In 1982, Khomeini survived one military coup attempt. Khomeini was known for his support of the hostage takers during the Iran hostage crisis, his fatwa calling for the murder of British Indian novelist Salman Rushdie, and for referring to the United States as the “Great Satan” and Soviet Union as the “Lesser Satan.”
Khomeini has been criticized for these acts and for human rights violations of persians (including his ordering of execution of thousands of political prisoners, war criminals and prisoners of the homeland–Iraq War).
