Ruhollah Khomeini's return to Iran
| History of the Iranian revolution |
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Ruhollah Khomeini’s return to Iranon 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 Bakhtiarand the final overthrow of theShahof Iran,Mohammad Reza Pahlavi,on 11 February 1979.
Ruhollah Khomeini,known in theWestern worldasAyatollahKhomeini,[1]was an IranianShiaMuslimreligious 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 Iranas 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.
Exile
[edit]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 Pahlavirose 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" ) inTwelverShiaIslam, aMujtahidorfaqihbut 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,Turkeyon 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]
Preparing for travel
[edit]Khomeini decided to return to Iran afterMohammad Reza Pahlavi,theShahof Iran, left on 16 January 1979. A welcoming committee was formed on 21 January 1979, to organise and ensure Khomeini's return.[6]KayhanandEttela'atpapers 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 Bakhtiarannounced 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]
The flight
[edit]On 1 February Khomeini flew to Iran in a charteredAir FranceBoeing 747-100(registered F-BPVD[9]) as flight AF 4721 fromCharles de Gaulle Airport.He was accompanied by supporters includingSadeq Tabatabaei,Sadegh Khalkhalias 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.[10][11][12]
JournalistPeter Jenningsasked Ayatollah Khomeini how he felt about returning to Iran after fifteen years. Khomeini answered "Nothing" (Persian:Hichi).[13]Khomeini's statement attracted much attention, and its meaning has been heavily disputed.[14]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.[15]
Arrival and visit to Behesht-e Zahra
[edit]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 Zahracemetery, 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.[16]Khomeini declared thatShapour Bakhtiar's cabinet was illegal and he said he would appoint his own.[17][18]He declared: "I will appoint the government! I will strike the present government on the mouth! With the support of the people, I will appoint the government! I will do this, because the people approved me!"[19]
Government collapse
[edit]On 5 February Ayatollah Khomeini choseMehdi BazarganasPrime Ministerof theinterim government.[17]
On 8 FebruaryIranian air forceofficers went to Khomeini's home and promised their loyalty to the revolution.[20]Bakhtiar's government announced a curfew that Ruhollah Khomeini urged people to disregard. Revolutionaries subjugated police stations, prisons and governmental centers.[21]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.[20]Bakhtiar resigned and went toParis.Revolutionaries gained a victory on this day.[22]
See also
[edit]
- Ruhollah Khomeini
- Jimmy Carter's engagement with Khomeini
- Iranian Revolution
- Fajr decade
- Ruhollah Khomeini's life in exile
References
[edit]- ^"Ayatollah Khomeini (1900–1989)".BBC – History.Retrieved20 June2013.
- ^"Ayatollah Khomeini (1900–1989)".BBC – History.Retrieved20 June2013.
- ^Encyclopedia of World Biography on Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini, Ayatollah.Bookrags.Retrieved19 March2010.
- ^Sciolino, Elaine (27 August 2000)."nyt The People's Shah".New York Times.Retrieved19 March2010.
- ^(Iran and Iraq would fight abitter eight-year war1980–1988 only a year after the two reached power in 1979)
- ^"Oral History of the welcoming committee of Imam Khomeini".Retrieved14 May2015.
- ^"11 Bahman 1357, tomorrow morning at 9, visiting Imam in Tehran".
- ^Abrahamian, Ervand (1982).Iran between two revolutions.Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press.ISBN069100790X.
- ^"Airfleets aviation".airfleets.net.Retrieved22 November2022.
- ^My centuryBBC
- ^Jerome, Carole (1 September 1980)."Back to the Veil".New Internationalist(91).Retrieved3 August2013.
- ^"Khomeini Is Thankful to French".The New York Times.1 February 1979.ISSN0362-4331.Retrieved4 July2024.
- ^"12 Bahman: Khomeini Returns".PBS.1 February 2009.Retrieved4 August2013.
- ^Unpaved Road: An Iranian Girl's Real Life Story of Struggle, Deception and...By Niki Bahara]
- ^Axworthy, Michael (2007).Iran: empire of the mind: a history from Zoroaster to the present day.London: Penguin. pp. 265–6.ISBN978-0141036298.
- ^"On This Day: Ayatollah Khomeini Returns From Exile".2011.Retrieved14 May2015.
- ^abIran Country Study Guide Volume 1 Strategic Information and Developments.Lulu. 2012. p. 65.ISBN9781438774626.
- ^Heather Lehr Wagner (2010).The Iranian Revolution.Infobase Publishing. p. 13.ISBN978-1-4381-3236-5.
- ^Gölz,"Khomeini's Face is in the Moon: Limitations of Sacredness and the Origins of Sovereignty.",In Sakralität und Heldentum. Edited by Felix Heinzer, Jörn Leonhard and von den Hoff, Ralf, 229–44. Helden - Heroisierungen - Heroismen 6. Würzburg: Ergon, 2017, p. 243.
- ^abInt'l Business Publications (2005).Iran: Country Study Guide.International Business Publications, USA. p. 124.ISBN9780739714768.
{{cite book}}:|last1=has generic name (help) - ^Hosseini, Mir Masood."Bakhtiar Becomes Prime Minister".fouman.
- ^"1979: Victory for Khomeini as army steps aside".bbc.11 February 1979.
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