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against the oppressive West.

Head of Culture Centre of the Islamic Republic in Zimbabwe Mr Mahommed Malekzadeh said the centre joined hands with Iranians in Zimbabwe and the world in celebrating the life of a visionary who liberated the people of Iran from Shah’s rule and injustices.

He said Imam Khomeini completely believed in democracy and participation of the people.
“His leadership helped establish a democratic political system in Iran that has set the country on the current developmental path,” he said.

Iran is now among the highly developed nations in the Middle East.
An academic and political thinker, Imam Khomeini pointed out the dangers of the relationship of Iran and imperial forces on military, political and economic ties of the regime with America and Israel in particular.

This did not go down well with the authorities leading to his arrest and exiling for 15 years.
After his arrest in June 1963, many people took to the streets in protest against Shah’s move to silence Imam Khomeini.

Many were massacred but this sowed the seeds of the Islamic revolution.
While in exile, Imam Khomeini remained in touch with the people sending frequent speeches, messages and giving interviews outlining the liberation war, seeking values and ideas of Islamic People of Iran.

Imam Khomeini was to return home on February 2  1979 and was welcomed by millions of supporters who packed the streets of Tehran.
According to author Hamis Ansari in his book “The Narrative of Awakening”, the success of the revolution saw the United States, not only losing a “favourable geographic, economic and military position in one of the most sensitive areas of the world but the waves of this great outburst severely shook and demoralised the West affiliated regimes in the Islamic and Arab lands.

“As many American and Israeli statesmen have indicated in their memoirs, the revolution was the most devastating earthquake for the Western world.
“The revolution set off a wave of liberating moves in the Islamic and Third World countries such as the collapse of the US dependent regime in Nicaragua.”

This has shaped the hostilities of the West towards the Islamic Republic that are evident today.
Iran has been slapped with United Nations sanctions at the instigation of the US, Britain and their allies over its nuclear programme.

The West claims Iran intends to develop nuclear weapons although various inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency have failed to substantiate these claims.
Imam Khomieni often reminded his followers that: “God is the source of all perfections and powers. Fear none except God and put your trust in God.”

He strongly opposed apartheid in South Africa and Africa as well as the suffering of the people of Lebanon and Palestine creating a sense of self-confidence among the oppressed.

The Islamic Republic of Iran and Zimbabwe have profound relations that have seen co-operation in various fields that include the technical, scientific and economic sectors.