By A. A. H. S. Adikari
The Iranian Revolution is one of the most important events in Iran's history. This is also identified as the Islamic Revolution, a day to celebrate the freedom and victory of the combined effort of people who wanted a country they loved. According to the Persian calendar, it is usually observed on the 22nd day of the Persian month of Bahman. People go on parades and rallies carrying flags and banners of revolutionary leaders, conduct cultural programs including art exhibitions, music performances, and poetry recitals to commemorate revolutionary ideals, and hold public gatherings for 10 days to celebrate the revolution. Even today, the impact of the revolution shapes the geopolitical order within the region in many ways. Iran went through a politically transformative revolution to become the Islamic Republic of Iran that it is today.
Profiling Iran
A West Asian nation, located between the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea, Iran shares its geographical borders with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, and Turkey. The country is officially a theocratic republic, with Supreme Leader Ali Hossein-Khamenei holding the position of Head of State, and President Masoud Pezeshkian is the second highest ranking official in Iran. While the former serves for life, the latter is elected for a four-year term and may serve only two terms.
Iran is the 17th largest
country in the world. While Tehran, the capital, is the country's largest and
most populated city, other major cities include Isfahan, Shiraz, Tabriz, and
Mashhad. Based on religion, Iran is home to Shia Muslims, Sunni Muslims,
Zoroastrians, Jews, Christians, and Baha'is. Farsi is the official language
spoken in Iran. Iran is one of the largest oil producers in the world, and it
enjoys the world's second-largest natural gas reserves. However, the government
is currently putting an extra focus on tourism, agriculture, and marketing by
increasing state investments in them.
The
buildup to the Revolution
The Islamic Republic of Iran is a result
of a major political revolution. This incident, namely, the Islamic Revolution,
shook the world in 1979. The revolution was populist and nationalist. In this revolution, the Shi’a Islamic
movement replaced the monarchy with a theocracy based on "Guardianship of
the Islamic Jurists."
Reza Shah Pahlavi and his son Mohammad Reza Pahlavi are considered to be the two decisive monarchs who dominated most of the 20th century, ruling collectively from 1925 to 1979. Reza Pahlavi was keen to return Iran to the former glory of the Persian Empire. Followed by Reza Shah Pahlavi, his son, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, introduced many reforms to Iranian society, including building secular schools and a European-style university in Tehran. Secular laws implemented by the Shah existed outside of Sharia. Mohammed Reza Pahlavi banned Iranian women from wearing the hijab. His reforms were mainly characterised by the Westernisation and modernisation of Iran. However, these reforms did not improve the economic conditions of Iran.
In consequence, opposition grew against Shah due to his Westernisation and secularisation efforts, social injustice, and perceived subservience to the U.S. Further, this rage was escalated by public resentment that was fuelled by the communist organisations, emphasising the rise of the poor against the rich. Demonstrations intensified, and the protesters were killed by police, sparking riots in Tehran. On September 8, 1978, security forces fired on a large protest in Tehran’s Jaleh Square, killing nearly 100 people, and this event is known as ‘Black Friday.’ Soon the Iranian people became dissatisfied with the Shah’s reforms.
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini was an influential figure of the Iranian revolution, which overthrew Shah and established the Islamic Republic of Iran. Khomeini viewed the White Revolution led by Shah as a direct attack on Islam and the traditional values of Iranian society. Earlier in June 1963, Shah Pahlavi had arrested the cleric, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, for making a speech criticising him. This incident led to large-scale riots and protests erupting all over the country. Later, Ayatollah Khomeini, during his exile in France, gained significant influence through the media. He spread his speeches through cassette tapes, emphasising unarmed resistance and non-cooperation, which saw riots escalating in opposition to the rule of Shah. After 14 years of exile, Khomeini returned to Iran triumphantly. He led a campaign that completely overthrew the Shah’s rule, with the Shah fleeing Iran on January 16, 1979, and Khomeini returning to Tehran on February 1, to be greeted by millions.
On February 11, 1979, major incidents took place in the Iranian political landscape, leading to an end to the violence. The armed forces declared neutrality, leading to the collapse of the Shah’s government. Ayatollah Khomeini coordinated the political transition of the revolution through the Revolutionary Council, which had been created on January 12, 1979, to manage the revolution, shortly before he returned to Iran. Iran officially became an Islamic Republic on April 1, 1979, following a national referendum. Iran established a new theocratic constitution, which made Ayatollah Khomeini the supreme leader, and it was approved in December 1979. The period of 10 days from the return of Ayatollah Khomeini to Iran until the day of the Iranian Revolution’s victory is celebrated annually as the Iranian or the Islamic Revolution.
Impact on geopolitics
The Iranian Revolution shaped the
geopolitics of the West Asian region as well as the world. The revolution
overthrew the monarchy system of governance, inspiring anti-monarchist
sentiments across the West Asian region. Iran became a model for Shiite groups across the region, influencing neighbouring
countries like Lebanon, Iraq, and Bahrain. Furthermore, before the revolution,
under Shah’s government, Iran had been an allied partner of the United States,
but after the revolution, following incidents like the hostage crisis at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, there was increased tension with the United States. The Iranian revolution also resulted in
spreading sectarian violence leading to wars across borders. The revolutionary
movement within the Iranian borders catalyzed Islamic movements worldwide.
References
https://www.visitiran.ir/en/overview
https://nationaltoday.com/islamic-revolution-day/
https://worldhistoryedu.com/history-of-ruhollah-khomeini-and-how-he-became-supreme-leader-of-iran/
https://www.rfi.fr/en/middle-east/20190201-why-did-ayatollah-komeini-choose-exile-paris
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/488811/Black-Friday-A-turning-point-in-Iran-s-fight-against-tyranny
https://www.iranchamber.com/history/islamic_revolution/islamic_revolution.php
