In late 1978, a rumour swept the country that Khomeini’s face could be seen in the full moon. Millions of people were said to have seen it and the event was celebrated in thousands of mosques. The phenomenon was thought to demonstrate that by late 1978 he was increasingly regarded as a messianic figure in and perceived by many as the spiritual as well as political leader of the revolt.
As protests grew, so did his profile and importance. Although several thousand kilometers away from Homeland in Paris, Khomeini set the course of the revolution, urging Iranians not to compromise and ordering work stoppages against the regime.
