God is a witness that the clergy is isolated and discredited. In many cities, they insult the clergy, especially if they find out that they are working in a low position

It is unbearable for me that the opportunity and situation that God Almighty brought to the Shia world in the era of the absence of the Holy Prophet and the era of the haste of God, and that the Shia clergy and authority has become such a source of hope for the deprived and oppressed nations of the world, should simply turn this hope into despair. And the dignity of Islam and Shiism, which has crystallized in the face of His Highness, God forbid, may it be destroyed, in this case, there will be no news or traces of the greatness and dignity of Islam, the spirituality and the sanctity of the religious authority for many centuries.

Your Excellency is definitely aware of the chaotic situation of the people, the economic recession, the fall of our currency (67 dollars only 96 tomans), the budget deficit, the destruction of cities and economic centers, the closing of factories, inflation, high prices, shortages, unemployment, and the homelessness of millions of citizens. You are more or less aware of the province of the country, leaving shops, markets, and workplaces, taking refuge in villages and mountains, closing cultural institutions, increasing dissatisfaction, and the growth of administrative and moral corruption, which is a necessary necessity of this situation. If it was said in the past that a few people who were hit by the revolution and could not align themselves with it, they fueled such untrue content. And here and there they are opening letters and making excuses. Today, this possibility no longer exists. I testify to God that many friends of the revolution and His Highness, who made sacrifices before and after the revolution, are now at the threshold of despair and doubt. are And unfortunately, one of my daily tasks is to listen to the heartaches and complaints of such people, and they insist that I convey their content, which is usually general issues, to His Highness, and I have no choice but to remain silent and evade.

Unfortunately, we lost a lot of opportunities in the war and in many other things, and every day we were happy with exaggerated reports about our good situation ours and the deterioration of the enemy's situation, and baseless slogans and promises, and we allowed the possibility of backfiring. We did not give until finally our situation reached this point where we have lost the governments that have their place and many nations and all the sanctity, respect, faith and hope of the first years of the revolution, which was a huge capital for the revolution, is gradually being lost, and They have ruined the bright face of Islam, the revolution, and the position of leadership so that only a handful of people are left for us in every country.

Contrary to what one might think, I was not and am not a pessimistic person, but I suffer from the bitter reality that we are suffering from shortcomings and weaknesses, self-centeredness, mismanagement, entrusting work to the weak, wrong policies, and clear inconsistencies in We will gradually lose such a great and selfless and unique nation in the history of decisions and implementation.

Of course, I am aware of the efforts and sense of responsibility of many brothers in charge and I pray and confirm them, but I am sorry that many of us are caught in a state of pride and self-conceit and neglect of the facts, and we also ignore the warnings. and maybe this is the reason for the unanswered prayers. I am aware of the conspiracy of the superpowers in fueling discontent and their poisonous propaganda, but I say that our great capital is this selfless nation, how long will they have to live in this situation, in addition to the economic pressure, some of us also treat them harshly. And be hostile? Insinuating slogans and fake interviews should not be encouraged, social realities should also be taken into account, God is a witness that the clergy is in a state of isolation and a bad name. However, the number of volunteers for the fronts and those helping the fronts and present at the ceremony is rapidly decreasing, and many of the donations are stopped due to pressure and fear. I am not saying these things from disaffected people and anti-revolutionary radios, I am saying them from the words of the same fighters, martyrs, street and market people, and from the words of many officials and workers. Until it's too late and the opportunities are not completely lost, Your Excellency, who have saved this revolution from falling at important times, think about it and don't settle for ordinary and official reports. I know that some officials either don't have the courage to be frank, or considering the condition of His Highness and avoiding worrying you, they have not and will not tell His Highness the truth.

1988 April 22, Friday

Hossein Ali Montazeri

Memoirs, volume two, page 1045

This letter was written 13 months and 12 days before the death of Ayatollah Khomeini.