Arson fire at Rex Cinema in Abadan by monarchist agents

As a result of arson fire in Abadan Cinema Rex that was conducted by SAVAK and Pahlavi agents in order to defame Islamic Revolution of Iranian people, some 377 people were terribly killed. Upon perceiving the fire, the 700 audiences of the cinema rushed towards the exit doors, but found them closed. Publication of the news, video tapes and images of the disaster severely outraged the public opinion. The regime, accusing the revolutionary forces for the fire, endeavored to depict Muslim revolutionaries as reactionary, anti-art and anti-people groups, but failed and people were more willing to accept revolutionary claims that accused the regime for the disaster. After the disaster, Imam Khomeini issued a message from Najaf addressed to habitants of Abadan on August 22, and warning against possibility of similar savage proceedings in other cities, called for more enlightenment of people. In a part of his message it has been noted, “I can’t imagine any Muslim, and even a human being, manage to commit such a violent disaster except for those who are accustomed to… The Shah’s words that ‘my dissident demonstrators vow a Great Terror’ and repetition of the words after the calamity that ‘It was the very same promised terror’ is another witness to his conspiracy... This irritant disaster is a great masterpiece for the Shah providing him with the opportunity to conduct widespread domestic and foreign propagandas and order domestic puppet and foreign advantage-seeking horns and press to publish the crime as much as possible and ascribe it to the deprived and oppressed people of Iran in order to depict Iranian truth seeking people in foreign countries as a nation unbelieving in any humane and Islamic norm.”?

Full text of Imam Khomeini’s message on the occasion of Cinema Rex fire addressed to habitants of Abadan:

In the name of God, the compassionate, the merciful

To all respected people of Abadan, (sided with God, the Almighty)

The highly tragic news of burning-to-death of hundreds of our compatriots with that calculated state resulted in severe sorrow and regret. I can’t imagine any Muslim, and even a human being, manage to commit such a violent disaster except for those who are accustomed to, and nature of brutality and savagery has taken them out of humanity. I am not well informed of the event till now, but what is certain is that this inhumane act which is quite contrary to Islamic laws cannot be related to opponents of the Shah, with any religious and political affiliation, who have put their lives in danger in order to preserve interests of Islam and Iran as well as people's lives and properties and those who defend their compatriots sacrificially. Evidence also testifies that the criminal regime has plotted the event to negatively reflect the humane-Islamic movement of nation in the world. Putting the whole cinema on fire and then locking the doors by officers cannot be afforded by non-dominant individuals over the situations. The Shah’s words that ‘my dissident demonstrators vow a Great Terror’ and repetition of the words after the calamity that ‘It was the very same promised terror’ are another witnesses to his conspiracy. It is not the case that the Shah is a big augur! Former interview of the Shah that I would destroy Iran with the nation is also another witness for the same claim. Expression of regret and sorrow in publicity horns for individuals whose hands have been sunk up to elbow every day for our compatriots' blood is a big witness to an evil joint plot of the Shah and his accomplices, the very same figures who have commited tragic massacres in most cities of Iran. Are not those oppressed people killed and massacred horribly by the same criminals every day our compatriots? Evidence shows that the tragic case of Abadan and massacre of other cities of Iran are rooted in the same origin. Has everybody taken advantage of this crime except for the Shah and his relatives? Has anybody except for the Shah who occasionally massacres people cruelly, created or will create such scenes? This irritant disaster is a great masterpiece for the Shah providing him with the opportunity to conduct widespread domestic and foreign propagandas and order domestic puppet and foreign advantage-seeking horns and press to publish the crime as much as possible and ascribe it to the deprived and oppressed people of Iran in order to depict Iranian truth seeking people in foreign countries as a nation unbelieving in any humane and Islamic norm. I warn the great people of Iran! There is a danger that the regime repeats such cruel and anti-Islamic acts in other cities of Iran in order to contaminate pure demonstrations of brave people of Iran who are irrigating the tree of Islam with their blood. It is on the announcers to explain for people the points that may lead to destruction of redeemer revolution of Islam. I express my consolation to the Muslim nation of Iran especially to the oppressed people of Abadan and to the bereaved families for the great disaster, and share in their great sorrow. I solicited the Almighty God victory of Islam and Muslims and hand-cut off of foreigners' and their domestic allies.
Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings, Roohallah al-Moosavi al-Khomeini

