The fundamentalists in Iran felt that the Shah epitomized a Western culture of greed and materialism, because he tried to establish a more secular government. As with many rulers, he accumulated vast personal wealth. He also employed various means to suppress political dissent. It was ultimately the exiled Ayatollah Khomeini who in 1979 succeeded the Shah and established an Islamic religious government.
Other than hording wealth among the elite of Iran, denying people the rights to vote for their politicians, having a brutal secret police, depriving Iran of its natural oil wealth, being ultra-secularist, and appearing to be a puppet to foreign/Western interests, nothing comes to mind.
The overwhelming majority of Iranians were Muslims, so there is no really no difference between asking this question and asking why Iranians in general were opposed to the Shah. People opposed the Shah from nearly every political perspective. These include:
If the intended question was "Why were Fundamentalist Muslims in Iran opposed to the Shah?", please see the Related Question below which deals specifically with them.
Ayatollah Khomeini believed that the Shah of Iran was subordinating Iran to foreign interests to enrich himself. The fundamentalist Iranians did not want a secular Western culture to displace the traditional Islamic laws (which would also reduce the influence of the ayatollahs).
As concerns the specific reasons for the Iranian protests and the eventual revolution, they were numerous:
Wealth & Employment Issues: Most importantly was the wealth inequality between the Shah and the nobility and common Iranian citizen. There was immense poverty throughout the country and high unemployment, underemployment, low wages, and few protections for laborers.
Religious Conservatism: Most Iranians were religiously conservative (similar to the American Bible-belt as opposed to the Fundamentalists) and resisted the Shah's Westernization and Secularization movements in Iran. The Shah made clear that religion was not important to him as a ruler, whereas it was a concern among the people.
Puppet to Foreigners: The Shah was also seen as a Western puppet, especially when the CIA overthrew the Iranian President Mossadegh in 1953 to re-install the Shah of Iran and considering how Iran profited very little from its own petroleum.
Brutal Secret Police: The Shah had a notorious secret police called the SAVAK which harassed people and killed scores of others.
Authoritarianism: Iranians wanted to be in control of their own affairs. Iranians wanted some form of self-government or democracy. The Shah was an authoritarian who prevented people from expressing their own opinions.
Issue for Fundamentalists: Particularly in the fundamentalist camp, the fundamentalists in Iran felt that the Shah epitomized a Western culture of greed and materialism, because he tried to establish a more secular government. As with many rulers, he accumulated vast personal wealth. He also employed various means to suppress political dissent. It was ultimately the exiled Ayatollah Khomeini who in 1979 succeeded the Shah and established an Islamic religious government.
Note: The fact that these grievances existed does not mean that the Islamic Republic of Iran afterwards "fixed" these problems.
Answer 2
The main reason was that majority of Iranians are Shia Muslims and wanted a real Islamic government of jurist and Shah was in fact an anti-Islam dictator.
The fundamentalists in Iran felt that the Shah epitomized a Western culture of greed and materialism, because he tried to establish a more secular government. As with many rulers, he accumulated vast personal wealth. He also employed various means to suppress political dissent. It was ultimately the exiled Ayatollah Khomeini who in 1979 succeeded the Shah and established an Islamic religious government.
government run by Islamic fundamentalist leaders
He was in fact against Islam. it is better to ask what he did for destroying Islam. he was a puppet of enemies of Islam to control Muslims of Iran and keep them uneducated and poor and under control.
Iranians in general were opposed to the Shah and opposed him from nearly every political perspective. These include:Some said that the Shah was not religious enoughSome believed that the Shah's policies were too oppressiveSome believed that the Shah was modernizing without preserving Iran's cultural heritage and others were angry that he was moving too slowlySome believed that the Shah was a sellout to foreign interests and others believed his foreign focuses were too narrow.Some believed that the Shah did not grant women enough rights and others thought that women had too many rights.Some believed that the Shah should have encouraged more middle class growth and others believe he should have put more capital into industry.Some wanted more privatization and others wanted more nationalization.As concerns the specific reasons for the Iranian protests and the eventual revolution, they were numerous:Wealth & Employment Issues: Most importantly was the wealth inequality between the Shah and the nobility and common Iranian citizen. There was immense poverty throughout the country and high unemployment, underemployment, low wages, and few protections for laborers.Religious Conservatism: Most Iranians were religiously conservative (similar to the American Bible-belt as opposed to the Fundamentalists) and resisted the Shah's Westernization and Secularization movements in Iran. The Shah made clear that religion was not important to him as a ruler, whereas it was a concern among the people.Puppet to Foreigners: The Shah was also seen as a Western puppet, especially when the CIA overthrew the Iranian President Mossadegh in 1953 to re-install the Shah of Iran and considering how Iran profited very little from its own petroleum.Brutal Secret Police: The Shah had a notorious secret police called the SAVAK which harassed people and killed scores of others.Authoritarianism: Iranians wanted to be in control of their own affairs. Iranians wanted some form of self-government or democracy. The Shah was an authoritarian who prevented people from expressing their own opinions.Issue for Fundamentalists: Particularly in the fundamentalist camp, the fundamentalists in Iran felt that the Shah epitomized a Western culture of greed and materialism, because he tried to establish a more secular government. As with many rulers, he accumulated vast personal wealth. He also employed various means to suppress political dissent. It was ultimately the exiled Ayatollah Khomeini who in 1979 succeeded the Shah and established an Islamic religious government.Note: The fact that these grievances existed does not mean that the Islamic Republic of Iran afterwards "fixed" these problems.Answer 2The main reason was that majority of Iranians are Shia Muslims and wanted a Islamic government of jurist and Shah was in fact an anti-Islam dictator.
