History of the Resistance Part 3: The rise of theocracy and the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1978- 1981

For sure not by chance, on 6 October 1978, Ruhollah Khomeini was transported to Neauphle-le-Château just outside Paris, where he hosted the world’s media, telling of his desire to return home to Iran, “not to be the leader; I am too old to be the leader, but to help my people choose a leader.   I merely wish to end my days in the holy city of Qom”.  These words and many more, seemingly sympathetic to the people’s desire for a democratic republic were broadcast daily into Iran by BBC Persia, so that when Khomeini returned to Iran, the people flocked into the streets in their millions and welcomed him with open arms.

Behind the scenes, at the Guadeloupe conference held between the US, Great Britain, France and Germany from 4 to 7 January 1979, among other matters discussed, was the political unrest in Iran.   This was glossed over when Prime Minister James Callaghan, on his return to the UK, reported to Parliament about the conference, but it led directly to the Shah leaving Iran on 17 January 1979 and on 1 February, 1979, to Khomeini returning to Tehran in an Air France Boeing 747, together with 120 of the world’s press, including the British reporter John Simpson, on 1 February 1979. 

The public unrest had grown in the months before the Shah left and, acceding to popular pressure, several hundred political prisoners were released from prison after his departure.   The last 162, who were serving life sentences under the Shah, were released on 20 January.   Massoud Rajavi, the only remaining member of the initial PMOI central committee, was one of these.

Not wasting any time, Massoud gave his first public speech on 24 January in the Tehran University Mosque, where tens of thousands came eager to see him.   He presented a brief report on fourteen years of PMOI activities and seven years of imprisonment.   His speech stressed a reverence for freedom and condemned domination disguised as religious fervour, a clear warning about the fundamentalist views of Khomeini and his desire for total control.

Sadly, Massoud had just two weeks to raise awareness of the evil intent of Khomeini, while Khomeini himself was still broadcasting daily to Iran from Paris about his aspirations to help his people choose a leader for a new republic.

When Khomeini landed in Tehran, therefore, he was greeted by millions of cheering people, trusting that this cleric would help them as he had promised.

On 30 and 31 March, Khomeini held a referendum with just one question “Do you want Iran to be an Islamic republic?”   The PMOI, led by Massoud Rajavi, boycotted the referendum as they were aware of the implications, but the vast majority of people voted “Yes”, assuming a moderate Islam in keeping with democracy.  

This turned out to be very far from what Khomeini envisaged, and when 1 April 1979 was entitled as the first day of a “Government of God”, the people became increasingly aware that their 2,500 year legacy of the Persian Empire had just been brought to an end, to be replaced by Khomeini’s ideology of “velayat e-faqih”, absolute rule of the clergy.

The expected preparations for democratic elections to the majlis (parliament) gave way to the establishment of the structure of a theocratic state, with the creation of an Assembly of Experts, a Guardian Council and other bodies, comprising the mullahs, and Khomeini receiving the title of “Supreme Leader”, which meant not just for the people of Iran, but for Muslims everywhere.

Khomeini’s rhetoric changed completely.   He denounced democracy as the work of Satan, that only served to take people away from the true relationship with Allah, and America became “The Great Satan” with their godless Western decadence representing everything that was evil.

The Supreme leader established the secular strong-arm of the Islamic Republic, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, to keep control and employed thugs and bullies formed into a militia force called the Basij to terrorise the people. Thus, the Islamic Republic of Iran was born.

Unlike other members, (of the United Nations) most notably China, with the change to The People’s Republic of China and post-Soviet Russia, Iran’s change of constitution after 1979 has not been ratified by the United Nations.   There is just a note against Iran’s membership which says “Previously referred to as Iran.   By a communication of 5 March 1981, Iran informed the Secretary-General that it should be referred to by its complete name of the Islamic Republic of Iran“.   Apparently, this was done unquestioningly!

Within weeks of the referendum, the offices of the PMOI were being attacked, and the members beaten in the streets and arrested and tortured for producing and distributing the magazine of their movement, “The Mujahedin”.   A reign of terror began.

However, Massoud Rajavi and the PMOI hung on to their dreams of a democratic Iran as slowly a constitution was written and Iran prepared for elections to the majlis in March.

The “Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran” which was adopted on 3 December 1979, replaced the constitution of 1906. Although it ostensibly established the trappings of democracy, the election process for the President and the Majlis (parliament), was all made subject to the approval of the Supreme Leader and his Guardian Council and to the dictates of Sharia Law.   The significance of this for democracy would soon become all too clear to the people of the country.

An election for President of the new Republic was held on 15 January, with only 8 candidates allowed on the ballot paper.   An independent secular man, Abolhassan Banisadr, was elected to be the first President.

The parliamentary elections were held on 13 March 1980, with a second round on 9 May.   Massoud Rajavi and many other PMOI members applied to be one of the 270 members of the majlis.   However, while achieving some 20% of the votes, their candidacy was disallowed because they had not voted in the referendum. 

In the event, 137 of the elected members were clerics, setting the tone for the future and the constitution. Sharia law was officially adopted and became the basis of the legal system. Its misogynistic principles deemed a woman’s testimony and rights to be less than a man’s.

While the PMOI tried to continue to protest peacefully, they and their supporters, including anybody who distributed their magazine, were confronted with more and more state violence. The Mujahedin and other sectors of society increasingly felt the harshness of the regime.

Marjan, a singer and film star before the arrival of Khomeini, tells that she had been unaware of the 1979 revolution as she was busy practising, performing and getting on with life.   Her first realisation was when she was due to perform and a band of thugs came into the dressing room and started breaking the orchestra’s instruments over their heads.   She was arrested and told she was not allowed to sing in public for mixed audiences. 

Marzieh, another world renowned singer, says that she refused to sing for the Mullahs and retired to the country where she spent 20 years “singing to the rocks and the stones”, until she managed to get out of Iran and join the resistance in France. 

(C) 2023 Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International by the Link for Freedom Foundation Committee.