The Fajr decade ( fa-at, دهه فجر, ''Daheye Fajr'', lit=decade of dawn)
is a ten-day celebration of
Ruhollah Khomeini's return to Iran in 1979.
The annual celebration is held between 1 and 11 February.
Its beginning coincides with the date of Khomeini's arrival and its ending with the
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution ( fa, انقلاب ایران, Enqelâb-e Irân, ), also known as the Islamic Revolution ( fa, انقلاب اسلامی, Enqelâb-e Eslâmī), was a series of events that culminated in the overthrow of the Pahlavi dynas ...
; a day called ''Islamic Revolution's Victory Day'' or ''22 of Bahman''.
The ten days

''Dahe-ye Fajr'' marks the anniversary of the ten-day period between Khomeini's return to Iran (1 February) until the Iranian Revolution (''22 Bahman''; 11 February) in 1979.
1 February (12 Bahman 1357)
On 1 February 1979,
Ayatollah Khomeini returned to
Tehran after a period of exile in France imposed by the Shah of Iran,
Muhammad Reza Pahlavi. Several million people went to
Mehrabad International Airport
Mehrabad International Airport ( fa, فرودگاه بین المللی مهرآباد, ''Foroudgâh-e Beyn Almelali-ye Mehrâbâd'') , is an international airport serving Tehran, the capital city of Iran. Prior to the construction of the larger ...
to welcome Khomeini.
Khomeini then went to
Behesht-e Zahra cemetery, where he gave a lecture. Khomeini said
Shapour Bakhtiar
Shapour Bakhtiar ( fa, شاپور بختیار, ; 26 June 19146 August 1991) was an Iranian politician who served as the last Prime Minister of Iran under the Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi. In the words of historian Abbas Milani: "more than once in ...
's cabinet was illegal, and that he would crash in the mouth of Bakhtiar's government.
2 February (13 Bahman 1357)
Khomeini spoke to a crowd of clerics. He said; "From the beginning, the royal regime was against reason ... each nation must determine their own destiny".
Radio Moscow reported that Iranian students living in America were opposed to American interference in Iran's internal affairs, and mounted demonstrations against the White House.
3 February (14 Bahman 1357)
A press conference attended by nearly 300 Iranian and foreign correspondents was held at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday 14 Bahman, at Allawi School No. 2. At the beginning, a summary of Khomeini's views was read, then the journalists' questions began. Khomeini's response was as follows:
The first book on the Iranian crisis, written by
Ahmad Naruqi
Ahmad ( ar, أحمد, ʾAḥmad) is an Arabic male given name common in most parts of the Muslim world. Other spellings of the name include Ahmed and Ahmet.
Etymology
The word derives from the root (ḥ-m-d), from the Arabic (), from the ...
and published in Paris, was called ''Iran Against the Shah''. Israel's Minister of Justice announced "We have lost our most important provider of oil".
4 February (15 Bahman 1357)
British foreign secretary
David Owen
David Anthony Llewellyn Owen, Baron Owen, (born 2 July 1938) is a British politician and physician who served as Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs as a Labour Party (UK), Labour Party MP under James Callaghan from 1977 t ...
discussed the situation in Iran with his American counterpart during a visit to the US. Baghdad sent a delegation to Saudi Arabia to review the situation in Iran and the region. In a council on the Islamic Revolution,
Mehdi Bazargan
Mehdi Bazargan ( fa, مهدی بازرگان; 1 September 1907 – 20 January 1995) was an Iranian scholar, academic, long-time pro-democracy activist and head of Iran's interim government. He was appointed prime minister in February 1979 by Ay ...
was suggested as the Prime Minister of Iran's interim Government. A number of senior Air Force officers involved with the government were imprisoned. Because the Iranian monarchy was in danger, the American government opposed their own interests to sell weapons, including several
AWACS aircraft.
General Huyser then decided to cancel the contract so America's interests would not be jeopardized. Airmen held a rally in
Behbahan to support Khomeini. Bakhtiar's government limited the people's access to their bank deposits.
Javid Shari'atian
Jawed ( fa, جاويد); ''Javed'', ''Javid'' ( ur, جاويد); ''Jawed'', ''Javed'' ( pa, ਜਾਵੇਦ) is a masculine given name of Persian origin meaning of "eternal, immortal" and is also the word for "eternity".
The name is from Modern ...
was banned from Iran by Bakhtiar's administration. Several resigned members of Majlis visited Khomeini. Khosro Qashqaie, a leader of
Qashqaees, returned to Iran after 25-years of exile in the US.
Stansfield Turner, the director of the CIA said "We did not understand who Khomeini was and the support his movement had". Ayatollah Taleqani requested a general explanation from the government for the disappearance of a number of air force students.
5 February (16 Bahman 1357)
Khomeini chose
Mehdi Bazargan
Mehdi Bazargan ( fa, مهدی بازرگان; 1 September 1907 – 20 January 1995) was an Iranian scholar, academic, long-time pro-democracy activist and head of Iran's interim government. He was appointed prime minister in February 1979 by Ay ...
as prime minister of his interim government.
Iran now has two governments.
Henry Kissinger condemned recent events in Iran following the human rights law of the US. General
Robert Huyser
Robert Ernest Huyser (June 14, 1924 – September 22, 1997) was a four-star general in the United States Air Force who served as Deputy Commander in Chief, United States European Command (DCINCEUR) from 1975 to 1979; and as Commander in Chief, Mil ...
