Difference between revisions of "Khomeini"

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'''Khomeini''' (1900-1989) was an Iranian politician and religious leader who served as ayatollah and dictator of Iran from 1979 to 1989. His regime was noted for his religious terror and support of terrorists. Khomeini started prohibiting everything that was forbidden by the Koran, including a total censorship on music.  
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[[Khomeini|Ruhollah Khomeini]] (1900-1989) was an [[Iran]]ian politician and religious leader who served as ayatollah and Supreme Leader of Iran from 1979 to 1989.
  
In 1979 he kept members of the American embassy in Teheran, Iran, imprisoned and only released them on the day of [[Ronald Reagan]]'s inauguration in 1981.  
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Following to a national referendum in April 1979, Iran became an Islamic Republic and Khomeini was named leader of the [[wikipedia:Iranian Revolution|Islamic Revolution]].
  
In 1987-1988 the Reagan administration was found guilty of illegally selling weapons and arms to Iran in exchange for hostages. The money was then used to support the opposition against the socialist government in Nicaragua. This lead to the Irangate Affair. In 1989 Khomeini again made international headlines when he issued a fatwa against author [[Salman Rushdie]] and his book ''"The Satanic Verses",'' which Khomeini considered to be blasphemous.  
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During a radio broadcast aired on July 23<sup>rd</sup>, 1979, Khomeini called for a ban on any form of music, however no specific law was edicted at the time.<ref name="d19790724">"Music should not be broadcast over the radio and television. Music is something that everybody is attracted to naturally, but it takes them out of reality to a futile and lowly livelihood. Like opium, music also stupefies persons listening to it and makes their brain inactive and frivolous" - [http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=6w2ZCmoKEM0C&dat=19790724&printsec=frontpage&hl=fr Khomeini's statement as reported by the Observer Reporter, July 24, 1979.]</ref> It was only some months later that the [[wikipedia:Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran|Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran]], adopted by referendum, granted the Leader full power to appoint and dismiss the head of the Radio and Television (Chapter XII [Article 175]).
  
Khomeini died in 1989. After his death Iran's fundamentalist regime loosened a little (music is again allowed in the country), but is still considered to be a dictatorship to this day.
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On November 4<sup>th</sup>, [[wikipedia:Muslim Student Followers of the Imam's Line|a group of islamist students]] [[wikipedia:Iran hostage crisis|took over]] the American embassy in Tehran. Khomeini, who was initially not informed, finally approved the initiative. Most hostages were kept imprisoned during 444 days until the day of [[Ronald Reagan]]'s inaugural address in 1981. In 1986, the Reagan administration was found guilty of illegally selling weapons and arms to Iran in exchange for the hostages. The money was then used to support the opposition against the socialist government in [[Nicaragua]]. This led to the [[wikipedia:Iran–Contra affair|Irangate Affair]].
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In 1989, Khomeini again made international headlines when he issued a fatwa against author [[Salman Rushdie]] and his book ''"The Satanic Verses",'' which Khomeini considered to be blasphemous.  
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Years after Khomeini's death, the fundamentalist regime loosened a little including the restictions on music<ref>[http://www.chartattack.com/news/2010/aug/03/iran-bans-all-music Iran Bans All Music, CHARTattack.com, August 2010.]</ref> mainly during [[wikipedia:Mohammad Khatami|Mohammad Khatami]] presidency (1997-2005). But to this day, it is still considered to be an authoritarian regime or a dictatorship by the occidental media groups<ref>[[wikipedia:Democracy Index|The Economist Democracy Index]]</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/3018932.stm Profile: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, BBC News, June 2009.]</ref>.
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==Link with Zappa==
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Zappa mentions the complete censorship on music in Iran in the foreword to the liner notes of ''[[Joe's Garage Acts I, II & III|Joe's Garage]] (1979).'' The album came out a few months after Khomeini's revolt. 
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When Zappa performed ''[[Titties 'n Beer]]'' live during the 1980s [[The Devil (CC)|The Devil]] now bragged that he had the soul of Khomeini instead of those of [[Richard Nixon]] and [[Spiro Agnew]].
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In a 1989 [[Interview with Larry King]] an audience member asked Zappa what kind of instrument the ayatollah would be playing in Hell? Zappa replied: "It's a kind of flute."
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
  
Zappa mentions the complete censorship on music in Iran in the foreword to the liner notes of ''[[[[Joe's Garage Acts I, II & III|Joe's Garage]] (1979).'' The album came out a few months after Khomeini's revolt. 
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<references/>
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==See also==
  
When Zappa performed ''[[Titties 'n Beer]]'' live during the 1980s [[The Devil]] now bragged that he had the soul of Khomeini instead of those of [[Richard Nixon]] and [[Spiro Agnew]].
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*[[Wikipedia:Ruhollah Khomeini|Wikipedia article on Ruhollah Khomeini]]
  
 
[[Category:Politicians]]
 
[[Category:Politicians]]
 
[[Category:Targets]]
 
[[Category:Targets]]
 
[[Category:Religious leaders and characters]]
 
[[Category:Religious leaders and characters]]

Latest revision as of 06:26, 11 August 2021

Ruhollah Khomeini (1900-1989) was an Iranian politician and religious leader who served as ayatollah and Supreme Leader of Iran from 1979 to 1989.

Following to a national referendum in April 1979, Iran became an Islamic Republic and Khomeini was named leader of the Islamic Revolution.

During a radio broadcast aired on July 23rd, 1979, Khomeini called for a ban on any form of music, however no specific law was edicted at the time.[1] It was only some months later that the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, adopted by referendum, granted the Leader full power to appoint and dismiss the head of the Radio and Television (Chapter XII [Article 175]).

On November 4th, a group of islamist students took over the American embassy in Tehran. Khomeini, who was initially not informed, finally approved the initiative. Most hostages were kept imprisoned during 444 days until the day of Ronald Reagan's inaugural address in 1981. In 1986, the Reagan administration was found guilty of illegally selling weapons and arms to Iran in exchange for the hostages. The money was then used to support the opposition against the socialist government in Nicaragua. This led to the Irangate Affair.

In 1989, Khomeini again made international headlines when he issued a fatwa against author Salman Rushdie and his book "The Satanic Verses", which Khomeini considered to be blasphemous.

Years after Khomeini's death, the fundamentalist regime loosened a little including the restictions on music[2] mainly during Mohammad Khatami presidency (1997-2005). But to this day, it is still considered to be an authoritarian regime or a dictatorship by the occidental media groups[3][4].

Link with Zappa

Zappa mentions the complete censorship on music in Iran in the foreword to the liner notes of Joe's Garage (1979). The album came out a few months after Khomeini's revolt.

When Zappa performed Titties 'n Beer live during the 1980s The Devil now bragged that he had the soul of Khomeini instead of those of Richard Nixon and Spiro Agnew.

In a 1989 Interview with Larry King an audience member asked Zappa what kind of instrument the ayatollah would be playing in Hell? Zappa replied: "It's a kind of flute."

References

  1. "Music should not be broadcast over the radio and television. Music is something that everybody is attracted to naturally, but it takes them out of reality to a futile and lowly livelihood. Like opium, music also stupefies persons listening to it and makes their brain inactive and frivolous" - Khomeini's statement as reported by the Observer Reporter, July 24, 1979.
  2. Iran Bans All Music, CHARTattack.com, August 2010.
  3. The Economist Democracy Index
  4. Profile: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, BBC News, June 2009.

See also