Who is Ayatollah Khomeini? What is his background?

What are his beliefs? How did he impact the citizens of

Iran, the US and/or the world?

BY: SAFA KHAN

BackgroundAyatollah was Iran’s head of state from

1979-1989.He found the modern Islamic Jihad.Was exiled from Iran in 1964 and was

invited back by Iran’s anti-Shah revolutionaries.

When he came back he took hold of power and formed an Islamic Republic. He ended the westernized society (lead by Shah) in Iran and enforced strict rules. Young Ayatollah

Khomeini

Beliefs Ayatollah threatened to kill infidels. The

author of the book Satanic Verses (Salman Rushdie) wrote about Islam and that he was against it. Ayatollah said that it was a religious duty to kill everyone that was involved in the publication of Satanic Verses.

Ayatollah didn’t believe in the westernized society and was strongly against it. People considered him a “supreme spiritual leader”.

He believed that political activities should be lead by religious scholars.

Ayatollah was a strong believer in Islam

Impact on the WorldAyatollah Khomeini impacted the US by

holding 52 American students hostage in the US embassy in Tehran. This caused the involvement of the US in the revolution in Iran.

Ayatollah ended the westernized society and enforced a strict dress code on men and women.

He lead Islamic Revolutions across the Middle East.

Work Cited“Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini – Discover the

Networks.” Ayatollah Khomeini. DiscovertheNetworks, 14 Feb. 2005. Web. 03 Feb.2013. http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/individualProfile.asp?indid=670

ran Chamber Society. "Historic Personalities of Iran: Ayatollah Khomeini." Historic Personalities of Iran: Ayatollah Khomeini. Iran Chamber Society Editorial Team, 2001-2013. Web. 03 Feb. 2013. <http://www.iranchamber.com/history/rkhomeini/ayatollah_khomeini.php>.