30 years Irans Islamic revolution

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30 years: Irans Islamic revolution
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Source: CCTV.com | 02-11-2009 09:33
This month, Iran is marking 30 years since the 1979 Islamic revolution. Massive rallies are marking the anniversary which overthrew the US-backed Shah's regime and established the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Jafar is a 55-year old taxi driver, who recalls the massive demonstrations in Tehran 30 years ago. He took an active part in Iran's 1979 revolution.

Jafar Najafian, taxi driver, said, "At that time, almost all people were in the streets everyday and no one would stay at home. Young and old, women and men would go out into the streets to protest and change the regime."

Each year, the anniversary is preceded by 10 days of grand celebration. The first day marks the return of the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini after 15 years in exile.

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini: "I appoint a government with the support of these people."

There was a carnival mood at first in 1979, but then a series of bitter street clashes ensued.

Hossein is a carpenter who was born in 1979. He compared the current day to what he heard about the Shah from his parents.

Hossein Khanbakhsh, carpenter, said, "There is no country or land in the world that is free from troubles. But comparatively, we were under domination back then and we are not now. We are independent and have made great scientific progress and have modern technology."

The Shah ruled for nearly 4 decades, and had become increasingly isolated from the Iranian people.

Following the 1979 storming of the US Embassy in Tehran, the United States broke off relations with Iran, a diplomatic row that continues to this day.

Despite the difficulties Iranians face in their day-to-day lives, including rising inflation, unemployment, bad housing, and difficult relations with the international community, not many Iranians long for the pre-revolution era.

Goudarzi, carpenter, said, "Changing the regime was correct and was not a mistake."

Thirty years on, Khomeini's return to his homeland and the subsequent Iranian Revolution is considered one of the central events of the late-twentieth-century.

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