As a result of arson fire in Abadan Cinema Rex that was conducted by SAVAK and Pahlavi agents in order to defame Islamic Revolution of Iranian people, some 377 people were terribly killed. Upon perceiving the fire, the 700 audiences of the cinema rushed towards the exit doors, but found them closed. Publication of the news, video tapes and images of the disaster severely outraged the public opinion. The regime, accusing the revolutionary forces for the fire, endeavored to depict Muslim revolutionaries as reactionary, anti-art and anti-people groups, but failed and people were more willing to accept revolutionary claims that accused the regime for the disaster. After the disaster, Imam Khomeini issued a message from Najaf addressed to habitants of Abadan on August 22, and warning against possibility of similar savage proceedings in other cities, called for more enlightenment of people. In a part of his message it has been noted, “I can’t imagine any Muslim, and even a human being, manage to commit such a violent disaster except for those who are accustomed to… The Shah’s words that ‘my dissident demonstrators vow a Great Terror’ and repetition of the words after the calamity that ‘It was the very same promised terror’ is another witness to his conspiracy... This irritant disaster is a great masterpiece for the Shah providing him with the opportunity to conduct widespread domestic and foreign propagandas and order domestic puppet and foreign advantage-seeking horns and press to publish the crime as much as possible and ascribe it to the deprived and oppressed people of Iran in order to depict Iranian truth seeking people in foreign countries as a nation unbelieving in any humane and Islamic norm.”? Full text of Imam Khomeini’s message on the occasion of Cinema Rex fire addressed to habitants of Abadan: In the name of God, the compassionate, the merciful To all respected people of Abadan, (sided with God, the Almighty) The highly tragic news of burning-to-death of hundreds of our compatriots with that calculated state resulted in severe sorrow and regret. I can’t imagine any Muslim, and even a human being, manage to commit such a violent disaster except for those who are accustomed to, and nature of brutality and savagery has taken them out of humanity. I am not well informed of the event till now, but what is certain is that this inhumane act which is quite contrary to Islamic laws cannot be related to opponents of the Shah, with any religious and political affiliation, who have put their lives in danger in order to preserve interests of Islam and Iran as well as people's lives and properties and those who defend their compatriots sacrificially. Evidence also testifies that the criminal regime has plotted the event to negatively reflect the humane-Islamic movement of nation in the world. Putting the whole cinema on fire and then locking the doors by officers cannot be afforded by non-dominant individuals over the situations. The Shah’s words that ‘my dissident demonstrators vow a Great Terror’ and repetition of the words after the calamity that ‘It was the very same promised terror’ are another witnesses to his conspiracy. It is not the case that the Shah is a big augur! Former interview of the Shah that I would destroy Iran with the nation is also another witness for the same claim. Expression of regret and sorrow in publicity horns for individuals whose hands have been sunk up to elbow every day for our compatriots' blood is a big witness to an evil joint plot of the Shah and his accomplices, the very same figures who have commited tragic massacres in most cities of Iran. Are not those oppressed people killed and massacred horribly by the same criminals every day our compatriots? Evidence shows that the tragic case of Abadan and massacre of other cities of Iran are rooted in the same origin. Has everybody taken advantage of this crime except for the Shah and his relatives? Has anybody except for the Shah who occasionally massacres people cruelly, created or will create such scenes? This irritant disaster is a great masterpiece for the Shah providing him with the opportunity to conduct widespread domestic and foreign propagandas and order domestic puppet and foreign advantage-seeking horns and press to publish the crime as much as possible and ascribe it to the deprived and oppressed people of Iran in order to depict Iranian truth seeking people in foreign countries as a nation unbelieving in any humane and Islamic norm. I warn the great people of Iran! There is a danger that the regime repeats such cruel and anti-Islamic acts in other cities of Iran in order to contaminate pure demonstrations of brave people of Iran who are irrigating the tree of Islam with their blood. It is on the announcers to explain for people the points that may lead to destruction of redeemer revolution of Islam. I express my consolation to the Muslim nation of Iran especially to the oppressed people of Abadan and to the bereaved families for the great disaster, and share in their great sorrow. I solicited the Almighty God victory of Islam and Muslims and hand-cut off of foreigners' and their domestic allies. Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings, Roohallah al-Moosavi al-Khomeini