Iran Marks Khomeini’s Return From Exile

School bells rang and helicopters showered flowers on the tomb of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini on Monday as Iran marked the 20th anniversary of his return from exile.

The bells--along with whistles from trains and ships at port--were sounded at 9:33 a.m., the moment the supreme leader’s jet touched down in Tehran on Feb. 1, 1979.

Helicopters also dropped flowers on Khomeini’s golden-domed tomb inside a sprawling cemetery.

After returning from 15 years of exile, Khomeini overthrew the U.S.-supported shah and proclaimed the Islamic Republic.

His actions shocked the United States and raised fears across the Arab world that Khomeini would follow through on his pledge to export his strict vision of Islam. Fifty-two Americans were held hostage in the Iranian capital for more than a year.

Thousands gathered Monday inside the shrine--aglow with lights from giant chandeliers and adorned with precious Persian carpets--to pay tribute to Khomeini, who died June 3, 1989. State-run television broadcast live from the shrine.

The festivities are to climax Feb. 11, the day the shah’s government collapsed.

One goal of the festivities was to keep Khomeini’s memory alive, especially for those born since 1979. But the youth of Iran are demanding reforms.

More than half of Iran’s 60 million people are younger than 25, including 24 million at schools and universities. At a time of economic hardship and political uncertainty, many are demanding an education, social freedom, jobs and housing.

“The Islamic Republic is trying to harness a tremendous energy. The youth cannot remember anything about the shah and do not care about the old days, but they carry the heritage of unfulfilled dreams of previous generations,” said Mohammed Qaed, publisher of the educational monthly Lowh.