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Imam Khomeini's Childhood
Born in 1901 AD his birthday coincides with the
anniversary of the auspicious birth of Hadhrat Fatima (SA), the most
revered and highly respected female in Islam. Imam Khomeini was born into
a religious family; his father, Ayatollah Seyyed Mustafa Musavi was
educated in Najaf and Samarra, and later returned to his birthplace,
Khomein, where he was the religious leader of the people until his death
at the age of 42. Imam Khomeini's mother also had a religious background
for she was the daughter of Ayatollah Mirza Ahmad, an exalted theologian.
Due to the early death of his father, the Imam was brought
up under the loving care of his mother and aunt Sahiba, however, when he
was at the early age of fifteen his aunt came to an untimely end, and
shortly afterwards his mother also passed away. The loss of his dear ones
was a severe blow to one so young but it also served to strengthen the
will of Imam Khomeini and cemented his faith in Allah the Almighty all the
more. From early childhood the Imam paid keen interest in his
studies. At a very early age he learned to read and write, and his elder
brother, Ayatollah Passandideh also taught him Arabic grammar and logic
along with the rudiments of many other subjects. To further his studies Imam Khomeini studied
literature at the Center for Theological studies in Arak and later in Qom,
and became an authority on theological and canon law. A self made man, refined in manners the Imam has always
stressed the performance of religious duties and observance of the Islamic
tenets. Well learned in all branches of the rational and traditional
sciences, he began to teach philosophy at the age of 27, and he has
written many books on various aspects of religion. At the age of 30, Imam
Khomeini married the daughter of a religious scholar and their marriage
was blessed with two sons and three daughters. The Imam has always spoken out against the oppression and
tyranny in the world with a resonant voice. His constant protest against
the former tyrannical regime in Iran stirred fire in the hearts of the
Pahlavi regime and their hatred was openly displayed when. Imprisoning the
Imam, they eventually exiled him from his native land. In October of 1962 , the Cabinet of the despotic
government of the Shah approved a statement for the establishment of
provincial and city councils. According to this statement, the stipulation
of 'Islam' which the constitution of the country ordained that all those
elected to the Majlis should believe in, was omitted from the law and then
elected representative could take an oath on any holy scripture they
accepted, not necessarily the glorious Qur'an protests from Qom discharged
defiantly at the Shah on this issue and Imam Khomeini sent a telegraph to
Alam, the then Prime Minister,in strong protest of his actions, opposing
the statement and for the first time he issued warnings against such
councils and their Zionist inclinations and warned them against this
action whilst calling the people to struggle. He openly protested against
the torturing and imprisonment of the people by the government and at the
same time the government supported Zionism and safeguarded the interests
of the US.Public opposition surged and the religious circles in Qom
proposed an all-out strike of the Iranian work-force. A state of emergency
was declared in Tehran and two months later, in a press conference the
P.M. announced the former approval of the statement - null and void.
Events of 1963
The religious circles in Qom had declared that the Muslims
should not celebrate the Iranian New Year (the vernal equinox) because the
anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam As-Sadiq (A.S.) fell on the second
day of the New Year. The deposed shah was dismayed when he saw the people
supporting religion and Imam Khomeini, so he decided to frustrate his
opponents' plan. On the morning of the second day of Farvardin (the first
month of the Iranian calendar), a number of the Shah's supporters and
SAVAK (Shah's secret police) agents arrived in Qom in cars and buses.
Troops in army vehicles armed with heavy machine guns poured into the
town. The Imam's home was full of people. All of a sudden anti-religious
slogans were heard. At the Faiziyyeh School, some hooligans created
disturbances and attacked the people there. The Shah's agents opened fire
on the people and the Muslim clergies. The Shah wanted to bully the clergy
into remaining silent so that he could have a free hand, and further
tyrannize the nation, thereby pleasing his master - the US government.
No sooner had the Imam received the news of the event than
he came to pacify the people. He said: "Keep calm. You are the
followers--, of those leaders in your religion who suffered greater
atrocities. Such an outrage serves as a boomerang. Many a great figure of
Islam suffered death in order to uphold Islam and entrust it to you.
Therefore it is up to you to preserve this sacred heritage." The Imam's
speech carried weight not only because the speaker was threatened with
death, but because at such a critical time he promised victory for the
people and defeat for the Shah. Imam Khomeini requested the exalted religious leaders in
Tehran to disaprove the atrocities of the region. He also urged the
religious preachers to refer in their sermons to the outrageous behavior
of the regime towards the clergy, to the threat of Israel and its agents
and to the actual threat to Islam. Imam Khomeini was always welcomed warmly by the people.
