What Did Khomeini Do to Iran? A Timeline of the Crisis-Creating Actions of the Founder of the Islamic Republic

Ruhollah Khomeini, from his arrival in Tehran on February 1, 1979, until his death in June 1989, established an authoritarian and monolithic government, violently suppressing his opponents. Thousands of political prisoners were tortured and executed during this period, and female prisoners were systematically subjected to sexual assault. By his command, minorities were violently suppressed, and their leaders and activists were executed or imprisoned. The properties of Baha'is were confiscated, and a number of their leaders and members were executed or went missing. He tolerated no dissenting voices and, by creating the Revolutionary Guard, committees, and revolutionary courts, he disregarded elected institutions and made himself the absolute ruler of the country as the Supreme Leader. Support for the occupation of the U.S. embassy and the hostage-taking of its staff initiated U.S. economic sanctions and created a crisis in foreign relations. Continuing the war with Iraq after the liberation of Khorramshahr led to seven years of devastation and the deaths of thousands. His repressive and violent policies continue today under the government and his successor, Ali Khamenei. The massacre of former government officials (1979) On February 15, by his order, four military commanders were executed without trial on the roof of the Refah School. The massacre of officials and figures of the previous government continued with the issuance of unjust death sentences in revolutionary courts. The hostage-taking of the U.S. embassy (1979-1980) Khomeini's support for the occupation of the U.S. embassy by his supporters marked the beginning of the government's anti-American policy. The 444-day hostage crisis severed relations between the two countries and initiated economic sanctions. The Bazargan government resigned in protest. Elimination of 'revolutionary groups' (1979-1981) Upon gaining power, revolutionary political groups, including the Mojahedin-e Khalq, leftists, nationalists, and the Freedom Movement, were eliminated through various means, and a structure for suppressing opponents was created with the formation of the Revolutionary Guard and committees. Suppression of women and social freedoms (1979-1983) The mandatory hijab and violent suppression of protesting women, as well as the repression of social freedoms, began at Khomeini's command from the first months. Music and the display of instruments on television were banned, and cinema and artistic activities were restricted. 'Cultural Revolution' and university suppression (1980-1983) From 1980, universities were closed under the pretext of a 'Cultural Revolution,' and professors and students who were not aligned with the government were expelled. Khomeini Islamized the university environment and changed educational resources. Suppression of ethnicities and minorities (1979-1983) The uprisings of people and opposing political groups in Kurdistan, Turkmen Sahra, and Khuzestan were violently suppressed, and their leaders were executed by Khomeini's order. Suppression of Baha'is Khomeini deprived Baha'is of citizenship rights, executed many of their leaders, and confiscated their properties; a process that continues to this day. Insistence on continuing the Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988) By rejecting the ceasefire proposal after the liberation of Khorramshahr and insisting on continuing the war, he caused the deaths of tens of thousands, displacement, destruction, and significant financial losses. In July 1988, he accepted a ceasefire after seven years of fruitless war, described as 'drinking the cup of poison.' Political massacres (1981-1988) From the beginning of the 1980s, torture and execution of political opponents in prison escalated. Thousands of members and supporters of the Mojahedin-e Khalq were executed without trial. Leftist groups were suppressed, and many female prisoners were subjected to sexual assault. The fatwa for the murder of Salman Rushdie (1989) The issuance of the 'fatwa of apostasy and murder of Salman Rushdie,' the author of 'The Satanic Verses,' by Khomeini provoked a severe reaction from Western countries, severed relations between some countries and the Islamic Republic, and imposed heavy political costs on the country. Anti-Israel policies and export of the revolution (1979-1989) Following Khomeini's entry into Tehran, political relations with Israel were severed, and support for Shiite militia groups in the region began. The government spent billions of dollars on 'exporting the revolution' so that Khomeini effectively became the initiator of political Islam in the world.