A Japanese Memories of Imam Khomeini Photo in Keyhan Newspaper
Compilation: Jafar Golshan Roghani
Translated by Natalie Haghverdian
2020-2-18
After severe suppression of the Pahlavi regime in confrontation with the key elements of the 1963 uprising, including executions, imprisonment and exile, news boycotts and preventing the publication of any news or images of Imam Khomeini became the main agenda of every state and non-governmental organization and institution. SAVAK[1] and Shahrbani[2] would seriously confront the opposition. Following the exile of Imam to Bursary in Turkey in autumn of 1964 and then to Najaf, confrontations with the revolutionaries became more aggressive, and all the visual, audio and written media were forced to enforce the prohibition on printing and publishing of Imam Khomeini's photographs.
Until August 1979, no publications, news, or images of Imam Khomeini were published. But the ban ended on 29 August, 1979, with the publication of photos and news of Imam Khomeini in the full half of the front page of the Keyhan newspaper, and the boycott of Imam Khomeini broke. Those who went to the newsstands to buy one of the two publications in the afternoon of 29 August 1979 encountered a strange scene that was surprising and refreshing, with the publication of a photograph of Imam Khomeini in an official newspaper after about 15 years. It was such an important news that in the early hours, all copies of the newspaper were sold and the second edition was published. In addition to Iranian readers and audiences, this was also of interest to foreigners living in Iran and may have helped them become more familiar with Imam Khomeini.
Morio ono Professor and Director of the Institute of Oriental Culture of the University of Tokyo, Japan, who had traveled to Iran many times before 1979, is among those who remembered the publication of Imam's photograph in the Keyhan newspaper that day and has recounted the memory in his book “I was in Iran in 1979”[3] . "On Tuesday, August 29, two major evening newspapers, Keyhan and Ettela'at, published the first high-profile report on Ayatollah Khomeini who had been exiled to Iraq," he wrote. I saw the Keyhan newspaper with a big headline on the front page that read: "Negotiations for the return of Ayatollah Khomeini" and added that no official announcement has not yet been made but the government has sent a delegation. The newspaper for the first time had published a large picture of Ayatollah Khomeini. Until then, Ayatollah Khomeini was a familiar face to the public, but publication of his image was not allowed. On this day, the name and image of Ayatollah Khomeini suddenly came to the attention of all newspaper readers. The Shah's government did not confirm the report of the mission to meet Ayatollah Khomeini, but did not dare to deny that the government was trying to reach Ayatollah for peace compromise. The situation suggests that the Shah's government has had to admit to the nation that Ayatollah Khomeini was at the center of the anti-government movement. It was the first time I saw the image of Ayatollah Khomeini. This page of the newspaper gave me the feeling that someone who was hiding in the shadows had a face and we were expecting a lot. I remembered the 1963 uprising that happened 15 years ago. That is probably why I did not write anything about the report with the bold headline of the day and the image I first saw (because I was confused). (Pp. 61 and 62).
[1] Iran Intelligence Service during Pahlavi Regime
[2] The police forces during Pahlavi Regime
[3] Ono, Moriu, I was in Iran in 1979, (The Islamic Revolution by Eno Moriu). Rewrite: Kinji-e Oro, translated by: Dr. Hashem Rajabzadeh, Tehran, Tahouri Publication, 2017, page 258
Number of Visits: 3814








The latest
- Oral History News of Khordad 1404 (May 22nd – June 21st 2025)
- Najaf Headquarters Human Resources
- The Embankment Wounded Shoulders – 12
- Annotation
- The 367th Night of Memory– 5
- The Founder of Hosseiniyeh Ershad
- The Embankment Wounded Shoulders – 11
- The Role of the Bazaaris in the Final Days of the Islamic Revolution
Most visited
Memoirs of Hujjat al-Islam Reza Motalebi
Hujjat al-Islam Reza Motalebi is a cleric from Isfahan. Before the revolution, he was the imam of the Fallah Mosque – which was later renamed Abuzar Mosque. By his presence and efforts, Abuzar Mosque soon became a base for supporters of the Imam and the revolution. After the victory of the revolution, he played a role in uniting forces and maintaining political vitality in southwest Tehran.The Necessity of Receiving Feedback in Oral History
Whenever we engage in a task, we naturally seek ways to evaluate our performance — to correct shortcomings and enhance strengths. Such refinement is only possible through the feedback we receive from others. Consider, for instance, a basketball player whose shots are consistently accurate; should he begin shooting blindfolded, his success rate would rapidly decline, as he would be deprived of essential feedback from each attempt.Sir Saeed
The book “Sir Saeed” is a documentary [narrative] of the life of martyr Seyyed Mohammad Saeed Jafari, written by Mohammad Mehdi Hemmati and published by Rahiyar Publications. In March 2024, this book was recognized as one of the selected documentary biographies in the 21st edition of the Sacred Defense Book of the Year Award. The following text is a review on the mentioned book.Morteza Tavakoli Narrates Student Activities
I am from Isfahan, born in 1336 (1957). I entered Mashhad University with a bag of fiery feelings and a desire for rights and freedom. Less than three months into the academic year, I was arrested in Azar 1355 (November 1976), or perhaps in 1354 (1975). I was detained for about 35 days. The reason for my arrest was that we gathered like-minded students in the Faculty of Literature on 16th of Azar ...
