Source: Wikipedia
Born:
September 24, 1902, Khomein,
Iran
Died: June 3, 1989, Jamaran, Iran
Timeline: Ayatollah Khomeini
Born in a small town to descendants of Imam Mousa al-Kazim, Ruhollah Khomeini grew up in a family with a long history of religious scholarship. Khomeini's father died when he was only 5 months old, and he lost his aunt and mother in 1918. After these losses, Khomeini's eldest brother Seyed Mourteza, assumed control of the family. Khomeini's first Islamic education came at a traditional religious school, where he memorized the Koran. His brother sent him to Sultanabad (now Arak) for further education in 1920-21. He ended up in Qom by 1923, where he would complete his education.
Khomeini did not participate actively in politics during the 1930s. Still not a leader in the religious institutions of Qom, he felt that he should follow the decisions of the important Ayatollahs at the time. He did participate in the campaign against the Baha'i sect in 1955 to an extent, but failed to win the support of more powerful Islamic figures. He then devoted the next few years of his life to teaching and gathering the men that together would overthrow the Pahlavi Dynasty.
After the death of Ayatollah Boroujerdi in 1961, Khomeini began to shift his political and religious emphases. He was seen as a possible successor to Boroujerdi's leadership position within the Iranian Islamic clergy. Upon the recognition of this position by most Iranian Shi'ites, Khomeini began to assume more leadership responsibilities. In 1962, the Shah's government promoted new election laws. Part of this new program abolished the requirement that public officials be sworn in on the Koran. Khomeini telegraphed the Shah and the prime minister and threatened a sustained protest from the ulama (religious scholars) if they did not stop violating both Islamic law and the 1907 constitution.
When the Shah announced his plans for the White Revolution reforms in early 1963, Khomeini gathered his colleagues in Qom to discuss their opposition. Under pressure from Khomeini, the senior ulama decreed a boycott of the Shah's public referendum on his reform package. Khomeini continued his fight against the Shah, delivering a speech in June 1963 that contained a thinly veiled threat to the Shah if he did not change his path. This speech resulted in Khomeini's arrest, the news of which sparked massive demonstrations in many of Iran's major cities.
Khomeini was released from prison in 1964. However, soon after his return to Qom, the Shah's regime announced that American personnel and relatives in Iran would be immune from prosecution. Khomeini gave another speech that denounced the Shah and denied the legitimacy of the government. Instead of arrest, the punishment from the Shah this time was exile. Commandos surrounded Khomeini's house and took him to the airport, where he was flown to Turkey. Because he was not allowed to wear his Muslim scholar's cloak and turban, Khomeini departed Turkey for Najaf, Iraq, where he spent 13 years.
While he was in Najaf, Khomeini sent tape cassettes back to Tehran, where they were sold in the bazaar. In this way, Khomeini was able to become the leader of the opposition, even in exile. Demonstrations supporting him and denouncing the Shah's government became more common throughout the 1970s. Because of Khomeini's influence, the Shah successfully asked Iraq to deport him. Troops again forced Khomeini out of his home, and after he was refused entry to Kuwait at the border, Khomeini went to Paris. At this point, journalists from around the world were covering the Ayatollah, and his fame enabled him to spread his message even more effectively.
On January 16, 1979, Mohammad Reza Shah left Iran. Two weeks later, Ayatollah Khomeini boarded an Air France charter plane to Tehran, where he arrived on the morning of February 1. He was greeted with joy from the crowds and the opponents of the Shah's regime. By Feburary 12, following a decree from Khomeini to violate the curfew the Shah had imposed, the regime collapsed. Khomeini's goal of overthrowing the Shah had been accomplished. After the March referendum that resulted in the proclamation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Khomeini received the title of Imam and became the Supreme Leader of Iran.
Until his death in 1979, Khomeini established theocratic rule in Iran, not even sparing the nationalist and Marxist groups that had assisted his revolution. He consolidated power among Islamic clerics and launched efforts to "Islamicize" the entire country. In the end, Khomeini was able to establish the Islamic government he had envisioned when he began his political activities against the Shah.
