Download o Type of government: Theocracy (rule by religious) → dictatorship

Introduction to Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi
Iranian Government
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1941-1979
o Head of country: Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi
o Type of government: Monarchy with prime minister → dictatorship
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After 1979
o Head of country: Ayatollah Khomeini (Ayatollah - highly educated religious)
o Type of government: Theocracy (rule by religious) → dictatorship
Changes introduced by Shah (1963) – White Revolution
1.
Westernized Iran
2.
Women can vote and hold office
3.
Improved health care
4.
Co-educational schools
5.
Bilingual school
6.
Decreased influence of religious
Opposition mostly from (1) intellectuals and (2) Muslim fundamentalists
Other Results of White Revolution → Dictatorship
1.
Eliminates all political parties except that of the Shah
2.
Imprisons/executes/tortures anyone opposing the Shah’s government
3.
Money is concentrated in the hands of a few
Events Leading to Iranian Revolution
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January 1963; Shah has Khomeini arrested → riots - 100’s of people are killed
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1964: Shah releases Khomeini from jail but exiles (banishes) him from Iran
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1964-1978
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Increased opposition to Shah and support for Khomeini
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Shah uses secret police (SAVAK) to stamp out opposition
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Shah declares martial law (military takes over streets)
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December 1978: Revolutionaries declare Ayatollah Khomeini supreme leader
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January 1979 – The Shah flees Iran
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February 1979 – Ayatollah Khomeini returns to Iran
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April 1, 1979 – The Islamic Republic of Iran is proclaimed.
Who was the Ayatollah Khomeini?
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Leader of Islamic Revolution
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Comes back to Iran in 1979
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Rules from 1979-1989
Changes in the Islamic Republic of Iran:
1. Country is more conservative and traditional
2. Expansion of religious-based schools; teaching of Islam in all schools
3. Elimination of secularism (separation of church and state)
4. Elimination of American influence on government
5. Mandatory hijab (veil) for women
6. Suppression of opposition (dictatorship)
Islam
The religion practiced by Muslims, who believe in one God (Allah) and follow the principles of their
religion, as described in their holy book, the Qur’an. (Qur’an is also spelled Quran or called Koran.)
Muslims believe:
● in one all-knowing God
● in praying 5 times a day
● that Jesus was a prophet
● that fasting is important during Ramadan
● that paradise can be attained by keeping all 5 articles of their faith
Islam was founded in the seventh century by the prophet Muhammad, who described being visited
by the Angel Gabriel and being given spiritual revelations (or ideas) that he wrote down in the
Qur’an.
Islamic Groups
There are two basic types of Muslims: the Sunnis and the Shias.
The Sunnis follow the teachings of the prophet Muhammad. They comprise about 80% of the
Muslim population.
The Shias follow Muhammad’s teachings and the teachings of his son-in-law, Ali. (The Shia started
mostly as a political party to help Ali.) They comprise only 16% of the Muslim population . (Most
of them live in Iraq and Iran.) The Ayatollah Khomeini was a Shia leader. “Ayatollah” is a title given
to a Shia scholar who has advanced to a high level of study.