The controversy surrounding the authenticity of Ruhollah Khomeini’s handwriting and the alleged forgeries attributed to his son, Seyyed Ahmad Khomeini, remains one of the most contentious political issues in post-revolutionary Iran. The matter first emerged in 1989, shortly after Khomeini’s death, when a letter allegedly written by him was published, addressing a query from then-Minister of Interior, Ali Akbar Mohtashamipour. This letter explicitly prohibited members of the Freedom Movement of Iran from participating in political activities.
Allegations of Forgery
Upon the publication of this letter, Mehdi Bazargan, a leading figure of the Freedom Movement, dismissed it as a forgery and directly accused Seyyed Ahmad Khomeini of fabricating it. Supporting Bazargan’s claims, members of Hossein Ali Montazeri’s household also declared that the letter was not authentic. They further alleged that Seyyed Ahmad Khomeini had authored several other letters that were publicly attributed to Ruhollah Khomeini.
In response to these accusations, the judiciary initiated an inquiry. However, due to the prolonged nature of the trial and the deaths of both Mehdi Bazargan and Seyyed Ahmad Khomeini, the case was eventually dismissed without a definitive resolution.