We explain what the Islamic Revolution was in Iran and what its background and its consequences were. In addition, who was Ruhollah Jomeini.
What was the Islamic Revolution?
The Islamic Revolution in Iran was the revolutionary process that overthrew the traditional monarchy Del Sah (King) Mohammad Reza Pahlaví and established, instead, the fundamentalist Islamic government of Ayatolá Jomeini.
It happened between 1978 and 1979, with a continuous popular demonstration in different Iranian cities against the SAH government. With the fall of the monarchy, the Islamic Republic of Iran was created and a theocratic regime based on the ideology of radical Islamism was established.
During the 1950s and 1960s, The SAH had consolidated his government with the support of foreign powers that benefited from the exploitation of Iranian oil. Under pressure from these countries, he had promoted a series of measures that harmed the most traditionalist sectors of Iranian society, including religious leaders.
During the 1970s, different social groups They organized the opposition to the SAH government and exalted the Ayatollah (religious leader) Jomeini as the revolutionary leader which defended the traditional values of Iranian society.
With the triumph of the Revolution, the Islamic Republic of Iran was created and a theocratic regime governed by Jomeini was established. The new government was structured around the ideology of radical Islamism and imposed strict control over the social, cultural and religious habits of the population.
See also: Islamism
Background of the Iranian Revolution
The origins of Iranian nationalism
Between 1796 and 1925, Iran was governed by the Kayar dynasty. Since the end of the 19th century, Iranian society had been going through a westernization processpromoted by different groups that benefited from relationships and businesses with Western powers. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Iranian constitutional revolution established a constitutional monarchy that imposed a series of limitations to the absolute power of SAH.
In 1908, a great oil site was discovered and since then, It became one of the world's largest oil suppliers. In this way, Iran became at the center of the political and economic interests of world powers.
During World War I, although Iran remained neutral, the country was occupied by British, Ottoman and Russian troops. Then, the United Kingdom tried to control the Iranian government through the establishment of a British protectorate. However, the power of power and political instability led to the end of the Kayar dynasty and the establishment of a new dynasty.
In 1925, The nationalist military chief Praylavi (father) led a coup d'etat, assumed as Sah de Iran and established a new dynasty. During his government, he tried to reform traditionalist society and consolidate resistance to foreign forces.
To do this, it sought to improve the effectiveness of the government, raise the educational levels of society and modify the land property system. However, this generated various enemies.
On the one hand, the distrust of the Western powers was won. On the other hand, the most traditionalist communities saw their customs and their life attacked. During World War II, Iran was occupied by British troops and the SAH was forced to abdicate in favor of his son, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi.
In this context, within the Iranian society A deep nationalist feeling linked to religious tradition was growing and opposite to the influence of foreign countries, especially Westerners. In 1951, a nationalist popular movement forced the withdrawal of the SAH and forced him to exile from the country. As Prime Minister assumed one of the main nationalist leaders, Mohammad Mosaddeq. That same year, Mosaddeq nationalized oil.
The Pro-Western White Revolution
In 1953, the United States and the United Kingdom organized a coup d'etat, overthrew the nationalist government and imposed again on Sah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi in the government.
The SAH allowed oil companies to continue to be exploited by foreign companies. For some years, the SAH managed to govern Iran by eliminating all opposition spotlights through the repression of the most radicalized enemies, the reform of some elements questioned of the system and the co -optation of moderate adversaries.
In 1963, under the pressure of the American president John F. Kennedy, the SAH promoted a package of reforms known as the “White Revolution” that liberalized some aspects of Iranian economy and society.
Among the most important changes, the package integrated the secularization of certain social and educational norms and a reform of the land ownership system (which benefited the great landowners who supported the SAH monarchy). The goal was weaken the social classes that defended traditionalist nationalism and benefit classes that supported the pro -western monarchy of the SAH.
These reforms generated great discontent among several sectors of the population and spontaneous popular demonstrations began to develop in different places in Iran. A group of Ayatolás (Muslim Chiitan clergy), led by Rulohah Jomeini, criticized the SAH and preached against the foreign intervention that undermined the religious and cultural traditions of Iranian society.
June 5, Jomeini was arrested and sent to prison. This news generated even greater discontent in the population and the protesters demanded the liberation of Khomeini, which became an icon of the traditional traditional feeling. The riots lasted several weeks and took thousands of dead, on the police side and the protesters. After being released, Khomeini had to exile in Türkiye.
The gestation of the Islamic Revolution
In the years following the reforms, different elements led to the growth of the revolutionary opposition against the SAH. Among the main foundations of popular discontent was the repression and abusive policies of the government.
With the aim of staying in power, SAH strengthened its repressive apparatus and created a new secret police called Savak to eliminate opposition spotlights and censor their adversaries. During the 1970s, political violence continued to increase.
On the other hand, the economic measures of industrial modernization improved the conditions of a middle class sector and industrial workers but seriously harmed the lower classes and the commercial sector of the middle class, linked to the commercial trade of the traditional bazaar. The living conditions of the lower classes worsened for the increase in life in the city, the increase in taxes and the continuous growth of inflation.
In addition, during the 1960s and 1970s, religious observance increased largely; That is, more and more people complied with religious norms. The opposition between the monarchy (SAH) and the clergy (Ayatolá) led to religious institutions and organizations to work as social congregation centers in support of the anti -Cidental tradition.
