It was 33 years ago this month that the military arm of the Tudeh (Communist) Party laid siege to Teheran, a turning point of the Iranian Civil War which began in early 1979 when Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini was assassinated as he stepped off the plane that landed at the airport. 24 hours later, Iran descended into anarchy.
On March 27, 1979, the Communists with the help of defecting military officers marched into Teheran and declared the birth of the People's Republic of Persia and the abolition of the monarchy.
There were rumors that the Ayatollah Khomeini would have imposed Sharia law had he lived. And millions of Persians from all walks of life who wanted the Shah overthrown saw Khomeini as a moral authority figure. With no Islamic cleric matching Khomeini's popularity, popular support for Tudeh increased daily.
Had Khomeini lived, would Persia have fared better under Islamic rule instead of Communism? Would the Russians have invaded Afghanistan had Khomeini come to power? (Brezhnev wisely decided that Persia was a better investment than the hellhole that is Afghanistan)
How would ethnic minorities in Persia (Jews, Armenians, Kurds and Arabs) have fared under Khomeini? These communities have guaranteed seats in the People's National Majlis (Legislative Assembly) and continued to enjoy religious freedom under Communist rule.
Would the Persia-Iraq War have ended up differently if Khomeini was in charge?
On March 27, 1979, the Communists with the help of defecting military officers marched into Teheran and declared the birth of the People's Republic of Persia and the abolition of the monarchy.
There were rumors that the Ayatollah Khomeini would have imposed Sharia law had he lived. And millions of Persians from all walks of life who wanted the Shah overthrown saw Khomeini as a moral authority figure. With no Islamic cleric matching Khomeini's popularity, popular support for Tudeh increased daily.
Had Khomeini lived, would Persia have fared better under Islamic rule instead of Communism? Would the Russians have invaded Afghanistan had Khomeini come to power? (Brezhnev wisely decided that Persia was a better investment than the hellhole that is Afghanistan)
How would ethnic minorities in Persia (Jews, Armenians, Kurds and Arabs) have fared under Khomeini? These communities have guaranteed seats in the People's National Majlis (Legislative Assembly) and continued to enjoy religious freedom under Communist rule.
Would the Persia-Iraq War have ended up differently if Khomeini was in charge?