Feb. 1979 Return of Ayatollah Saw Emergence of Despotism

The Feb. 1979 return of Ayatollah Khomeini saw the emergence of despotism in Iran.

February 2019 marks the 40th anniversary of Khomeini’s return to Tehran and the overthrowing of the Shah. Khomeini arrived in Tehran on Feb.1, 1979.

iran shah toppled 1979
The Shah has gone Feb 1979

Ayatollah Khomeini Betrayed Revolution

When Khomeini arrived in Iran, millions of people who sacrificed for the revolution greeted him. Soon the people acknowledged that the true demands of the revolution were betrayed. Khomeini’s rule transformed every aspect of Iranian society.

Let’s examine in short, what did Khomeini do for Iran?

Ayatollah feast. First from right, Sadegh Khalkhali, known as Iran's "Hanging Judge." Third from right, Ruhollah Khomeini, the Supreme Leader of Iran.
First from right, Sadegh Khalkhali, known as Iran’s “Hanging Judge.” Third from right, Ruhollah Khomeini, the Supreme Leader of Iran.

Khomeini, during his 10 years (1979-1989) as Supreme Leader of Iran, is estimated to have killed 120,000 people. Then he killed another 30,000 political prisoners massacred in the summer of 1988. At the lower end of the scale, that’s a hit rate of 41 executions a day. Most executions were carried out in public or in prison after the victims were asked a few questions without the possibility to defend themselves.

Khomeini claimed to be the deputy of God on earth, to justify why he should occupy the role for lives of the people. He considered all the people to be little more than slaves to his ideals.

The aftermath of the 1981 rally.
The aftermath of the 1981 rally.

Khomeini Assumed Title of Imam

He ruled as both political and religious leader. He really invented an ideology to legitimize his power because his ideology was totally against the religion of true Islam.

Khomeini assumed the title of Imam. This was totally unprecedented in the history of Shia who had restricted the title to the holy Imam. He issued all of his orders in the name of Islam.

He knew that he was not able to survive for long without disarming the people so he tried to separate them from the true opposition leader. During 10 years he practiced murdering political rivals to get rid of his political enemies.

His victims included mainly members of People’s Mojahedin Organization (PMOI). Members of this organization were students, writers, judicial figures, farmers, teachers, intellectuals, journalists and even his cabinet members.

Zahra Kazemi.
Zahra Kazemi

Khomeini Replaced Democratic Values With War

From the time he saw his position as a leader becoming insecure, he started the war with Iraq. So under the pretext of exporting “revolution” he set the economy to a strict build-up for war.

Amir Javadi Far, tortured to death in the notorious Kahrizak Detention Center for protesting 2009 election results.
Amir Javadi Far, tortured to death in the notorious Kahrizak Detention Center for protesting 2009 election results.

Khomeini disabled democratic values. He removed freedom of speech and destroyed freedom of the press. He shut down media outlets completely and turned the media into a propaganda machine for his regime against the main opposition group, PMOI. He threw political opponents into prison and released a religious decree to deprive religious and ethnic minorities of their rights.

The loss of individual rights has been accompanied by a suspension of all objective moral judgments on the part of the regime, which has enabled it to conduct a reign of terror against non-Shiite Muslim minorities.

Execution of Kurdish minorities.
Execution of Kurdish minorities

He spent much of the treasure, resources, time and effort to build military apparatus such as the Iran Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and religious institutions. We wanted to create a structure for power for complete dictatorship for the supreme leader.

The Ayatollah dissolved everything: Government, parties, Parliament, and other institutions. He did what he wanted with the Constitution and the laws to model his Regime to his style of dictatorship. The world and international communities have never ever seen such a dictatorship since the inquisition era.

28-year-old Taraneh Mousavi, arrested for protesting the 2009 election results, died after being sexually abused while in custody.
28-year-old Taraneh Mousavi, arrested for protesting the 2009 election results, died after being sexually abused while in custody.

Khomeini Gone, Khamenei Fading, People Rising

Now Khamenei, Khomeini’s predecessor is in power, as the regime celebrates its 40th anniversary.

More cities are witnessing Resistance Units (affiliated to PMOI/MEK) take actions against the regime. The concerns voiced by the supreme leader Khamenei’s elements in regards to the upcoming Warsaw Conference parallel with escalating anxieties about the PMOI/MEK’s increasing influence inside Iran.

Not a day passes without regime insiders voicing uncertainties about the future. The people from all walks of life take to the streets to protest the widespread corruption and the clerical regime’s dictatorship.

The people of Iran feel that their country is occupied by the clergies. the people are determined to get rid of them so that Iran can finally prosper once again. The people’s main slogan in rallies and protests is “We shall never stop until we get our occupied country back.”

Sadly, the European governments are desperately trying to save the corrupt Iranian regime. Barack Obama and the Europeans saved the Ayatollah once before. The people of Iran must act fast, in case the Europeans succeed in throwing another lifeline to the fascist dictators.

Hassan Mahmoudi is a human rights advocate and Social Media journalist seeking democracy for Iran and peace for the region.