• CLIMAX OF THE ISLAMIC REVOLUTION AND PEOPLE’S UPRISING (1356= 1977)
Imam Khomeini, closely observing the current changes in the world, including Iran, made the best use of the opportunity that was presented. In Murdad, 1356 (=Aug-1977), he announced in a message: “The internal and external conditions and the reflection of the crimes of the Regime in foreign press and circles, have presented an opportunity which must be at once utilized by the academic and cultural societies, by patriots and students, both, at home and abroad, and by Islamic Associations, to rise to the task at hand.” This message further states: “Ignoring the rights of several hundred millions of Muslims, and appointing a number of ruffians to rule over them, and allowing the illegitimate Iranian regime and the puppet Israeli government, to usurp the rights of the Muslims, destroy their liberties, and perform medieval treatment, all these, are crimes that will go down, fully registered, in the records of American presidents.”
The martydom of Ayatollah Haj Agha Mustafa Khomeini (30) on Aban 1st. 1356, and the gala ceremonies arranged in Iran, was a starting point for renewed uprising by the theologic assemblies, and the rise of the religious Iranian society. In a wonderous manner, Imam Khomeini, had termed this event, at that time, a hidden divine blessing, The Shah’s Regime took revenge, by publishing an insulting article in the Etalaat newspaper.
Protests to this article resulted in, the Dey 19, 1356 (Jan. 9, 1977) uprising, in which, a number of revolutionary (talaba) or student-clergies were butchered. Once more the uprising started in Qum, and, in a very short time, and in conditions quite different from those of the 15th Khordad, 1342 uprising, and it became the common thing all over the country. The 3rd, 7th and 40th day mourning ceremonies, marking the fall of martyrs of this recent uprising, generated repeated uprisings in the cities of Tabriz, yazd, Jahrom, Shiraz, Isfahan and Tehran. During this period, the Imam’s messages and recorded tapes of his speeches, in which, he urged the people to keep up the fight until the overthrow of the monarchy and establishment of an Islamic government were reproduced and distributed by his supporters everywhere in the country. The Shah, inspite of mass killings, could not put out the lighted flames. The political maneuvers and ruses of the Shah were neutralized, before they could affect the people’s anger, by the revealing statements of the Imam and his instructions as how to carry on the challenge. Replacement of Hovaida, the prime minister, for 13 years, by a Westernized technocrat by the name of Jamshid Amuzegar, did neither help solve any problem nor diminish the crisis. Jaafar Sharif-Imami, a precurser of the Free Masonry colonial Movement in Iran, came to power, with the slogan of “National Reconciliation Government.” His deceptive moves and his talks in Qum with Agha Shariatmadari, whose name was again mentioned as a religious leader in recent changes in Iran, could not halt the people’s fights. It was during his (Sharif Imami) turn at the helm, that ruthless butchering of innocent people took place by the military force, at Maidan Shohada (lit. Martyrs Circle, former Jaleh Circle) on the 17th of Shahrivar. Martial Law was officially announced for an indefinite period, in Tehran and 11 other large cities. But receiving the Imain’s instructions, people did not observe the Martial Law rules and extended their day-and-night demonstrations. Cries of “God is Greater” (Allah-o-Akbar); “Down with the Shah” and “Greating to Khomeini” were heard at all hours, and, with it, the sounds of machinegun volleys from all lanes and alleys.

From the start, Imam Khomeini led his movement on the basis of the holy verse: “Surely God dose not alter what concerns a folk unless they alter their inmost selves” (31) and emphasized the priority of the cultural revolution, to be followed by social change and revolution by the people. He also deemed useless, the parliamentary and party challenges and armed conflict in those days, without support by the people. He regarded military mobilization and armed crusade or jihad as the last resort, if America would try to effect a military coup d’etat.
For the Islamic Revolution of Iran, mosques and religious centers were the real bases for people’s congregation and moves. People’s slogans and mottos were generally taken from Imam Khomeini’s religious instructions and guidance. Iranian political parties and associations which were revived while the Islamic Movement was climaxing in the years 1356-7, were so numerous and had such diversified ideologies and tendencies, and were so hard-pressed in the number of their supporters and followers, that they were never recognized as effective currents in deciding or changing the course of the challenges of the Iranian nation, and, perforce, had to follow the very widespread and hasty moves of the people. Also, at this time, there were active organized and armed groups of people, who believed in Imam Khomeini’s path, and had Islamic objectives, and whose armed moves were recognized not as an independent challenging process, rather, as supporting and enhancing moves for the recent uprising of the Nation.
One of the successful ways of Imam Khimeini in advancing the challenge against the Shah’s Regime, was to call on the people, to go on strikes and extend them. Cross-country strikes in the last few months of the Shah’s Regime, was drawn into the organs of the Regime, to ministries, administrative departments and to military centers. Final blows were meted out by the strikes of the oil industry workers, by the banks and by sensitive government centers.