Revolutionary council of Islamic revolution of Iran

The Revolutionary Council" Persian: شورای انقلاب اسلامی, Showra-ye Enghelāb Eslāmi)(also Council of the Islamic Revolution"'), was a group formed by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini to manage the Iranian Revolution on 12 January of 1979, shortly before he returned to Iran. "Over the next few months there issued from the council hundreds of rulings and laws, dealing with everything from bank nationalization to nurses' salaries."Bakhash, Shaul, "Reign of the Ayatollahs", Basic Books, 1984, p.65] Its existence was kept a secret during the early, less secure time of the revolution.

It was composed of seven religious figures associated with Khomeini, seven secular opposition figures, and two representatives of the security forces. According to Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Khomeini chose Beheshti, Motahhari, Rafsanjani, Bahonar and Musavi Ardabili as members. These invited others to serve: Bazargan, Taleqani, Khamenei, Banisadr, Mahdavi Kani, Yadollah Sahabi, Katirayee, Ahmad Sadr Haj Seyed Javadi, Qarani and Ali Asqr Masoodi. [http://www.npc-rt.ir/eventlist-fa-1385-10-22.html] This council suggested Mahdi Bazargan as the prime minister of the temporary government of Khomeini, and he accepted it. [http://www.irdc.ir/article.asp?id=822 چرا و چگونه بازرگان به نخست وزیری رسید؟] The commandment of Ayatollah Khomeini for Bazargan and his sermon on February 5.]

It has been described as "a parallel government" that passed laws and competed with the official Provisional Revolutionary Government [Keddie, "Modern Iran", (2003) p.245] whose leading members had come from the council.

The council served as the undisputed government of Iran from the resignation of Bazargan until the formation of first parliament. (6 Nov 1979 - 12 Aug 1980). [ [http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Iran.htm Iran] , World Statesmen.]

Among the actions the council took was the April 1979 creation of revolutionary tribunals to try and execute enemies of the revolution; [Bakhash, Shaul, "Reign of the Ayatollahs", Basic Books, 1984, p.61] nationalization of companies; the delivery of an ultimatum in April 1980 to leftists groups to leave Iranian universities. Following this, a "large number" of leftist were "killed or wounded". [Keddie, "Modern Iran", (2003) p.250]

ee also

*Iranian Revolution
*Organizations of the Iranian Revolution

References and notes

Bibliography

*cite book |author=Bakhash, Shaul |title=Reign of the Ayatollahs", |publisher=Basic Books, |year=1984
*cite book |author=Keddie, Nikki |title=Modern Iran: Roots and Results of Revolution |publisher=Yale University Press|year=2003
*cite book |author=Moin, Baqer |title=Khomeini: Life of the Ayatollah |publisher=Thomas Dunne Books |year=2000

Notes