Islam is Politics Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini Iran 1979

“Islam is Politics” -Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Iran 1979

EGYPT • Gamal Abdel Nasser • Egypt still in control of Suez Canal

Shah with US Pres. Carter Iranian Revolution, 1979 • Many Muslims did not like the Shah (leader) of Iran because of his connections to the West and his new reforms (women educated, westernization, modernization) • Majority of Iranians were poor Riots • Fundamentalists viewed begin shah as a traitor to Islam

Islamic Fundamentalism • Movement to reorder government and society according to Islamic laws (Sharia Law) • Islamists believe that Muslim countries have strayed from the path of true Islam by following Western models of political and economic development • Violence

Ayatollah Khomeini • In 1979, Ayatollah Khomeini, a Shi’ite Muslim, led a Revolution to overthrow the Shah • Set up a theocracy: govt. run by religious leaders

American Hostage Crisis • During the Revolution, Radical Muslim Students seized the U. S Embassy and held 66 Americans hostage for 444 days. • The hostage crisis severely damaged the US/Iran relationship Hostages

Iran: Islamic State • Khomeini set up an Islamic State headed by himself as “Supreme Religious Leader” • Religious leaders controlled the military, made laws, courts, and education. • Public Morality was enforced: • No mingling of opposite sexes • Women must veil themselves in public • Alcohol was banned

Islamic Laws in Action Stoning Lashing Executions

Iran-Iraq War (1980 -1988) • Iraq (Saddam Hussein-dictator) attacked Iran because of border disputes and because the Ayatollah called for revolution on Sunnis • 500, 000 dead on both sides. • Iraq used chemical weapons • Iran and Iraq agreed to a cease-fire in 1988 • Both countries economies were disrupted in the 80 s as a result

Iran Today • In Iran today, many young people are demanding more freedoms in Iran • Protests • Freedoms: • • • Voting Rights Moral Rights Economic Rights Freedom of Entertainment Less Oppression

The Persian Gulf War • In 1990 Iraq accused neighboring Kuwait of drilling into an Iraqi oil field and stealing oil • Iraq attacked Kuwait • U. S. -led coalition launched the Persian Gulf War- attacked the Iraqi forces in Kuwait • In weeks, Kuwait was freed. • After the war • the UN continued its economic sanctions • insisted that Iraq destroy its chemical and biological weapons • Also to agree not to develop nuclear weapons. • But Iraq failed to fully cooperate with UN weapons inspectors…

Terrorism and Islam • Terrorism: • Uses violence to achieve a political or religious end (terrorist: someone who commits terrorism) • Quran does not allow the killing of innocents or suicide • Terrorists believe they are jihadists: die in defense of religion, become martyrs • Jihad: • “Striving or Struggling in the Way of God” – some interpret as a call to war, would you?

9/11 • Terrorists hijacked four passenger airplanes and crashed them into the WTC and the Pentagon • The fourth crashed in rural PA • Nearly 3, 000 died

Osama Bin Laden Al Qaeda Taliban in Afghanistan The USS Cole bombing was a suicide attack against the United States Navy destroyer USS Cole on October 12, 2000

War on Terror • U. S. targeted al Qaeda and the Taliban • Taliban-group that was governing Afghanistan according to strict interpretation of Islamic law • 2001 -U. S. forced Taliban out of Afghanistan • Osama Bin Laden was shot and killed on May 2, 2011 by U. S. Navy Seals and CIA

What do you think of this example of freedom of expression?

The Iraq War-2003 • U. S. leaders worried that Hussein might have deadly weapons that he could give to terrorists • Another U. S. -led coalition invaded Iraq, quickly forcing Hussein out of power. • American weapon inspectors failed to find stockpiles of biological or chemical weapons or evidence proving Hussein had a role in 9/11 • Insurgency ensued • Growth of ISIS after US leaves Iraq, thoughts?

Statue of Saddam Hussein being toppled in Firdos Square after the US invasion of Iraq Saddam shortly after capture by American forces, and after being shaved to confirm his identity December 2003

Iraq Timeline • 2004 political power was transferred to the Iraqis • 2005 Iraqis voted in the country’s first multiparty election in 50 years and later approved a new constitution that would make Iraq an Islamic federal democracy • November 5 th, 2006 -Saddam Hussein was found guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced to death by hanging. (Dec. 30, 2006) • All US Forces were mandated to withdraw from Iraqi territory by December 31, 2011 under the agreement signed in 2008 by President Bush-completed on December 18, 2011