Ayatollah Khomeini was an Iranian political and religious leader who is best known for his role in the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Born in 1902 in the small town of Khomein, he grew up in a family of religious scholars and studied Islamic law and theology from a young age. He later became a prominent cleric and was known for his opposition to the Shah of Iran’s regime. In 1963, Khomeini was imprisoned for his criticism of the Shah’s government, sparking protests and demonstrations across the country. He was eventually released and went into exile in 1964, living in Iraq and later France until his return to Iran in 1979. After the Shah was overthrown, Khomeini became the leader of the new Islamic Republic of Iran, serving as both the country’s Supreme Leader and its political and religious figurehead. He implemented strict Islamic policies, including the enforcement of Islamic law, and remains a controversial figure in Iranian and international history. Khomeini died in 1989 at the age of 86.