The heartfelt support that the masses gave to the religious leadership
filled the regime with frustration. The regime saw this as an obstacle to
its policies. The only religious figure remaining who gave the religious
leadership weight with the people and allowed it to be a determining
factor in Iranian society was Ayatollah Khomeini. Thus he was threatened
by SAVAK to stop giving sermons at the Feiziyyeh School. However he went
there on the afternoon of Ashura the 10th of Muharram, (to commemorate the
martyrdom of Imam Hussain) and said:
"We have
come to the conclusion that they are against Islam and the religious
leadership. Israel wants to discredit the Qur'an.
Our Holy Scripture.
and wipe out the religious
leadership. Israel wants to tighten its grip on our economy , trade and
agriculture."
The Imam's Arrest
This crushing speech caused the Shah to fly into a rage.
On the night of the 15th of Khordad, troops besieged Qom and rushed 00to
the Imam's home and took him to Tehran where they held him in custody in
the Qasr prison. He was later transferred to the Ishrat Abad garrison. The
next day the people in Qom took to the streets and led by Haj-Mustafa
Khomeini, the Imam's son, shouted the slogan: "Either Death or Khomeini!".
In Tehran the people demonstrated, shouting for his immediate release from
prison. The market place and the university in Tehran were closed down.
Troops opened fire on the people; casualties were heavy. Despite the
security crackdown, the next day, (the 16th of Khordad), there were again
demonstrations in Tehran in support of Imam Khomeini. In many other cities
and towns of Iran the people went out on strike. There was no casualty
list available, but some 15,400 people were reported killed in Tehran and
in Qom .The atrocities of the Shah's martial law during these days
and the support the masses gave Imam Khomeini were reflected in the
foreign press. Although the western press, especially the imperialist
papers, have never been able or willing to appreciate the struggles of the
oppressed people of the world to rid themselves of the yoke of
Colonialism, the 15th of Khordad uprising and the leadership of Imam
Khomeini made a great impression on them which could not be overlooked.
The strike was broken and the market place reopened when
the people received the news that the Imam was well and in good health.
Nearly two months later, he was transfered from prison to a SAVAK owned
house in Dawoodiyeh. This lessened public tension.
After Imprisonment
Nearing the first anniversary of the Faiziyyeh massacre,
troops once again occupied Qom, but under strong public pressure, the Imam
was released from prison and returned to Qom. His first speech delivered
at Adham Mosque.
"They
call us reactionary. Certain foreign newspapers are bribed
lavishly to say that we are adverse to all reforms and try to lead Iran
back to the Middle Ages. The Ruhaniyat (Clergies) oppose the adversity
the people suffer here. We want them to maintain the independence
of the country. We do not want them to be humble servants of others. We do not oppose
civilization nor does Islam. You have violated all laws, whether human
or divine. The radio and television programs are nerve-shattering. The press poisons the minds of the
youth.
You have here military
experts from Israel. You send Iranian students to
Israel. We oppose all this. We do not oppose freedom for women, but we
do not want women to be made-up dolls for the purposes of
men. Your
educational system is at the service of foreigners."Besides disclosing the evil scheming of the Pahlavi
regime, the Imam always urged the unity of Islamic nations against Zionism
and imperialism.
The Extraterritoriality statement
The puppet government of Mansour, the then Prime Minister,
submitted the bill to the Majlis (the Lower House of the Iranian
legislative branch of the government during the Pahlavi regime) which
passed it. The Imam was soon informed of this treacherous act and in a
speech he explained his reasons for opposing the bill. In less than ten
minutes more than 40,000 copies of an announcement embodying the Imam's
views were distributed by his supporters in Tehran. The Shah felt so threatened by the power of Ayatollah
Khomeini that he arranged for his exile.
The Imam's Life in Exile
On the night of Aban 13, 1343 (November 1964) Qom was
again occupied by troops. They arrested the Imam and drove him to Mehrabad
Airport to send him into exile in Turkey. In the morning the people of Qom
were not allowed to leave their homes and troops surrounded the houses of
religious leaders. Haj Mustafa Khomeini was arrested and imprisoned in
Tehran. He was likewise sent into exile in Turkey some two months later.
Telegraphs were sent to the Turkish Embassy in Tehran in
support of the religious leadership. Meanwhile, Hassan Ali Mansour, who
was responsible for the statement and the exile of the Imam was
assasinated by a member of the Fadaeiyeen-e Islam. The following letter was addressed to the UN Committee of
Human Rights, dated April 1965:
"We
would like to draw your attention to the measures the UN might take
against the policies of the Iranian government aimed at violating human
rights. The matter has been given publicity in the New York Times, the
Times and Le Monde issues of November 5.
The religious leaders of Iran
have been sent into exile as a 'security measure'.
