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Personal 1st Supreme Leader of Iran Legacy | ||
Ruhollah Khomeini’s return to Iran on 1 February 1979, after 14 years in exile, was an important event in theIranian Revolution. It led to the collapse of the provisional government ofShapour Bakhtiar and the final overthrow of theShah of Iran,Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, on 11 February 1979.
Ruhollah Khomeini, known in theWestern world asAyatollah Khomeini,[1] was an IranianShiaMuslim religious leader, philosopher, revolutionary and politician.[2] Prior to his exile, Khomeini had been a prominent opponent of the Shah. Upon his return, he was greeted by crowds of millions, and within 10 days the revolution would be successful. Following the revolution, Khomeini became the country'sSupreme Leader, a position created in theConstitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran as the highest-ranking political and religious authority of the nation, which he held until his death.Khomeini's return and the 10 days following are now celebrated in Iran as theFajr decade.
In the early 1960s, Khomeini found the arena of leadership open following the deaths of Ayatollah Sayyed Husayn Borujerdi (1961), the leading, although quiescent, Shi'ah religious leader; andAyatollah Abol-Ghasem Kashani (1962), an activist cleric. The clerical class had been on the defensive ever since the 1920s, when the secular, anti-clerical modernizerReza Shah Pahlavi rose to power. Reza's sonMohammad Reza Shah, instituted a "White Revolution", which was a further challenge to the Ulama.[3]Khomeini was arrested and was exiled from Iran for opposing the Shah's actions (Iran's ruling system).Khomeini was amarja ("source of emulation") inTwelverShia Islam, aMujtahid orfaqih but he is primarily known for his political activities. He spent more than 15 years in exile for his opposition to the last Shah,mostly in the holy Shia city ofNajaf, Iraq. At first, he was sent toBursa,Turkey on 4 November 1964, where he stayed in this city hosted by a colonel in the Turkish Military Intelligence named Ali Cetiner in his own residence.[4] In October 1965, after almost eleven months, he moved toNajaf, Iraq, where he stayed until 1978, when he was encouraged to leave by then-Vice PresidentSaddam Hussein.[5]
Khomeini decided to return to Iran afterMohammad Reza Pahlavi, theShah of Iran, left on 16 January 1979. A welcoming committee was formed on 21 January 1979, to organise and ensure Khomeini's return.[6]Kayhan andEttela'at papers announced that Khomeini would soon return. The news led to the flow of millions of people from different cities to Tehran.[7]
It was originally planned that Ayatollah Khomeini would enter Iran on 26 January, butPrime MinisterShapour Bakhtiar announced that the airports would be closed. From Paris Khomeini declared that he would return as soon as the airports were reopened. The closure of the airports led to widespread protests and strikes. In Tehran alone 28 people were killed. On 29 January, the airport was reopened on the orders of Bakhtiar and Khomeini stated a new return date of 1 February.[8][page needed]
On 1 February Khomeini flew to Iran in a charteredAir FranceBoeing 747-100 (registered F-BPVD[citation needed]) as flight AF 4721 fromCharles de Gaulle Airport. He was accompanied by supportersincludingSadeq Tabatabaei,Sadegh Khalkhali as well as 120 international journalists includingPeter Scholl-Latour. The presence of journalists was in part to ensure the safety of the plane from being attacked.[9][10][11]
JournalistPeter Jennings asked Ayatollah Khomeini how he felt about returning to Iran after fifteen years. Khomeini answered "Nothing" (Persian:Hichi).[12] Khomeini's statement attracted much attention, and its meaning has been heavily disputed.[13] Some of Khomeini's critics have claimed his response demonstrated apathy towards Iran and its people. Others have interpreted his response as inspired byIbn Arabi's philosophy of the Perfect Man, and Shia mysticism, arguing that Khomeini was attempting to reach a perfect emotionless state, like that of theMahdi.[14]
At 9:30 am on 1 February 1979 Khomeini arrived in Iran and received a welcome from millions of Iranians. This event is celebrated as a public holiday in Iran. After delivering a speech at theMehrabad International Airport, he traveled to theBehesht-e Zahra cemetery, where many people who were killed during the revolution were buried. Millions of supporters lined the path cheering his name, and hundreds of thousands gathered at the cemetery to listen his speech.[15] Khomeini declared thatShapour Bakhtiar's cabinet was illegal and he said he would appoint his own.[16][17] He declared: "I will appoint the government! I will strike the present governmenton the mouth! With the support of the people, I will appoint the government!I will do this, because the people approved me!"[18]
On 5 February Ayatollah Khomeini choseMehdi Bazargan asPrime Minister of theinterim government.[16]
On 8 FebruaryIranian air force officers went to Khomeini's home and promised their loyalty to the revolution.[19] Bakhtiar's government announced a curfew that Ruhollah Khomeini urged people to disregard. Revolutionaries subjugated police stations, prisons and governmental centers.[20] On 11 February senior military commanders announced that they were neutral in conflict between Bakhtiar's government and revolutionaries. Because of this, they pulled their troops from the streets.[19] Bakhtiar resigned and went toParis. Revolutionaries gained a victory on this day.[21]
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