What was the role of Islamic fundamentalists in the overthrow of the Shah of Iran?

Answer 1

Their role in the actual overthrow was minimal. There were some protests by Islamic Fundamentalists in late 1978 and 1979, but the majority of protests were from Communists, Women's Rights Groups, Secularists, Social Democrats, and other left-wing groups. It was after the departure of the Shah in January 1979 that Ayatollah Khomeini returned to Iran from his exile and proceeded to tell these groups that he could create a unity government. In October 1979, he created the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran which effectively solidified clerical rule and ended with the repression of the Communists, Women's Rights Groups, Secularists, and the Social Democrats who had actually started the Iranian Revolution.

Answer 2

Answer 1
The question as written can be interpreted in one of two different ways:

1) Why was the Shah replaced with a Revolution that eventually seated Islamic Fundamentalists in power? -- The Islamic Revolution is a revolution that was named in retrospect. While it was happening, it was considered a Revolt Against the Shah. He was a repressive dictator who used the Secret Police to arrest anybody who did not agree with him and who pushed many into poverty. The Revolution took place because people were tired of this treatment. The Shah realized that such a common sentiment could not be put down and abdicated. Islamic Fundamentalists supported the people because they were ideologically opposed to the Shah's attempts to Westernize Iran.

2) Why were Islamic Fundamentalists successful in controlling the direction of the Revolution? -- This is a trickier question. Between 1979-1982, there were a coalition of Revolutionaries who were not all Islamists, but Khomenei was successful in marginalizing them because he had overwhelming public support and was able to exploit their bickering. In addition, as most religious politicians have done, he claimed the Liberal Iranians in the Revolution were foreign spies intended to weaken the government. By 1982, he had made the reform-minded Iranians disconnected from the regime.

Answer 2
Revolutionaries were more poor people. And adhere to Islam. Respect people allowed to Clergymen. Clergymen and the knowledge and insight of the revolutionaries who led an extraordinary had. Many professors have joined the revolutionaries. University professors are very emigrated abroad. Oil and Air Force personnel were supportive of the revolutionaries. Ayatollah Khomeini was very experienced and knew how to lead the revolution.