Iran

Name: Ali Khamenei Political Party: Islamic Republican Party Role: Supreme Leader since 1980 How he affected politics: -lacked charisma and scholastic credentials and seminary disciples -one of the leaders during the Iran-Iraq war -there have been major protests against him -he vowed to eliminate "deviation, liberalism, and American-influenced leftists"

Iran-Person Ali Khamenei

Name: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Political Party: Islamic Society of Engineers Role: President from 2005-2013 How he affected politics: -viewed as a controverisla figure within Iran; criticized domestically for economic policies and disregard for human rights -supports the nuclear program

Iran-Person Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Name: Reza Khan -Crowned himself Shah-in-Shah Role: established Pahlavi dynasty and ruled 1925-1941 How he affected Iran: -established the Pahlavi dynasty and was the first non-tribal dynasty to rule Iran -modernized the country by building a highly centralized state with a standing army and a large administrative bureaucracy

Iran-Person Reza Khan

Name: Ruhollah Khomeini Political Party: Islamic Republican Party Role: Imam and Leader of the new Islamic Republic from 1979-1989 How he affected politics: -led the Islamic Revolution that overthrew the regime -was an Iranian Shia Muslim religious leader, philopser, revolutionary, and politician -was Supreme Leader -a highly theocratic constitution was drafted under his rule

Iran-Person Ruhollah Khomeini

Definition: replaced the Constitution of 1905, was highly theocratic -a "hybrid" of "theocratic and democratic elements" -all democratic procedures and rights are subordinate to the Guardian Concil and the Supreme Leader -Drawn up by the Assembly of Experts (vast majority were pro-Khomeini clerics)

Iran-Term 1979 Iranian Constitution

Definition: a high ranking title given to Usuli Twelver Shiah clerics. Those who carry the title are experts in Islamic studeies such as jurisprudence, Quran reading, and philosophy. -originates from a passage in the Quran which the Shi'a interpret to mean human beings can be regarded as signs or evidence of God.

Iran-Term Ayatollah

Definition: the religious law forming part of the Islamic tradition -derived from the religious precepts of Islam, particularly the Quran and the Hadith.

Iran-Term Sharia Law

Definition: partisans of Ali -constitute less than 10% of Muslims worldwide and are concentrated in Iran, southern Iraq, Bahrain, eastern Turkey, Azerbaijan, and southern Lebanon -accepts Five Pillars of Islam -argue that as soon as the Prophet died, his authority should have been passed to Imam Ali, the Prophet's close companion, disciple, and son-in-law. -known as the Twelvers since they follow the Twelve Imams.

Iran-Term Shiite Islam

Definition: the followers of tradition -Sunni are the majority worldwide -accepts the Five Pillars of Islam -Sunni recognized the early dynasties that ruled the Islamic empire with the exalted title of caliph (Prophet's deputy) [who should have succeeded the Prophet Muhammad]. Muslim community acted according to his sunnah in electing his father-in-law as the first caliph

Iran-Term Sunni Islam

Definition: refers to events involving the overthrow of the Pahlavi dynasty that was under Mohammad Reza Shah -they were accused of inducing millions of landless peasants into shantytowns, widening the poor-rich gap, wasting resources -Mass rallies with the Lawyers, Doctors, and Women's associations, communist Tudeh party, and the Mojahedin. -ended with replacement of 2500 year Iranian monarchy with an Islamic Republic led by Ruhollah Khomeini; Shah left Iran

Iran-Term The Islamic Revolution

Definition: Form of government in which a deity is the source from which all authority derives -Iran is described as a theocratic republic -Iran has a religious ruler, the head of state called Supreme Leader who has more power than Iran's president

Iran-Term Theocracy