Ruhollah Khomeini Biography and Timeline

Birth of Ruhollah Khomeini

Birth of Ruhollah Khomeini

Arrest of Ruhollah Khomeini

State of siege proclaimed in Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini arrested. Khomeini is arrested in 1963 after declaring the Shah a "wretched miserable man" who had "embarked on the destruction of Islam in Iran"

Demonstrations

Three days of major riots throughout Iran follow, with Khomeini supporters claiming 15,000 dead from police fire

State of Emergency

State of siege proclaimed in Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini arrested

White Revolution

Three days of major riots throughout Iran follow, with Khomeini supporters claiming 15,000 dead from police fire. Khomeini is arrested in 1963 after declaring the Shah a "wretched miserable man" who had "embarked on the destruction of Islam in Iran"

Exile of Ruhollah Khomeini

Leads Moslem resistance to female emancipation, is arrested & exiled

Reform of Religious Policy

Leads Moslem resistance to female emancipation, arrested & exiled

White Revolution

Shia cleric Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini first comes to political prominence in he leads the opposition to the Shah and his "White Revolution"

Arrest of Ruhollah Khomeini

Khomeini is released after eight months of house arrest and continues his agitation, condemning the regimes close cooperation with Israel and its capitulations, or extension of diplomatic immunity to American Government personnel in Iran

Khomeini is released

Khomeini is released after eight months of house arrest and continues his agitation, condemning the regimes close cooperation with Israel and its capitulations, or extension of diplomatic immunity to American Government personnel in Iran

Arrest of Ruhollah Khomeini

Khomeini was re-arrested and sent into exile where he remained for 14 years until the revolution

Exile of Ruhollah Khomeini

Away from public view, Khomeini develops the ideology of velayat-e faqih (guardianship of the jurist) as Government, that Muslims require "guardianship," in the form of rule or supervision by the leading Islamic jurist or jurists.

Exile of Ruhollah Khomeini

Exiled to Turkey for opposing the Shahs Status of Forces Bill, granting US immunity

Exile of Ruhollah Khomeini

Khomeini was re-arrested and sent into exile where he remained for 14 years until the revolution.

Exile of Ruhollah Khomeini

The Islamic revival begins to undermine the idea of Westernization as progress that was the basis of the Shahs secular regime, and to form the ideology of the 1979 revolution.

Exile of Ruhollah Khomeini

Moves to Iraq where he remains until 1978

Demonstrations

18 groups in a number of cities marched to honor the fallen and protest against the rule of the Shah & violence erupts in Tabriz, where five hundred demonstrators were killed according to the opposition, ten according to the Government

Demonstrations

Khomeinis activists numbered "perhaps a few hundred in total", but over the coming months they grew to a mass of several thousand demonstrators in most cities of Iran

Demonstrations

Demonstrations break out which spread to the rest of the country

Black Friday

The clerical leadership declared that "thousands have been massacred by Zionist troops"

Demonstrations

The clerical leadership declared that "thousands have been massacred by Zionist troops"

IRC

The Islamic Revolutionary Council is formed in Iran at Khomeinis behest

Islamic Revolutionary Council

The Islamic Revolutionary Council is formed in Iran at Khomeinis behest

Black Friday

Government troops fire on demonstrators, Black Friday

Demonstrations

The army was sent in, dispersing the demonstrations and killing several students (two to nine according to the Government, 70 or more according to the opposition). Government troops fire on demonstrators, Black Friday

Exile of Ruhollah Khomeini

Leaves for Paris where Khomeini forms an opposition movement in exile

IRC

The Islamic Revolutionary Council is formed in Iran at Khomeinis behest

Islamic Revolutionary Council

The Islamic Revolutionary Council is formed in Iran at Khomeinis behest

Martial Law

Martial Law is declared

Exile of Ruhollah Khomeini

Leaves for Paris and took up residence in the suburb of Neauphle-le-Chƒteau

Economy of Iran

A general strike in October resulted in the paralysis of the economy, with vital industries being shut down,"sealing the Shahs fate"

General Strike

A general strike in October resulted in the paralysis of the economy, with vital industries being shut down,"sealing the Shahs fate"

Strike

A general strike in October resulted in the paralysis of the economy, with vital industries being shut down,"sealing the Shahs fate"

Demonstrations

During the Islamic month of Muharram, over two million people filled the streets of Tehrans Azadi Square (then Shahyad Square), to demand the removal of the Shah and return of Khomeini

Exile of Ruhollah Khomeini

During the Islamic month of Muharram, over two million people filled the streets of Tehrans Azadi Square (then Shahyad Square), to demand the removal of the Shah and return of Khomeini

Demonstrations

During the Islamic month of Muharram, over two million people filled the streets of Tehrans Azadi Square (then Shahyad Square), to demand the removal of the Shah and return of Khomeini

Exile of Ruhollah Khomeini

During the Islamic month of Muharram, over two million people filled the streets of Tehrans Azadi Square (then Shahyad Square), to demand the removal of the Shah and return of Khomeini

Demonstrations

A "total of 6 to 9 million" anti-shah demonstrators marched throughout Iran

Exile of Ruhollah Khomeini

Returns to Iran

Revolutionary Council

Khomeini forms the Revolutionary Council to coordinate the transition from the monarchy

Role range: 1978-1979 – 1979-1989