Historical Figure
Ruhollah Khomeini
1902–1989
Supreme Leader of Iran from 1979 to 1989
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Biography
Ruhollah Mostafavi Musavi Khomeini was an Iranian political revolutionary and Shia cleric who served as the first supreme leader of Iran from 1979 until his death in 1989. He was the main leader of the 1979 Iranian Revolution, which overthrew Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and transformed Iran into an Islamic republic.
In Their Own Words (5)
In the Islamic Republic the rights of the religious minorities are respectfully regarded.
Interview for Austrian television, Paris, (6 November 1978), as quoted in "Democracy? I meant theocracy — The most truthful individual in recent history" by Dr. Jalal Matini,and Farhad Mafie, in The Iranian (5 August 2003) , 1978
In Iran's future Islamic system everyone can express their opinion, and the Islamic government will respond to logic with logic.
Speech (9 November 1978), as quoted in The Most Truthful Individual in Recent History" in Iranshenasi'', Vol. XIV, No. 4 (Winter 2003), as translated by Farhad Mafie , 1978
In the Islamic government all people have complete freedom to have any kind of opinion.
Interview with Human Rights Watch, Paris (10 November 1978) , 1978
Variant: All those against the revolution, that insist on their position, must disappear and quickly be executed.
Quoted by dissident cleric Hossein-Ali Montazeri, once in line to be Iran's supreme leader. ShiaNews.com (17 December 2000). This statement is said to have been made after the Mojahedin-e Khalgh militant organization launched an offensive against Iranian troops from bases in Iraq. , 2000
Give them Islam, proclaim to the world the program of Islamic government; maybe the kings and presidents of the Muslim countries will understand the truth of what we say and accept it. We would not want to take anything away from them; we will leave anyone in his place who faithfully follows Islam.
Tahrir al-Vasileh, 1970. http://politicalquotes.org/node/54102 , 1970
Timeline
The story of Ruhollah Khomeini, told in moments.
Emerges as a vocal critic of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's White Revolution, which he opposes for its secularization and land reforms threatening clerical estates. He begins delivering fiery sermons in Qom that draw thousands.
Arrested after publicly denouncing the Shah as a "wretched, miserable man." Three days of protests erupt across Iran. The army kills hundreds. The regime exiles him, first to Turkey, then Iraq, then France. He won't return for 15 years.
Returns to Tehran aboard a chartered Air France 747 after the Shah flees. Millions line the route from the airport. A journalist on the plane asks what he feels. "Nothing," he answers. Ten days later, the Islamic Republic is declared.
Students loyal to his movement storm the U.S. embassy in Tehran and take 52 Americans hostage. Khomeini endorses the seizure. The crisis lasts 444 days and wrecks Jimmy Carter's presidency. It reshapes U.S.-Iran relations for decades.
Issues a fatwa calling for the death of British-Indian novelist Salman Rushdie over The Satanic Verses. He offers a $3 million bounty. Rushdie goes into hiding for nine years under British police protection.
Dies in Tehran following surgery for intestinal cancer. He's 86. An estimated 10 million people attend his funeral procession. Mourners tear at the shroud covering his body. The corpse falls out of the coffin. Soldiers fire into the air to push back the crowd.
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