The Iranian Revolution was a series of important political events that happened in Iran. It culminated in the replacement of the Pahlavi dynasty government with an Islamic republic. The reasons for the Revolution were complicated and related to politics, economy, women's rights and international relations. In the 1950s the new government decided to give voting rights to women, started fighting illiteracy and developed the army and the police at the same time. Everything that the Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi decided to do was seen as wrong by the religious leaders. Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini was one of them - he opposed the changes that happened in the country and finally was sent to Turkey in 1964. In 1965 he left for Iraq and there he announced he starts a war against the enemies of the country (for example and mostly the USA and Israel). In 1978 demonstrations started, many people died. In September the Shah declared martial law and forbade any demonstrations. On the same day one of the biggest demonstrations started in Teheran - it is now called "Black Friday". The government lost its support and the economy was weaker. In 1979 Khomeini created his own government after the Shah left Iran. Iranians supported the Islamic Republic in a referendum and so it was proclaimed in March 1979. The army, economy and international relations were destroyed and had to be created all over again. Prime minister Bazargan tried to create a secular government, at the same time Khomeini created the Islamic Republican Party, which brought order and took over Iran. In December 1979 a new constitution was approved. The Revolution had both good and bad impact domestically and internationally. Literacy increased in Iran and the Human Development Index has climbed. The Baha'i Faith has been declared heretical and women were forced to cover their heads. Homosexuality is now criminalized in Iran. Such strict law is also a reason for people to flee their homeland. Some people who didn't agree with Iranian politics had to leave and can't return or they will be executed. One of them is Shirin Ebadi, lawyer and activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
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