TEHRAN – Forty years ago Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the Shiite cleric wholed Iran’s unfolding Islamic revolution, was welcomed back to Tehran by ajubilant throng after more than 14 years in exile.
This story by AFP journalist Patrick Meney, originally in French, capturesthe mood of that remarkable day in February 1979 when the opposition leaderreturned to replace the monarchy with an Islamic republic.
– A triumphant return to Iran –
Millions of Iranians with beaming faces massed along a 32-kilometre(20-mile) route Thursday to give a triumphant welcome to the exiledAyatollah Khomeini, whose car was engulfed for hours by an ecstatic humantide.
As soon as he left the Tehran airport (…), a visibly moved but calmKhomeini was swept up by millions of his supporters.
In black robes and a turban, the religious leader travelled in an Americanstation wagon that was followed by a fleet of minibuses packed withjournalists from around the world.
About 50,000 volunteers were on hand to control the crowd. Wearing greenarmbands, they were called the “Islamic police”. The government had giventhem full responsibility for the ayatollah’s security.
– Engulfed in the crowd –
But this religious security service was quickly overwhelmed.
In a matter of seconds, Khomeini’s car disappeared in the crowd, whichblocked the way for dozens of ambulances filled with unconsciousdemonstrators who fainted in the swell of the black mass that stretched asfar as the eye could see down Tehran’s long, straight avenues.
How many people were out on the street on this Thursday? Five million,perhaps… or six, it was impossible to say. In any case, it wasunprecedented.
At the gateway to the capital the imposing memorial to the shah, the symbolof modern Iran, had been renamed Khomeini Square.
Where is the ayatollah’s car now? We don’t know. It has disappearedsomewhere in the noisy tide of people, a swarming wave, from which emergehundreds of thousands of portraits of the leader of the “Islamicrevolution”.
– Veils and carnations –
The women have all turned out in chadors — black veils — with a redcarnation in their hands. Since sunrise they have been singing “Khomeini isour leader”. Banners read: “Khomeini, welcome to your country.” The menchant: “Allah is great.”
Clerics spray rose water on the demonstrators, who hold up their faces tothe holy scent. In the sunny capital, overlooked by the nearby snow-coveredmountains, a single roar resounds: “Khomeini, Khomeini.”
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The military has totally deserted the capital.
At some points along the route, followers — finally getting back theirvenerated “leader” after more than 14 years in exile — pick up theayatollah’s car and carry it for several metres (feet).
– Islamic republic –
“Your return signifies the proclamation of the Islamic republic,” the mostenthusiastic among them shout.
One mullah, or Shiite cleric, sporting a white turban, exclaims: “Who wouldhave thought just six months ago that Khomeini would return to Iran, he thepariah, today cheered by millions of Muslims?”
Everyone is aware of the significance of this return from exile, while therecent departure of the shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, also looks likesomeone who has gone into exile.
When the ayatollah’s Boeing 747 touched down in Tehran, there was silence.
It was also in silence that he descended the steps of the plane,rediscovering his country but not recognising the capital, now bristlingwith modern towers.
Several minutes later the ayatollah made an appeal for unity, saying, “Thefight is not over, the shah’s departure is only the first part of the roadto be travelled.”
– Old system to be ‘destroyed’ –
Then he vehemently lashed out at his adversary.
“The shah has destroyed everything, our culture, our university, theeconomy, agriculture. We will destroy the system he put in place.”
On Thursday all of Iran seemed to have turned out for Ayatollah Khomeini.From the airport to the Tehran cemetery, the centre of religious protestwhere a massive crowd awaited him, the Shiite leader could see that he wasfollowed by a whole people to whom he intends to “show the way”.
With the monarchy still in place and the shoots emerging of civil — orwould it be holy — war, everyone is wondering, what concretely will thisIslamic way be? – APP/AFP
