• IMAM KHOMEINI’S MIGRATION FROM IRAQ TO PARIS:
At a meeting of the foreign ministers of Iran and Iraq in New York a decision was made to deport Imam Khomeini from Iraq. On the 2nd of Mehr, 1357 (Sept 24, 1978), Iraqi troops put seige to Imam Khomeini’s house in Najaf. The news of the siege angered the Muslims in Iran, Iraq and in other countries. In his visit to Imam Khomeini, Iraqi security chief, had said that if Imam wished to stay in Iraq he must give up his challenge and politics, and the Imam had strongly replied that, due to the responsibility he feels for the Muslim Ummat, he is not willing to remain Quiet nor is he willing to make a compramise.
On the 12 of Mehr, Imam Khomeini left Najaf for the border of Kuwait. The government of Kuwait did not let the Imam in, on a hint by the Iranian Regime. Previously there was talk of Imam’s departure for Lebanon or Syria. However, after consulting his son (Hojjatul Islam Haj Seyyed Ahmad Khomeini), the Imam decided to migrate to France and on the 14th of Mehr, he entered Paris and two days later he was stationed in the house of an Iranian, in Noefel Le Chateau (Suburbs of Paris). Agents of the Elyse Palace apprised the Imam of the views of the French President, that the Imam must not indulge in politics, and the Imam’s sharp reaction and answer was that, such limitation contradicts the France’s claim to have democracy, and that he would rather, commute between airports, from one country to another, than to give up his objective. Jiscardestan, French president, at that time, has written in his memoirs that, he had issued order that, the Imam be expelled from France, but at the last monent the diplomatic delegates of the Shah who were despondent in those days, advised (him) of the danger of a vehement, and uncontrollable reaction by the people, and had declared themselves immune to the repercussions of such reaction, in Europe and Iran.
During the four month stay of Imam Khomeini in Paris, Noefel Le Chateau was the most important news center in the world. Imam Khomeini’s various interviews and his visits revealed to the world, his views of Islamic rule, and the future aims of his Movement. Thus a larger number of people of the world, became aquainted with the Imam’s thought and uprising, and it was from this stage and station that he guided the most critical period of the Movement in Iran.
The Sherif-Imami’s government lasted no more than two months. The Shah bestowed chairmanship of the Cabinet to “Az-hari’s” military government. Killings were accelerted, but it did not affect the people’s- uprising. The desperate Shah, asked the American and British embassies for solution but none of their former plans had been useful.Multi-million-man demonstrations were held on the days Tassoo-a and Ashura (9th & 10th of Muharram), in Tehran and other cities, which were termed “people’s informal referendum against the Shah’s monarchy.” Shapur Bakhtiar, a National Front topman was America’s last die (man) to be introduced to the Shah as the prime minister. Leaders of the four industrial states had, at Guade­lupe, expressed their joint views in support of Bakhtiar. Following this, General Howizer, deputy commander of NATO made a trip to Iran, on a secret assignment, for two months. He later, revealed, in his confessions, his assignment which was to secure the support of the military forces for Bakhtiar, to organize his government, break up the strikes and prepare a coup d’etat for returning the Shah to power, similar to what had happened on the 28th of Murdad, 1332. But, Imam Khomeini’s messages, re the necessity to continue the fights, made all his plans fall through. In Dey, 1357(=December, 1978), Imam Khomeini organized the Revolutionary Counsel. The Shah fled from the country on the 26th of Dey, two days after calling to meeting the Connsel of Monarchy, and obtaining vote of confidence for Bakhtiar’s cahinet. News of the Shah’s exit delighted the people in Teharn, and then, all over the country, people poured out in the streets, singing and dancing. Howizer’s regular meetings with U.S. military advisors, and generals of the Shah’s army, could not help Bakhtiar to suppress the strikes and end the people’s uprising.