Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini

Ruhollah Khomeini was the religious leader throughout the Iranian revolution who over threw the oppressive Shah regime. Khomeini lead a successful revolution by the means of galvanizing the masses and has been referred to by Shia scholars as, "champion of Islamic revival." Although exiled to Iraq and, once there, exiled again, Khomeini encouraged the people to overthrow the Shah regime and as a result, created a strong religious and political following from abroad. One could argue that Khomeini was successful simply because the Shah became oppressive and finally the people just needed a new form of government that was not the Shah. However i think that Khomeini was so successful in his efforts simply because he was a devote religious leader and, through his advocacy of traditional Islamic beliefs, captured the minds of the majority of Iran during the oppressive time.

As Khomeini was seen as a key religious figure, his exile created a new image for him, a martyr. On June 3rd, 1963, Khomeini delivered a speech at the Feyziyeh madreseh during which he severely attacked the Shah and warned him that is change was not brought to the current social situation in Iran, the people would, "offer up thanks for his departure from the country." Immediately after this speech, the Shah arrested Khomeini and took him to a Qasr prison in Tehran. News of Khomeini's arrest spread like wild fire through the major cities of Iran and masses of angry demonstrators faced tanks and militants. For six whole days the nation was in utter outrage at the Shah's action. Adding to the distress of Iran's social situation, the people's anger took over swept through the entire nation and Khomeini became seen as a martyr for the anti-Shah movement.

Khomeini was then exiled to Iraq where he still managed, through cassete tapes smuggled into the country, to spread his anti-Shah beliefs and create an entire mass of support for his campaign. Khomeini was seen as a hero, a fallen warrior for the movement against the oppressive Shah. The fact that he was a religious leader adding significant aid to his popularity as the majority of the population were heavily religious. Together these aspects combined to place Khomeini in the hearts and minds of the people. Together these aspects fulled a nation into overriding their oppressive government.