Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini - Biography.

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini - Biography. Iranian religious and political leader Birth 1900? Death June 3, 1989 Place of Khomein, Iran Birth Official Title Imam (a successor of Muhammad) Term 1979-1989 Known for Leading a revolution against Iran's increasingly secular monarchy and creating a government based on conservative Shia Islam Milestones 1922-1928 Studied Islamic law at Qom, a center of religious conservatism, and gained a reputation as a brilliant scholar and lecturer 1964-1965 Lived in exile in Turkey, after criticizing in 1963 the Iranian government's White Revolution, which instituted secular policies that violated traditions of conservative Islam 1965-1978 Formulated his concept of Islamic rule for Iran while living in exile in Iraq 1978 Was expelled from Iraq by President Saddam Hussein in response to pressure from the Iranian government 1978-1979 Continued to call for revolution while exiled in France, communicating with his followers in Iran via written statements and audio recordings February 1979 Returned to Iran after the collapse of the regime of Muhammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, and established the Islamic Republic of Iran with himself as the highest authority November 1979 Supported the siege of the United States Embassy in Tehran, after which hostages were held for 444 days 1980-1988 Engaged troops in the Iran-Iraq War, retaining firm control of Iran despite heavy losses Did You Khomeini issued a fatwa (edict) demanding the death of British author Salman Rushdie after the publication of Rushdie's novel The Know Satanic Verses, which Khomeini considered blasphemous. Khomeini was named Time magazine's Man of the Year in 1980 after he led the Islamic Revolution. His followers say Khomeini had memorized the Koran, the sacred scripture of Islam, by age 6. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.