Who Was Khomeini?
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini was an Iranian religious leader who, while in exile, led the popular revolution that led to the fall of Muhammad Reza Shah Pahlavi of Iran in 1979. Khomeini was unhappy with the interference of foreign powers in Iran. He was also angry with Iranian leaders who promoted modern policies that were against Islamic traditions. Reza Shah Pahlavi came to power in 1941 and Great Britain, France, and the United States backed him in his polices. In the early 1960s the Shah announced a White Revolution in which he introduced many reforms such as equal rights for women and secular education. Khomeini, who was then based in Qom, implacably opposed the Shah. Khomeini was imprisoned in 1963 and sent into exile in 1964. Khomeini settled in the Iraqi city of Najaf and spread his ideas through a network of students, almost 12,000 in number. Later he moved to Paris and continued his mission. Khomeini urged Iranians to overthrow the Shah and his aides. Khomeini returned to Iran
