key term - Ayatollah Khomeini

Definition

Ayatollah Khomeini was an influential Iranian religious leader and politician who played a crucial role in the 1979 Iranian Revolution, leading to the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran. His ideology combined Shia Islam with political activism, which significantly shaped Iran's governance and its international relations post-revolution, creating a model for Islamic governance that resonated in various movements across the Muslim world.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Khomeini was exiled from Iran in 1964 due to his opposition to the Shah's regime and returned in 1979, just before the revolution succeeded.
2. He became the Supreme Leader of Iran following the revolution and held significant power over both the state and its religious institutions.
3. Khomeini's speeches during the revolution were pivotal in mobilizing public support against the Shah, emphasizing anti-imperialism and Islamic values.
4. Under Khomeini's leadership, Iran saw the establishment of a government that enforced strict adherence to Islamic law, impacting personal freedoms and societal norms.
5. Khomeini's ideology inspired various Islamist movements around the world, leading to both support for and backlash against his vision of an Islamic state.

Review Questions

• How did Ayatollah Khomeini's return from exile influence the outcome of the Iranian Revolution?
  • Ayatollah Khomeini's return from exile was a turning point for the Iranian Revolution. His presence galvanized popular support against the Shah’s regime, as his speeches articulated a vision that combined Shia Islam with a call for political change. Khomeini's leadership provided a focal point for disparate groups opposing the Shah, uniting them under a common cause that ultimately led to the successful overthrow of the monarchy.
• Evaluate Khomeini's role in shaping Iran's political structure after the revolution and its implications for governance.
  • Khomeini's role in shaping Iran's political structure was fundamental as he established the Islamic Republic based on his interpretation of Shia Islam through Velayat-e Faqih. This principle positioned him as Supreme Leader with extensive powers over legislative and executive branches, blending religious authority with political governance. The implications were profound, leading to an authoritarian regime that prioritized Islamic law over individual freedoms, thus transforming both domestic policies and foreign relations.
• Analyze how Khomeini's ideology has influenced Islamist movements beyond Iran since the 1979 revolution.
  • Khomeini's ideology has had a lasting influence on Islamist movements across various regions since the 1979 revolution. By advocating for an Islamic governance model that rejects Western influence and promotes anti-imperialism, Khomeini inspired groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon and other Islamist factions in regions such as Palestine and South Asia. His approach provided a framework for these movements to articulate their grievances against perceived Western encroachment while seeking to establish their own forms of Islamic governance, thus embedding Khomeini's revolutionary ideas within broader global contexts.

Related terms

Islamic Republic:

The political system established in Iran after the 1979 revolution, characterized by the rule of religious leaders and a blend of Islamic law with elements of democracy.

Shia Islam:

A branch of Islam that holds a particular interpretation of the Quran and emphasizes the leadership of the Imams, which significantly influenced Khomeini's beliefs and policies.

Velayat-e Faqih: The principle of clerical rule in Iran, advocating that a leading Islamic jurist (faqih) should govern based on Islamic law, as promoted by Khomeini.