"
The top religious figures are jailed and nearly all other
leaders are under police surveillance at their homes. The exile of Imam Khomeini to Izmir, Turkey, is the
worst of all violating . Article 14 of the Constitution of Iran to the
effect that no Iranian shall be sent into exile or forced to leave his
residence to reside elsewhere, unless otherwise stipulated by the law.
Charged with revolt, the Imam has been under police surveillance since
1962. So, how can he be guilty of later provocation? This is rather more
important, taking into account the practice of the Turkish government to
accept a religious leader of so considerable caliber in its territory and
keep him under control. We shall appreciate your investigation into the
merit of the case and your decision thereon as the UN Charter stipulates."
The Turkish government under pressure was obliged to
transfer the Imam to Iraq with collaboration of the Iranian regime. The
Iraqi government agreed with such a transfer, provided that Iran had no
right to intervene in the Imam's fate, freedom of activities of length of
his exile in Iraq.
Exile to Iraq
The Imam lived in exile in Turkey only for a short period
during which he was engaged in writing books. In Najaf, Iraq, he resumed
his activities, but in an announcement he pointed out that the resumption
of his activities should not be considered as termination of his exile and
the public should be enlightened accordingly. They were For fifteen years
in exile, Imam Khomeini, wrote, spoke out, lectured, informed and amassed
public fervor against tyrannical regime in Iran. He returned fifteen years
later bringing the 'Dawn of an Islamic Revolution.' TV and radio stations,
all over the world struggled to accommodate the influx of news that was
coming from Iran; the Imam has returned. Some quoted thousands had gone to
meet him and others, hundreds of thousands, but the truth is that millions
thronged to receive the Imam when he landed on home ground.
Migration from Iraq to Paris
At a meeting of the foreign ministers of Iran and Iraq in
New York, a decision was made to deport Imam Khomeini from Iraq. On the
2nd of Mehr, 1357 (Sept 24, 1978), Iraqi troops put siege to Imam
Khomeini's house in Najaf. The news of the siege angered the Muslims in
Iran, Iraq and in other countries. In his visit to Imam Khomeini, Iraqi
security chief, had said that if Imam wished to stay in Iraq he must give
up his political oppositions, and the Imam had strongly replied that, due
to the responsibility not willing to remain quiet nor is he willing to
make a compromise.
Return to Home
Early in Bahman, 1357 the news concerning Imam Khomeini's
decision to return to the country was spread. Whoever heard this news shed
tears of joy. The people had been waiting for 14 years. Immediately after
his triumphant return, he addressed the millionic throng at
Behesht-e-Zahra cemetery. The following area excerpts from his speech ...
"We have suffered many disasters ... but during this period, big disasters
but great victories have also been achieved ... I cannot compensate for
all the damage done to this nation ... I lost everything. May God the
Almighty reward it ... Muhammad Reza Pahlavi has gone ... He fled after
destroying everything... He ruined our country and made our cemeteries
flourish... Our agriculture is Wiped out... He kept our culture in a
backward state... We have had universities for more than fifty years...
Due to treason committed against us however, there has been no human
development... .
"As
regards oil, it has been given totally to foreigners whether to America
or other countries.....If. God forbid, that man had remained on the
throne for several more year.' our oil reserves would have been
exhausted... The blood of our young has been shed for these same causes and
for freedom... We want a strong country with a stable and powerful
system. We do not seek to reverse the system totally, in fact we want to
maintain it, only let it be based on.
Imam Khomeini has been true to his words. Since the
ousting of the Pahlavi regime and the establishment of an Islamic Republic
in Iran, the government has acted towards the benefit of the people
themselves. The system of Islamic government in Iran has not been
estranged from the people in any way and has enjoyed their full support.
Development activities, under the circumstances have achieved wonders far
beyond the realms of expectation, and the support of the people when
fighting against the despotic regime of Iraq which imposed war upon them
serves to show that their faith in the grace of Allah and the Imam's
guidance shall never flounder. The Islamic Republic of Iran, having followed the guidance
of Imam Khomeini, now has a strong and powerful system both at the
national and international level. Islamic tenets and laws are referred to
when policies and decisions are made in government and this at all times
ensures that any activities or proposals carried out are in the interest
of the people. The nations of the world shall be envited in future years,
for having lived through this era of transition of the Islamic Revolution,
for having experienced its glorious 'Dawn' led by the most honorable Imam
Khomeini. Contrary to the views expressed by the Western media , the
people of Iran have gained a new respect and dignity. They can proudly say
that what they have is self-achieved that their modest dress is proper and
is their cultural identity (and not an outdated custom), and that their
values are Islamic and pure. Imam Khomeini returned to Iran, from exile and brought
with him the 'Dawn of the Islamic Revolution,' but now the light of the
sun shines from the faces of those who have followed his guidance and
accepted the tenets of Islam. The Islamic Republic of Iran like a beacon,
shines out across the globe and embraces the oppressed.
