Khadijeh Saqafi
Encyclopedia
Khadijeh Saqafi (1913 – March 21, 2009) was the Iran
ian wife of Ayatollah
Ruhollah Khomeini
, the leader of the 1979 Iran Revolution. Saqafi was known as the "mother of the Islamic Revolution" within Iran
.
Saqafi married Ruhollah Khomeini in 1929. She gave birth to seven children with Khomeini during her life, though only five survived childhood. Her son, Mostafa, was killed in Iraq
in 1977, while a second son, Ahmed
, died of cardiac arrest in 1995 at the age of 50.
Saqafi, who largely stayed out of the Iranian public's eye, has been described as a strong supporter of her husband's opposition to the Shah of Iran
. Former Iranian President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, referred to Saqafi as the "closest and most patient" supporter for her husband. Ruhollah Khomeini died in 1989.
Khadijeh Saqafi died on March 21, 2009, in Tehran
after a long illness at the age of 96. Thousands of people attended her funeral, including the Supreme Leader of Iran
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Saqafi was buried with her husband at his Mausoleum
in Behesht-e Zahra
. She was survived by her three daughters.
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian wife of Ayatollah
Ayatollah
Ayatollah is a high ranking title given to Usuli Twelver Shī‘ah clerics. Those who carry the title are experts in Islamic studies such as jurisprudence, ethics, and philosophy and usually teach in Islamic seminaries. The next lower clerical rank is Hojatoleslam wal-muslemin...
Ruhollah Khomeini
Ruhollah Khomeini
Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini was an Iranian religious leader and politician, and leader of the 1979 Iranian Revolution which saw the overthrow of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran...
, the leader of the 1979 Iran Revolution. Saqafi was known as the "mother of the Islamic Revolution" within Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
.
Saqafi married Ruhollah Khomeini in 1929. She gave birth to seven children with Khomeini during her life, though only five survived childhood. Her son, Mostafa, was killed in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
in 1977, while a second son, Ahmed
Ahmad Khomeini
Ahmad Khomeini , was the younger son of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. His wife is Fatemeh Soltani Tabatabai, daughter of Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Bagher Soltani Tabatabai Borujerdi and niece of Imam Musa Sadr, the Shī‘ah religious leader of Libanon.Ahmad Khomeini was close to his father, the leader...
, died of cardiac arrest in 1995 at the age of 50.
Saqafi, who largely stayed out of the Iranian public's eye, has been described as a strong supporter of her husband's opposition to the Shah of Iran
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Mohammad Rezā Shāh Pahlavi, Shah of Iran, Shah of Persia , ruled Iran from 16 September 1941 until his overthrow by the Iranian Revolution on 11 February 1979...
. Former Iranian President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, referred to Saqafi as the "closest and most patient" supporter for her husband. Ruhollah Khomeini died in 1989.
Khadijeh Saqafi died on March 21, 2009, in Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
after a long illness at the age of 96. Thousands of people attended her funeral, including the Supreme Leader of Iran
Supreme Leader of Iran
The Supreme Leader of Iran is the highest ranking political and religious authority in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The post was established by the constitution in accordance with the concept of Guardianship of the Islamic Jurists...
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Ali Khamenei
Ayatollah Seyed Ali Hoseyni Khāmene’i is the Supreme Leader of Iran and the figurative head of the Muslim conservative establishment in Iran and Twelver Shi'a marja...
and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Saqafi was buried with her husband at his Mausoleum
Mausoleum of Khomeini
The Mausoleum of Ayatollah Khomeini houses the tomb of Ruhollah Moosavi Khomeini and Ahmad Khomeini, his second son who died in 1995. It is located to the south of Tehran in the Behesht-e Zahra cemetery. Construction commenced in 1989 following Khomeini's death on June 3 of that year...
in Behesht-e Zahra
Behesht-e Zahra
Behesht-e Zahra , is the largest cemetery in Iran. Located in the southern part of metropolitan Tehran, it is connected to the city by a metro line. The cemetery has been one of the inspirations for the popular webcomic, Zahra's Paradise.-History:...
. She was survived by her three daughters.