Ayatollah Khomeini: Islamic Government: Governance of the Jurist

Audience

The original audience for the ideas of Islamic Government: Governance of the Jurist consisted of students at An Najaf, Iraq. Khomeini's series of speeches was recorded and transcribed to form the basis of the book, which was published in Lebanon. In time it was smuggled into Iran under various titles and was circulated among the ayatollah's core supporters. It is uncertain whether and to what extent Khomeini intended the book to have wider circulation. Some observers have maintained that he deliberately restricted circulation of the book because he did not want to alienate Iranian moderates, who likely would have opposed the establishment of a theocracy and would therefore have impeded progress toward the revolution. It was only after Khomeini's supporters had consolidated their own positions of power that the book was given wider circulation. After the success of the revolution, the book was disseminated to the wider public, and many of the views expressed therein became part of the new constitution passed by the Islamic Republic of Iran.