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Some Important Events during the Islamic Revolution in Iran
Compiled By: Syed Ali Shahbaz
On October 25, 1964, the Father of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (RA), on release from prison delivered a keynote speech strongly denouncing the judicial immunity granted to US nationals in Iran by the Pahlavi regime. He also condemned Washington and its illegitimate surrogate, Israel. The remarks of the beloved Imam enlightened the people and angered the despotic regime, to the extent that it again detained him and a few days later sent him into exile.
On January 5, 1978 AD, with the publication of an insulting article in one of Tehran’s papers against the Father of Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (RA), the protests of the Muslim Iranian nation started across the country and the Islamic movement was placed on the path to final victory. The despotic regime of the British-installed and American-supported Shah, which was aware of the influence and popularity of Imam Khomeini among the people, imagined that by insulting this revered leader, it could undermine his popularity. As part of this ominous plot, Etela’at Newspaper in its January 6, 1978 edition printed an insulting article against Imam Khomeini. This insult backfired on the regime and finally on February 11, 1979, the Pahlavi potentate was thrown into the dustbin of history.
On January 8, 1978 AD, the first mass rally was held in the holy city of Qom against the despotic regime of the British-installed and US-supported Pahlavi Shah, some 15 years after the June 5, 1963 uprising. The huge rally, attended by the ulema, students, businessmen and people of walks of life, was in protest to the publication of an insulting article in the Persian daily, Ettela'at, against the Father of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (RA). It demanded the end of monarchial rule and once again proved the devotion of the Iranian nation for their beloved leader, who was in exile in holy Najaf, in Iraq. The regime’s forces attacked the peaceful demonstrators, martyring and wounding a large number of them. In its aftermath, many ulema were banished to remote areas of the country, but this failed to dampen the spirit of resistance of the people, who would stage similar mass rallies in other cities of Iran until the return home from exile of Imam Khomeini and the ultimate victory of the Islamic Revolution over a year later in February 1979.
On October 15, 1978 AD, while the people of Kerman in southeastern Iran were commemorating at the city's Jame' Masjid or Main Mosque, the traditional 40th day of the martyrs of the Tehran uprising against the despotic regime of the Shah, Pahlavi agents attacked the mourners, martyring and injuring scores of them. This led to development of a new wave of protests against the British-installed and American-backed regime, resulting in chain demonstrations throughout the country that eventually led to the victory of the Islamic Revolution under the guidance of Imam Khomeini (RA)
On October 20, 1978 AD, workers and personnel of Iran’s oil industry went on a nationwide strike against the Shah’s despotic regime. As a result, Iran’s oil exports came to a halt, depriving the Shah’s regime of its most important revenues. Moreover, the severance of Iran’s oil exports led to sharp price hikes. The Shah’s regime through its scaremongering policies, tried to force the oil industry workers to return to their jobs, but they refused to do so. The strike of Iran’s oil industry personnel continued until the ouster of the British-installed and US-backed regime, and the revolutionary people of Iran supported this strike, despite the problems which emerged due to oil shortages.
On November 3, 1964, the Father of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (RA), was exiled to Turkey, following his arrest earlier in Qom by the Shah’s forces and his relocation to Tehran. The aim of the Pahlavi regime was to suppress the Islamic aspirations of the people. On hearing the news of the exile of their beloved leader, the people in various Iranian cities held mass demonstrations. Later Imam Khomeini moved from Turkey to holy Najaf in Iraq, from where he continued to lead the Islamic movement of the Iranian people, until his triumphant return home some 15 years later to end the monarchy and establish the Islamic Republic system.
On November 5, 1978 AD, the personnel of Iran Radio and TV Network started their strike against the Shah’s despotic regime following its attack on the press and detention of several journalists, which led to closure of the leading dailies.
On November 6, 1978 AD, wide-scale demonstrations were held across Iran in protest to appointment of the military rule of General Gholam-Reza Azhari by the British-installed and US-backed Pahlavi regime. During these demonstrations the revolutionary people of Iran resolutely announced that superficial changes by the regime cannot obstruct the continuation of the popular protests until victory of the Islamic Revolution. Also on this day, the Father of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (RA) conveyed a message to the Iranian nation on the massacre of Tehran university students on November 4, 1978. Part of this message read that the courageous Iranian nation has proved that tanks and machine guns are of no use and cannot crush the Iranian nation’s indomitable determination.
On November 3, 1978 AD, during the mass protests of the Iranian people against the Pahlavi regime, students at Tehran University Campus, calling for the return home from exile of their beloved leader, Imam Khomeini (RA), were brutally attacked by the Shah's forces, resulting in martyrdom of several of them. Hence, the 13th of Aban was named as Students Day, following the victory of the Islamic Revolution.