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran
westernized Iran
The fundamentalists in Iran felt that the Shah epitomized a Western culture of greed and materialism, because he tried to establish a more secular government. As with many rulers, he accumulated vast personal wealth. He also employed various means to suppress political dissent. It was ultimately the exiled Ayatollah Khomeini who in 1979 succeeded the Shah and established an Islamic religious government.
The fundamentalists in Iran felt that the Shah epitomized a Western culture of greed and materialism, because he tried to establish a more secular government. As with many rulers, he accumulated vast personal wealth. He also employed various means to suppress political dissent. It was ultimately the exiled Ayatollah Khomeini who in 1979 succeeded the Shah and established an Islamic religious government.
government run by Islamic fundamentalist leaders
The Shah of Iran is a title for the Kings of Persia stretching back to antiquity, even preceding Islam. Some of the Shahs, such as those of the Parthian and Sassanid Dynasties were Zoroastrian. All Shahs of Iran after the year 800 C.E. were Muslim and All Shahs of Iran after 1550 C.E. were Shiite Muslims.
They overthrew the Shah and created the Islamic Republic of Iran.There is a supposition in this question that is partially incorrect, namely that the primary or most important people to overthrow the Shah were fundamentalist Muslims. This is not the case. The Iranian people, most of them traditional or secular Muslims revolted all across Iran. The Religious Fundamentalists were a minority of those Iranians who were protesting. When the Shah abdicated, there was an intent to create a Republic that represented the Iranian People. However, between April and October of 1979 (after the Shah had already departed the country and the Islamic Republic of Iran declared) the Ayatollahs were able to consolidate power and create the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran which vested the Religious Fundamentalists with political power.
He was in fact against Islam. it is better to ask what he did for destroying Islam. he was a puppet of enemies of Islam to control Muslims of Iran and keep them uneducated and poor and under control.
Yes he did. First of all because the fundamentalistst chased him out of the country, and secondly because there had been continuous unrest and ever-larger demonstrations led by the fundamentalists against his regime during the year leading up to the Shah's overthrow.
It depends on what you are calling "Iranians".If you are referring to the Sassanid Empire of the 500s and 600s CE, the Muslims invaded Persia as part of their massive expansion and conquest of neighboring states.If you are referring to the Iranian Revolution of 1979, there are two suppositions in this question that are incorrect, namely that Muslims and Iranians are different in the Iranian context and that the primary or most important people to overthrow the Shah were fundamentalist Muslims. This is not the case. The Iranian people, most of them traditional or secular Muslims revolted all across Iran. The Religious Fundamentalists were a minority of those Iranians who were protesting. When the Shah abdicated, there was an intent to create a Republic that represented the Iranian People. However, between April and October of 1979 (after the Shah had already departed the country and the Islamic Republic of Iran declared) the Ayatollahs were able to consolidate power and create the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran which vested the Religious Fundamentalists with political power.Iranians in general were opposed to the Shah and opposed him from nearly every political perspective. These include:Some said that the Shah was not religious enoughSome believed that the Shah's policies were too oppressiveSome believed that the Shah was modernizing without preserving Iran's cultural heritage and others were angry that he was moving too slowlySome believed that the Shah was a sellout to foreign interests and others believed his foreign focuses were too narrow.Some believed that the Shah did not grant women enough rights and others thought that women had too many rights.Some believed that the Shah should have encouraged more middle class growth and others believe he should have put more capital into industry.Some wanted more privatization and others wanted more nationalization.As concerns the specific reasons for the Iranian protests and the eventual revolution, they were numerous:Wealth & Employment Issues: Most importantly was the wealth inequality between the Shah and the nobility and common Iranian citizen. There was immense poverty throughout the country and high unemployment, underemployment, low wages, and few protections for laborers.Religious Conservatism: Most Iranians were religiously conservative (similar to the American Bible-belt as opposed to the Fundamentalists) and resisted the Shah's Westernization and Secularization movements in Iran. The Shah made clear that religion was not important to him as a ruler, whereas it was a concern among the people.Puppet to Foreigners: The Shah was also seen as a Western puppet, especially when the CIA overthrew the Iranian President Mossadegh in 1953 to re-install the Shah of Iran and considering how Iran profited very little from its own petroleum.Brutal Secret Police: The Shah had a notorious secret police called the SAVAK which harassed people and killed scores of others.Authoritarianism: Iranians wanted to be in control of their own affairs. Iranians wanted some form of self-government or democracy. The Shah was an authoritarian who prevented people from expressing their own opinions.Issue for Fundamentalists: Particularly in the fundamentalist camp, the fundamentalists in Iran felt that the Shah epitomized a Western culture of greed and materialism, because he tried to establish a more secular government. As with many rulers, he accumulated vast personal wealth. He also employed various means to suppress political dissent. It was ultimately the exiled Ayatollah Khomeini who in 1979 succeeded the Shah and established an Islamic religious government.Note: The fact that these grievances existed does not mean that the Islamic Republic of Iran afterwards "fixed" these problems.
There is an implication in this question that is partially incorrect, namely that the primary or most important people to overthrow the Shah were fundamentalist Muslims led by Ayatollah Khomeini. This is not the case. The Iranian people, most of them traditional or secular Muslims revolted all across Iran. The Religious Fundamentalists were a minority of those Iranians who were protesting. When the Shah abdicated, there was an intent to create a Republic that represented the Iranian People. However, between April and October of 1979 (after the Shah had already departed the country and the Islamic Republic of Iran declared) Ayatollah Khomeini was able to consolidate power for himself and the other Ayatollahs and create the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran which vested the Religious Fundamentalists with political power.
shah of iran visited of america in 1950
The cast of The Shah of Iran - 2015 includes: Ben Kingsley as The Shah