Ruhollah Khomeini

Ruhollah Khomeini was an Iranian Shia Marja' and political leader who became the first Supreme Leader of Iran following the Iranian Revolution of 1979. His leadership transformed Iran from a monarchy under Mohammad Reza Pahlavi into an Islamic Republic governed by the principle of Velayat-e Faqih (Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist). A figure of immense historical significance, his rule was marked by the Iran–Iraq War, the United States hostage crisis, and the consolidation of a theocratic state that continues to shape regional and global politics.

Early life and education

He was born in the town of Khomeyn in central Persia during the final years of the Qajar dynasty. After his father, Mostafa, was killed, he was raised by his mother and an aunt before moving to the city of Arak for religious studies under prominent scholars like Abdul-Karim Ha'eri Yazdi. He subsequently continued his education at the Hawza in Qom, where he studied Islamic philosophy, mysticism, and fiqh under teachers including Mohammad Ali Shahabadi and Mirza Javad Agha Maleki Tabrizi. His intellectual development in Qom positioned him within the Usuli school of thought and he gradually gained recognition as a respected teacher and Marja'.

Political activism and exile

His political activism emerged in the early 1960s in opposition to the White Revolution reforms of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, particularly those concerning land reform and women's rights, which he viewed as anti-Islamic. A pivotal moment was his public denunciation in 1963 of the Pahlavi dynasty and its ties to the United States and Israel, leading to his arrest and the 15 Khordad uprising. Following his release, he was arrested again and forced into exile in 1964, first residing in Turkey, then moving to the holy city of Najaf in Iraq. During his years in Najaf, he delivered a series of lectures later compiled as the foundational text on Velayat-e Faqih, and his tape-recorded sermons were smuggled into Iran, galvanizing a growing opposition network.

Iranian Revolution

The Iranian Revolution began in earnest in 1978, fueled by widespread discontent with the Pahlavi dynasty, economic inequality, and secular repression. From his exile in Najaf, and later in Neauphle-le-Château near Paris, his messages called for the overthrow of the Shah and the establishment of an Islamic government. Mass demonstrations, strikes, and military mutinies crippled the country, leading to the departure of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in January 1979. He returned to Iran in February 1979 to a tumultuous welcome in Tehran, swiftly appointing the Interim Government of Iran under Mehdi Bazargan while revolutionary committees like the Revolutionary Guards consolidated power, culminating in a national referendum that established the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Supreme Leader of Iran

As the first Supreme Leader of Iran, he wielded ultimate authority over the armed forces, the judiciary, and state media, operating above the elected President of Iran. His tenure was immediately tested by the seizure of the United States Embassy in Tehran and the subsequent Operation Eagle Claw. The devastating Iran–Iraq War, initiated by Saddam Hussein's invasion in 1980, defined much of his rule, leading to the formation of the Basij militia and the political marginalization of groups like the People's Mujahedin of Iran and the Tudeh Party of Iran. Domestically, his government enforced strict Islamic codes, suppressed dissent, and oversaw the drafting and ratification of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Ideology and legacy

His political ideology, centered on Velayat-e Faqih, argued for direct clerical rule as a necessity during the Occultation of the Twelfth Imam. This doctrine became the constitutional bedrock of the Islamic Republic of Iran. His legacy is profoundly contested; he is revered by supporters as the founder of a revolutionary Islamic state that challenged Western hegemony, but criticized internationally for human rights abuses, the suppression of political freedoms, and the promotion of revolutionary ideals beyond Iran's borders, influencing groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon. His death in 1989 led to his succession by Ali Khamenei and his burial at the Mausoleum of Ruhollah Khomeini, which remains a site of pilgrimage. Category:1902 births Category:1989 deaths Category:Supreme Leaders of Iran Category:Iranian revolutionaries