On November 4, 1978 AD, during the nationwide mass protests in Iran against the oppressive Pahlavi regime, Premier Ja'far Sharif-Imami and his cabinet were forced to resign after five weeks in office. He was one of the most corrupt officials of the Shah's regime and was appointed to deceive the people and derail the Islamic Movement from its course. Following his resignation, the instigator of the Black Friday massacre in Tehran, General Gholam-Reza Azhari formed a military cabinet, but the Father of Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (RA), called on the Iranian people to continue their movement until the total collapse of the US-backed despotic regime.
On December 29, 1978 AD, following the failure of the military cabinet of General Gholam Reza Azhari to suppress the popular Islamic uprising of the Iranian nation, the Shah’s despotic regime named Shapour Bakhtiar as Prime Minister. The Shah and the US hoped that Bakhtiar would be able to halt the Iranian nation’s Islamic Revolution through his supposedly nationalist and reformist policies. The Iranian Muslim nation was, however, alert and vigilant and stood up against Bakhtiar, calling him the stooge of foreign powers. In his message from exile, the Father of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (RA), declared Bakhtiar’s cabinet as illegitimate and called on people to continue their struggle for the overthrow of the British-installed and US-supported Pahlavi regime.
On January 11, 1979 AD, during the most sensitive moments of Iran’s Islamic Movement, when the US was making feverish efforts to maintain in power the British-installed Pahlavi regime, the Father of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (RA), ordered formation of the Revolutionary Council. Its main duties were to coordinate the struggles of the Iranian people against the Shah’s despotic regime; to advance the goals of the Islamic Revolution; and to set the stage for formation of the interim government after the Pahlavi regime's eventual downfall. Imam Khomeini, in his message, emphasized that the demand of the Iranian Muslim nation is not just the Shah's ouster, but continuation of the struggle until establishment of the sacred Islamic system, which guarantees the freedom of the people; independence of Iran; and implementation on of social justice. After the ouster of the Shah, the Revolutionary Council also acted as a lawmaking body until formation of the elected Majlis or parliament.
On January 12, 1979, during demonstrations in several Iranian cities in the crucial days of the Islamic Revolution, intense clashes erupted between Shah's forces and the people, leading to martyrdom and injury of a number of courageous Iranians.
On January 13, 1979 AD during the crucial days of the Islamic Revolution, the beleaguered British-installed and US-backed Pahlavi potentate, Mohammad Reza Shah, floated the idea of setting up a regency council to transfer power to his son, in a bid to deceive the people to discontinue their popular movement against his regime. But the ever-alert Iranian people took to the streets to denounce his plot, voicing their support for the Father of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (RA). On this day, from his brief exile in Paris, the Imam announced that soon a revolutionary government would be established. Following this announcement, the head of the so-called regency council, Jalaleddin Tehrani, left for France to meet Imam Khomeini. But the Imam set two conditions for meeting him: First of all Tehrani’s resignation from his post, and secondly announcement of illegitimacy of the regency council. Soon Tehrani resigned from his post and in this manner the regency council was practically dissolved.
On January 14, 1979 AD, during the crucial days of the Islamic Revolution, major clashes erupted between the unarmed demonstrators and the Shah’s US-backed soldiers. Several soldiers, impressed by the Islamic movement, joined the people, thereby further demoralizing the Shah’s US-trained army. In his message from exile, the Father of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (RA), encouraged soldiers to join the people for defence of the divine religion of Islam, in order to rescue the country from the yoke of hegemonic powers.
On January 15, 1979, the British-installed and American backed Pahlavi potentate of Iran, Mohammad Reza Shah, faced by the massive tide of the Islamic Revolution fled the country under pretext of medical treatment. He was placed on the Peacock Throne by the British in 1941 after they dismissed and deported from Iran his father, Reza Khan, due to his support for Germany during World War II. In 1953, Mohammad Reza had fled the country faced with the people's uprising, but was returned to Iran and re-installed on the throne by his godfathers, the British and the Americans, who carried out the August 19, 1953 coup to unseat Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddeq. Thereafter, Mohammad Reza loyally served the vested interests of the US in Iran and the region, and brutally suppressed the Iranian people, until he was forced to run away from Iran this day. The people of Iran celebrated his ouster with joy on the streets, and demanded the return home from exile of their beloved leader, Imam Khomeini (RA). In the next three weeks, the remnants of the oppressive Pahlavi regime collapsed and were thrown into the dustbin of history, with triumph of the Islamic Revolution.
On January 18, 1979 AD, the Iranian Muslim nation, by its trust in God and solidarity, staged a huge demonstration against the remnants of the Shah’s despotic regime. The protesters demanded the ouster of the Shah's prime minister, Shahpour Bakhtiyar and establishment of the Islamic system of government. On this day, the Father of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (RA), in his message to the Iranian nation from exile, said: “Insha Allah, I will soon join you, so that with your courageous efforts we would resolve problems, and through the unity of all strata of the nation, we would make every effort in the path toward independence and freedom of Iran.”
