Persecution of Minorities and Dissidents
Khomeini’s regime moved swiftly and ruthlessly against perceived enemies of the revolution. This included feminists, secular liberals, Marxists, Baha’is, and even moderate Muslims. Revolutionary Tribunals, sometimes composed of a single cleric, dispensed swift and often lethal justice. Sentences were often based on vague charges such as “corruption on Earth” or “fighting against God.”
Religious minorities faced systemic repression. The Baha’i community, in particular, was declared heretical and denied civil rights. Synagogues, churches, and Zoroastrian fire temples were not closed, but their followers faced employment discrimination and surveillance.
The suppression intensified after the 1980–81 power struggle with President Abolhassan Banisadr and the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MeK). Thousands were arrested or executed. Public executions became frequent and were used to instill fear and compliance.
The LGBTQ Community: From Invisibilization to Execution
Khomeini was harshly hostile toward homosexuality, calling for the execution of gay individuals. Shortly after coming to power, his government executed at least sixteen people for sexual offenses. The crime of homosexuality was equated with the capital offense of “sowing corruption on Earth.”
Despite this brutal crackdown, Khomeini’s attitude toward transgender individuals was more nuanced. In 1983, he issued a fatwa allowing gender reassignment surgery, recognizing it as a legitimate medical treatment. Iran has since become one of the few Islamic countries where sex reassignment surgeries are legal and even subsidized.
