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Digital News Report – February 11th marks the 31st anniversary of the Iranian Revolution under which the Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was overthrown. The Ayatollah Khomeini returned to the Persian nation and became leader of a new Islamic Republic.
In mid-January 1979, after months of demonstrations, the Shah left the country in exile. Two weeks later the Ayatollah returned to Tehran from France where he was living in exile.
In October of that year the Shah was admitted into the United States for cancer treatment. At that time many in Iran were calling for the Shah’s return and for him to stand trial for his crimes. Anger was pointed at the United States.
On November 4th of that same year the Muslim Student Followers of the Imam’s Line stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran and took 52 American diplomats hostage. The “hostage crisis” lasted for over one year.
People within Iran and outside the country are wondering if another revolution is brewing. Maryam Namazie, writing for The Tolerance Website, says that every year since the revolution the Islamic government has held commemorative rallies to mark the anniversary. “But not this time”, she said. “Millions [around the world want to] reclaim history and push forward the present-day revolutionary movement that aims to end 30 years of Islamic medievalism and drag Iran into the 21st century.”
There was no mention of a celebration, commemoration or protests on the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) website.