On January 19, 1979 AD, the news of the imminent return home from exile of the Father of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (RA), were greeted with rejoicings by the Iranian nation. The news created panic among the Shah's agents, many of whom fled the country in view of their criminal record. In desperation, the Shah's Prime Minister, Shahpour Bakhtiyar, ordered his troops to attack defenseless people, in a bid to maintain in power the British-installed and US-supported Pahlavi regime. However, such actions failed to break the resolve of the Iranian nation, and in fact made the people more determined to continue their righteous path till final victory.
On November 3, 1979 AD, on the first anniversary of the massacre of Tehran University students by the Shah's regime, thousands of Iranian students held a rally in front of the US embassy in Tehran that culminated in the capture of this den of espionage. It was a historic step and foiled a sinister plot to overthrow the Islamic Republic, since the US mission in violation of diplomatic norms, was openly indulging in spying and terrorist activities. Prior to the capture of the US spy den, the Iranian Foreign Ministry had on several occasions protested to US meddling and conspiracies in Iran, but without any positive response from Washington. In fact, following the takeover of the US embassy, documented evidence was brought to light, proving its functioning as a centre of espionage, not just against Iran but throughout the region. The Father of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (RA), hailed this courageous and revolutionary move by the students and called the fall of the US Spy Den as the Second Revolution, greater than the First Revolution. Aban 13 has consequently been named as the National day of Campaign against Global Arrogance.
On November 5, 1979 AD, the interim government of Prime Minister Mahdi Bazargan tendered its resignation to the Founder of Islamic Republic of Iran, Imam Khomeini (RA), a day after the fall of the US den of spies in Tehran to revolutionary students. The interim government which was formed on February 11, 1979, lacked the necessary qualifications to govern the country.
On November 14, 1979 AD, a few days after the capture of the US den of spies in Tehran by students protesting Washington’s plots against the Islamic Revolution, the US regime illegally froze all Iran’s hard currency assets in its banks, totaling scores of billions of dollars. With the blockade of Iran’s banking accounts, the US regime increased economic pressures on the Islamic Republic of Iran which continue to this day. A few days prior to this measure, Iran had stopped oil exports to the US because of American lawlessness.
On November 14, 1979 AD, the Assembly of Experts completed the drafting and approval of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Constitution, determining the basis of the sacred Islamic system of government in accordance with the holy Qur’an, the hadith and Islamic values, with special focus on social justice and compliance with the rights of all human beings. The Constitution was duly put to nationwide referendum and approved by the overwhelming majority of the Iranian people, thereby opening a new chapter in the history of constitutions of world countries. In 1989, an amendment to the Constitution took place regarding abolishment of the premier’s post and strengthening of the presidency, and approved by the Assembly of Experts after put to people’s vote.
On December 2, 1979 AD, the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Constitution was ratified following overwhelming majority of votes, cast by the people. The Constitution determines the principal policies of the country based on Islamic teachings and values, social justice, and human rights. In 1989, an amendment to the Constitution took place following its ratification by the Guardian Council and vote of approval by the people.
Public mobilization in Iran for uprooting illiteracy
On December 27, 1979 AD, the Father of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (RA), ordered public mobilization in Iran for uprooting illiteracy by launching the Literacy Movement. Part of his historical declaration reads: “Now, without wasting time and without any unnecessary formalities, we launch the movement for rapid uprooting of illiteracy so that, God-willing, everyone would be able to read and write in the near future.” Today, over three decades later, Iran has the one of the highest literacy rates in the world, as per UNESCO records.
On October 29, 1980 AD, the courageous Iranian boy, Seyyed Mohammad Hussein Fahmideh, who had just stepped into his teens, attained martyrdom in the port city of Khorramshahr at the age of 13 during the initial years of the 8-war imposed on Iran by the US through Saddam. Born in the holy city of Qom, he went to the warfronts to confront the cowardly Ba'thist enemy. In a bid to stop Iraqi columns from advancing, he tied a grenade around his waste and fearlessly threw himself into the path of a tank, destroying it and attaining martyrdom in the process. Consequently the 8th of Aban is marked in Iran as Day of Youth and Day of Student Basijis. The Father of Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (RA) lauded this young martyr, saying: "Our leader is that 12-year-old child, who attained martyrdom while blowing up an enemy tank."
The historical epistle of Imam Khomeini (RA) to Mikhail Gorbachev
On January 2, 1988 AD, the historical epistle of the Father of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (RA), was delivered to the last president of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, inviting him to return to God and spiritual values. The epistle also invited him to study the divine religion of Islam, and predicted the end of communism.
Part of the epistle read: One should turn to facts. The main problem of the Soviet Union is not the right o of ownership, economy and freedom. Your main problem is your disbelief in God; the same problem which has, and will push the West toward the dead end. Your main problem is a long and pointless fight against God; the Source of the universe and creation.” The epistle added: It is perfectly clear to everyone that hereafter communism would be seen in the world’s political history museums because Marxism does not meet any of the actual needs of mankind… I want you to seriously study Islam, because of the ethereal and global values of this dynamic religion, which can salvage nations and solve the major problems of mankind. Two years later, Imam Khomeini’s prophecy about the end of Marxism materialized and the Soviet Union disintegrated.
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