Sources:
Time Magazine: Ayatollah Khomeini
Iran Chamber Society: Ayatollah Khomeini
Died: June 3, 1989, Jamaran, Iran
Timeline: Ayatollah Khomeini
Born in a small town to descendants of Imam Mousa al-Kazim, Ruhollah Khomeini grew up in a family with a long history of religious scholarship. Khomeini's father died when he was only 5 months old, and he lost his aunt and mother in 1918. After these losses, Khomeini's eldest brother Seyed Mourteza, assumed control of the family. Khomeini's first Islamic education came at a traditional religious school, where he memorized the Koran. His brother sent him to Sultanabad (now Arak) for further education in 1920-21. He ended up in Qom by 1923, where he would complete his education.
Khomeini did not participate actively in politics during the 1930s. Still not a leader in the religious institutions of Qom, he felt that he should follow the decisions of the important Ayatollahs at the time. He did participate in the campaign against the Baha'i sect in 1955 to an extent, but failed to win the support of more powerful Islamic figures. He then devoted the next few years of his life to teaching and gathering the men that together would overthrow the Pahlavi Dynasty.
After the death of Ayatollah Boroujerdi in 1961, Khomeini began to shift his political and religious emphases. He was seen as a possible successor to Boroujerdi's leadership position within the Iranian Islamic clergy. Upon the recognition of this position by most Iranian Shi'ites, Khomeini began to assume more leadership responsibilities. In 1962, the Shah's government promoted new election laws. Part of this new program abolished the requirement that public officials be sworn in on the Koran. Khomeini telegraphed the Shah and the prime minister and threatened a sustained protest from the ulama (religious scholars) if they did not stop violating both Islamic law and the 1907 constitution.
When the Shah announced his plans for the White Revolution reforms in early 1963, Khomeini gathered his colleagues in Qom to discuss their opposition. Under pressure from Khomeini, the senior ulama decreed a boycott of the Shah's public referendum on his reform package. Khomeini continued his fight against the Shah, delivering a speech in June 1963 that contained a thinly veiled threat to the Shah if he did not change his path. This speech resulted in Khomeini's arrest, the news of which sparked massive demonstrations in many of Iran's major cities.
Khomeini was released from prison in 1964. However, soon after his return to Qom, the Shah's regime announced that American personnel and relatives in Iran would be immune from prosecution. Khomeini gave another speech that denounced the Shah and denied the legitimacy of the government. Instead of arrest, the punishment from the Shah this time was exile. Commandos surrounded Khomeini's house and took him to the airport, where he was flown to Turkey. Because he was not allowed to wear his Muslim scholar's cloak and turban, Khomeini departed Turkey for Najaf, Iraq, where he spent 13 years.
While he was in Najaf, Khomeini sent tape cassettes back to Tehran, where they were sold in the bazaar. In this way, Khomeini was able to become the leader of the opposition, even in exile. Demonstrations supporting him and denouncing the Shah's government became more common throughout the 1970s. Because of Khomeini's influence, the Shah successfully asked Iraq to deport him. Troops again forced Khomeini out of his home, and after he was refused entry to Kuwait at the border, Khomeini went to Paris. At this point, journalists from around the world were covering the Ayatollah, and his fame enabled him to spread his message even more effectively.
On January 16, 1979, Mohammad Reza Shah left Iran. Two weeks later, Ayatollah Khomeini boarded an Air France charter plane to Tehran, where he arrived on the morning of February 1. He was greeted with joy from the crowds and the opponents of the Shah's regime. By Feburary 12, following a decree from Khomeini to violate the curfew the Shah had imposed, the regime collapsed. Khomeini's goal of overthrowing the Shah had been accomplished. After the March referendum that resulted in the proclamation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Khomeini received the title of Imam and became the Supreme Leader of Iran.
Until his death in 1979, Khomeini established theocratic rule in Iran, not even sparing the nationalist and Marxist groups that had assisted his revolution. He consolidated power among Islamic clerics and launched efforts to "Islamicize" the entire country. In the end, Khomeini was able to establish the Islamic government he had envisioned when he began his political activities against the Shah.
Sources:
Time Magazine: Ayatollah Khomeini
Iran Chamber Society: Ayatollah Khomeini