Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, started his movement against the anti-Islamic policies of the former Shah in 1963, a movement that resulted in an unprecedented change in the 20th century, affecting Iran’s political standards and leaving a lasting impression on the world economy, politics, and culture.
A big crowd of people, from young students to old grandparents, who had a strong faith in Imam Khomeini, hit the streets in late 1978 calling for the Shah’s abdication, which ultimately ignited the government’s implosion. Shah fled the country in January 1979, and Ayatollah Khomeini returned to Iran after spending years in exile in Paris and Iraq.
While in exile, Imam Khomeini continued to guide the uprising against the Pahlavi regime. He started to promote his message and ideology among Iranian people. He passed away in June 1989; however, 29 years after his death, his legacy of views and values in life are still being treasured in the region and across the world.
Imam Khomeini, the leader of Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, was an influential political figure who brought about a sea change not only to Iran but to the rest of the world.