Iran A Frenzied Farewell

The Imam is gone, and his power is up for grabs

He did not go gentle into that good night. The funeral of the Ayatullah Ruhollah Khomeini ignited an emotional outpouring from his fanatical followers that Westerners found as bizarre, frightening -- and ultimately incomprehensible -- as the passions he stirred during ten turbulent years as leader of Iran. Even after his burial, Khomeini excoriated his enemies in the outside world, raging in his will against "the atheist East" and "the infidel West," branding Jordan's King Hussein a "criminal tramp," accusing the leaders of Egypt and Morocco of "treason," and denouncing the U.S. as an "inborn terrorist" organization.

While the Ayatullah's body...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!