Development of the Iranian revolution
The increase in popular demonstrations and police repression
During 1977, political violence intensified. The preaching of the Ayatolás against the Government became stronger and stronger and the opposition manifestations were increasingly popular. Police repression led to increased spontaneous concentrations and of the opposition organization.
In January 1978, the president of the United States, Jimmy Carter publicly praised the SAH government And he said he had turned Iran into an area of political stability in the midst of one of the most conflictive regions in the world.
Jomeini criticized Carter's sayings and denounced US intervention in Iranian affairs. In response, one of the most important newspapers published an editorial note criticizing the Ayatolás and describing Jomeini as an undercover western agent.
Popular manifestations began rejecting the defamation and the police repressed rebellions in qom (where the Jomeini religious center was). The Ayatolás summoned the Shiite tradition to a period of 40 days of mourning by the people who died in repression.
The following month, another wave of rebellions manifested in Tabriz and the police shot at the protesters. Again the Ayatolás summoned the popular duel. It started like this a protest, repression and grief cycle that was repeated in the following months In different Iranian cities.
On September 8 in Tehran (the capital of Iran), in one of the most popular demonstrations so far, the Savak began shooting over open fire against the population and murdered more than two hundred people. That day is known as the “Black Friday.”
The fall of the SAH
Meanwhile, the United States manifested publicly in support of the SAH and, privately, pressed it to quell the disturbances. In November, the SAH agreed to establish a military government but refused to allow harder repression.
The United States wanted to force its decision and, the next month, The SAH decided to end the military government and appoint Shahpour Bakhtiar, one of the opposition leaders, as prime minister. Finally, on January 16, 1979, the SAH and his family escaped the country.
On February 1, Ayatolá Jomeini returned to Iran as a revolutionary leader in popular acclamation. April 1, 1979 Iran officially became the Islamic Republic of Iran and Jomeini established a theocratic regime that lasted until his death, in 1989.
Consequences of the Iranian revolution
The main consequence of the Iranian revolution was the creation of the Islamic Republic of Iran. With the revolution, the SAH monarchy was dismissed and, instead, a theocratic regime based on an ideology of radical Islamism was installed.
The Khomeini government sought to consolidate the national power of Iran and expel foreign forces in the country. To do this, the oil industry nationalized and allowed the popular occupation of the United States Embassy in Tehran (which generated a diplomatic crisis known as the “hostage crisis in Iran”).
Consequently, iRan began to suffer international isolation driven by an American boycott. In addition, between 1980 and 1988, Jomeini had to face a war with Iraq (1980-1988).
This situation generated a serious fall in the Iranian economy. The crisis was exploited by Jomeini to legitimize a series of measures coercive under national emergency conditions. Established a dictatorial regime based on the religious fundamentalism of radical Islamism.
Executions for moral crimes were legalized, which could cover the new government from criticism to religious deviations.
Ruhollah Jomeini (1902-1989)
Ruhollah Jomeini was an Iranian Shiite cleric who led the revolution that overthrew the SAH PAHLEVI in 1979, established an Islamic regime and ruled the country until its death Ten years later. He was born on September 24, 1902 in Khomein, Iran. He had a deep religious education that began from an early age.
After his religious career, Jomeini received the title of Ayatollah in 1961 and became a Chiíta Islam leader. Khomeini was against the SAH reforms that affected the properties of the Shiite clergy. By his activity as an opponent he was arrested and expelled from the country.
He was exiled in Iraq, in the city of Najaf, and from there he continued his political agitation against the monarchy of the Pahlevi who he accused of wicked and of being at the US service. Jomeini argued that an Islamic religious theocracy should be implemented.
Social discontent in the seventies grew its popularity in Iran. From his exile, Jomeini directed a group of Ayatolás in Iran who promoted the revolution and directed the uprising that overthrew the SAH Reza Pahlevi on January 16, 1979. The following month, he returned to the country acclaimed by the crowds and recognized as one of the greatest religious leaders of the revolution in Iran.
In December 1979, a referendum approved the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Jomeini was appointed life and religious leader. He imposed a regime led by the “mulás” (Shiite clergy) and established the “Sharia” (Islamic Law) as a legal order in the country. During his government, repression against any type of opposition was brutal.
In the international field he broke the long alliance with the USA and He called Muslims to fight the two imperialism, North American and Soviet. Promoted the Islamic revolution in neighboring countries. He supported the assault of the American embassy in Iran on November 4, 1979 and the hostage between diplomatic personnel. This kidnapping remained for more than a year.
In 1980, Iran was invaded by Iraq (whose president was Saddam Hussein and began a war that lasted almost a decade. In 1988, the two countries were politically and economically worn by the long conflict and agreed to sign the end of the war.
Jomeini died in 1989 at age 89 due to health problems. Since then It is still a popular figure and supported by the Iranian people. His grave in the cemetery of Behesht Zahra is respected as a sacred place by Iranian law.
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References
- Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia (2020). “Iranian Revolution.” Britannica Encyclopedia.
https://www.britannica.com/ - Palmowski, J. (2000). “Iran” and “Iran hostage crisis.” To Dictionary of Twentieth-Century World History. Oxford University Press.
- Van Dijk, R., Gray, WG, Savranskaya, S., Suri, J., & Zhai, Q. (eds.). (2013). “Iran” and “Iranian Revolution”. Encyclopedia of the Cold War. Routledge.
