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Wikipedia: Born on May 17, 1900 in the Iranian town of Khomein, Mr. Khomeini was elevated to the status of Ayatollah in the 1950s. Because of his frequent criticisms of the Iranian government, he was exiled in 1964. He stayed in Iraq until he was forced to leave in 1978, and thereafter went to France until February 1, 1979, when he returned home at the invitation of Iran's anti-Shah revolutionaries. Within ten days after his homecoming, Khomeini seized power and formed an Islamic Republic of which he himself was Head of State for life. Early in his rule, Khomeini was popularly known as "Leader of the Revolution." Later he held the title of "Supreme Spiritual Leader." He is considered to be the founder of the modern Shiite State, and he called for similar Islamic revolutions across the Middle East. Khomeini ruled Iran until his death in 1989. |
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