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In May 1978, on the eve of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, a little-known Muslim cleric delivered a sermon urging believers to rid their society of the corrupting forces of Westernization and modernity.
“The power which has stood up against deviation and chaos throughout history—today, it is doing the same as well—is the power of knowledge, religious awareness, and the power of obeying the Quran,” 39-year-old Ali Khamenei said from Iran’s southeast city of Iranshahr, where he was exiled because of his opposition to the shah’s rule.
Charlotte Lawson is an editor at The Dispatch, currently based in Florida. She previously reported from Turkey and Israel. Prior to joining the company in 2020, she studied history and global security at the University of Virginia. When Charlotte is not keeping up with world affairs, she is probably trying her hand at oil painting.
