years from now they will say that he abused the people’s feelings and used them in order to instill and force the people to accept the political system that he preferred.’”

The Imam’s Insistence on Holding the Referendum Sooner
Dr. SadiqTabatabei, who was one of the people who directly managed matters to do with the referendum, speaks of the days of when the preparations for the referendum were being carried out. Below is a selection of his memories of the events, which lead up to the referendum:
“Only twelve days had passed when the late Haj Ahmad Agha Khomeini said that the Imam says that the referendum must be held as soon as possible. I met Dr. Sadr Haj SayyidJavadi at the interior ministry and passed on the Imam’s message. The minister of home affairs said: ‘At the moment we do not have any systemized organizations in the country. Even policemen cannot go to work with their previous uniforms and do not have cars and wireless appliances, and most of the police stations have seriously been damaged in the last few days. Moreover in the city and province centres, the mayors and commanders have been unable to control the situation. We need several months in order to carry out the Imam’s wishes.’ I informed Ahmad Agha of this via a telephone call. A little while later Ahmad Agha phoned back and said that the Imam says: “If you work a little faster, it can be done.”
Two days later Ahmad Agha phoned again and said that the Imam says what the news on the referendum is? I replied and said that I didn’t have any new news. He said that ‘the Imam is of the opinion that you should go to the home office and deal with the matters to do with the referendum using your experience in organizational matters, which you have gained from working for different Islamic societies.’ I thought for a while and said “I cannot go to the home office tomorrow morning and tell the minister ‘good morning, I have come to hold a referendum’.” He (Ahmad Agha) said he would deal with this matter and he told the Imam of the issue. Using his intelligence and prudence, the Imam understood what the problem was, and it seems via Ahmad Agha or someone else, Bazargaan was told, who in turn told Mr. Sadr Haj SayyidJavadi, who was the interior minister. I went to Qom that night and told the Imam what the minister told me of the unsuitable circumstances of the country. I also said “Sir, now that the world has accepted and acknowledged this great revolution and your leadership, what need is there for a referendum? I am sure that if you announce that the political system of the country is an Islamic Republic, all the (Iranian) people and the whole world will accept it.” He answered: ‘You do not understand it now. Fifty years from now they will say that he abused the people’s feelings and used them in order to instill and force the people to accept the political system that he preferred. No, elections must take place and the number of opponents and supporters must be accurately calculated and announced.’
When I returned from Qom, I was at my aunt’s house when Mr. Sadr phoned me and invited me to the home office. I went to meet him with Dr. Hassan Habibi and after talking for some time, (Mr. Sadr) appointed me as the deputy of political and social affairs and him (Dr. Habibi) as the deputy of organizational and developmental affairs. From that day on, we both started our work. It was roughly early March (1979) when Ahmad Agha said come over to Qom and I went. Ahmad Agha said that ‘Agha is adamant that the referendum for the Islamic republic should be held very soon’.I said “very well, but what does very soon mean?” He said: ‘The Imam says in the next few days’. I said: “I have already explained that this needs facilities and organization, governing, the help of mayors, ballots, collecting and preparing the electoral card and sending it, andthe help of the central headquarters. All these cannot be organized in such a short space of time.” He (Ahmad Agha) said: ‘I don’t know, Agha is insisting that it should be done.’
I went to Qom once again and I said (to the Imam): “Agha you yourself have announced the Islamic republic as a political system, it is enough and the world accepts what you find legal as legitimate, there is no problem here.” He said: ‘Don’t look at our times, what stays in history is historical facts. You try your best to make the government do this (hold the referendum) as soon as possible.’ At that time I had no role in the council of ministers and so sometimes in their meetings I joined in and agreed with the opinions of other friends (ministers). I told them that “to hold such an event (referendum), we need to carry out many preparations… at a time when policemen wouldn’t dare wear their uniform and stand at crossroads to instill social order, how is it possible for us to carry this out?”
They told me that it is possible, ‘you can make this work if youuse the same method you have used for the Islamic Society’. I came to Tehran and reiterated this matter to Mr. Sadr Haj SayyidJavadi, he told me to make ‘holding the referendum’ my priority. I said ok but “this is not a promise that I will be working permanently at the home office because if I am still not familiar with Tehran, how can I be the social and political deputy of the home office?” Anyway, my words had no weight as I started work there on precisely the 5th or 6th of March 1979.”

Choosing the Members of the Council responsible for organizing the Referendum

Dr. Tabatabei continues and talks of the council, which was responsible for organizing the referendum, and says: “At the Home Office we assembled a council, which was in charge of organizing the referendum, within less than three days. We gathered people from the Islamic Society and made sure we had enough people for each province…. It was decided that three people were to stay in the center and everyone else was to be spread out in the different province centers. In each province a central council was put together, which sent each city and village a representative. The council was helped by the Imams of the Friday prayers of each region, who were trusted by Ahmad Agha. It was the 11th of March when the referendum Council for the whole country was successfully assembled.”
Dr. Tabatabei also reveals the numerous efforts of various organizations to stop the progress of the Referendum Council and states that they failed in doing so as the referendum was held successfully.


The Day the Referendum was Held
It was decided that on the 30th of March 1979 the referendum would be held. During the early hours of the 30th of March it was clear that there would be a major turnout for the elections. Many people had come to vote for the first time in their life, and even the religious minorities took part. There was such a great crowd of people lining up to vote that by sunset many people had not yet casted their votes. The Imam was informed of this and it was decided that another 24 hours would be added to the time allocated for voting.
Unfortunately groups opposing the revolution and the election such as Mojahiddin-e-Khalq, attacked some ballots and destroyed some electoral cards. However many efforts were made to ensure that everyone was able to vote. There were even some people in charge of taking ballot boxes to hospitals and prisons, to make certain that the ballot boxes were brought to those who were unable to attend the elections.
As soon as the voting was over, the Referendum Council’s representatives started counting up the votes. There were threats made from opposing political groups that the voting centers would be attacked, but fortunately nothing happened. Despite great efforts to make sure that all eligible people voted there were some areas which were unable to vote. Nevertheless 94% of all eligible participants took part in the elections, which was and still is a truly outstanding percentage.


The Results of the Referendum
On the 1st of April 1979, at around 2:00 am, the results were finally announced. It was declared that 20 million 288 thousand and 21 people took part in the elections. 20 million 147 thousand and 55 people voted for an Islamic Republic, which represented 98.2% of the electorates, andonly 140 thousand and 966 peopledid not vote for an Islamic republic. The Imam released a statement congratulating this day and named this day a blessed and victorious day. He also said that the referendum was unprecedented in history.