, US special envoy to Iran, left Tehran after a month. A number of military personnel supported Khomeini.
6 February (17 Bahman 1357)
The Shah's Army fires at Bazargan's supporters in
Zahedan. The staff of the prime minister's office announced their support for Bazargan with demonstrations. The revolutionaries announced Iran will leave the
Central Treaty Organization (CENTO). Most members of Iran's parliament struck to topple Bakhtiar's government.
Hojatoleslam Fallahi
Hujjat al-Islam (from ''ḥujjat-u l-Islām'') (also Hojatoleslam) is an honorific title meaning "authority on Islam" or "proof of Islam".
Sunni Islam
Its first recorded use was in a Sunni context, as a title for the 11th-century theologian al- ...
delivered a speech in the presence of Khomeini and his followers after an eight-year ban on lectures. The parliament ratified the dissolution of
SAVAK
SAVAK ( fa, ساواک, abbreviation for ''Sâzemân-e Ettelâ'ât va Amniat-e Kešvar'', ) was the secret police, domestic security and intelligence service in Iran during the reign of the Pahlavi dynasty. SAVAK operated from 1957 until prime ...
, Iran's secret police service, and the trial of its former commanders.
7 February (18 Bahman 1357)
On 7 February 1979, Khomeini spoke with the Kurdish community about the necessity of unity between
Shia and
Sunni
Sunni Islam () is the largest branch of Islam, followed by 85–90% of the world's Muslims. Its name comes from the word '' Sunnah'', referring to the tradition of Muhammad. The differences between Sunni and Shia Muslims arose from a disagr ...
sects of Islam. At a gathering of lawyers of the High Court, Khomeini expressed that colonialism's plot in create differences between people and clergy. The US Secretary of State announced the United States recognition of the Bakhtiar administration and said Bakhtiar must act in the will of the people. Khomeini's movement and the Army began to negotiate. Opposition groups including academics announced their support for the Bazargan government. People and clerics of Zanjan held a 50,000-strong rally to express their overwhelming support for Khomeini and his government.
Hojatoleslam Aboulfazl Shakouri
Hujjat al-Islam (from ''ḥujjat-u l-Islām'') (also Hojatoleslam) is an honorific title meaning "authority on Islam" or "proof of Islam".
Sunni Islam
Its first recorded use was in a Sunni context, as a title for the 11th-century theologian al- ...
, on behalf of the people and the clergy, recited a 30-article resolution on the dissolution of the monarchy, the parliament and government of Bakhtiar and the legitimacy of Bazargan government. The army, which was fired because of its opposition to the Shah, declared support for Khomeini. Due to the people's disregard for the government-imposed curfew, its length was reduced. An American striker, who injured a driver in Isfahan, was condemned by a Sharia court and was released on payment of atonement. Iranian courts were not eligible to try American nationals. The creation of this court refers to the empowerment of Muslim people. The United Nations expressed its concern about the situation in Iran.
8 February (19 Bahman 1357)
Iranian air force officers went to Khomeini's home and promised their loyalty to the revolution.
[
]
9 February (20 Bahman 1357)
Millions of Iranians came on to the streets to welcome the return of the religious leader
Ruhollah Khomeini
Ruhollah Khomeini, Ayatollah Khomeini, Imam Khomeini ( , ; ; 17 May 1900 – 3 June 1989) was an Iranian political and religious leader who served as the first supreme leader of Iran from 1979 until his death in 1989. He was the founder of ...
. The street fights between people and imperial guard intensified.
10 February (21 Bahman 1357)
On 10 February 1979, civilians were armed by the revolutionary personnel of the air force. A curfew was announced by Bakhtiar's government but Khomeini disparaged it and said people had to break it. The revolutionaries subjugated police stations, prisons, and governmental centers.
11 February (22 Bahman 1357)
Senior military commanders announced that they were neutral in conflict between Bakhtiar's government and revolutionaries. Thus they withdrew from the streets.
Bakhtiar resigned and went to
Paris. Revolutionaries gained a victory in this day.
Customs
''Dahe-ye Fajr'' is celebrated in various ways, including commemorations at
Khomeini's mausoleum and rallies for the achievements of the revolution. The
Fajr International Film Festival has been held every year since 1982 in Tehran during ''Dahe-ye Fajr''. It is organised by the
Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, and is the largest public film, theater, and music festival in Iran.
See also
*
Anniversary of Islamic revolution
The anniversary of the Iranian Revolution is celebrated on 22 Bahman, which is the 11th month in the Iranian calendar, equivalent to 11 February in the Gregorian calendar. It commemorates the protests that led to the downfall of the Pahlavi dyna ...
*
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution ( fa, انقلاب ایران, Enqelâb-e Irân, ), also known as the Islamic Revolution ( fa, انقلاب اسلامی, Enqelâb-e Eslâmī), was a series of events that culminated in the overthrow of the Pahlavi dynas ...
*
Timeline of the Iranian Revolution
This article is a timeline of events relevant to the Islamic Revolution in Iran. For earlier events refer to Pahlavi dynasty and for later ones refer to History of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This article doesn't include the reasons of the ...
References
{{Ruhollah Khomeini
1979 in Iran
Iranian Revolution
Festivals in Iran
Winter events in Iran
Ruhollah Khomeini