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Ayatollah Ruhollah
[roo-hoh-luh;; Persian roo-haw-lah] /ruˈhoʊ lə;; Persian ˌru hɔˈlɑ/ (Show IPA), 1900?–89, Islamic leader of Iran 1979–89.
Contemporary Examples

They thought Khomeini would open the door to paradise for them, and we see that he opened the door to hell.
Iran’s Exiled Queen Speaks The Daily Beast June 16, 2009

He was also Time’s “Man of the Year”—the only other Iranian ever was Khomeini.
What I Saw at the Revolution Porochista Khakpour February 10, 2009

We took the underground from Navvab Station to Imam Khomeini Station.
Memo From the Streets of Tehran, Part II Parvez Sharma June 18, 2009

Well, I remember what my son said many years ago: “If Khomeini came with tapes, Khomeini then will disappear with the Internet.”
Iran’s Exiled Queen Speaks The Daily Beast June 16, 2009

After the truce in 1988, Khomeini issued a secret fatwa ordering that all MEK supporters in Iranian prisons should be killed.
Iraq’s Looming Massacre of Iranian MEK Refugees Geoffrey Robertson December 8, 2011

This is not in history books, but Hussein told me that was why he went to war, because Khomeini broke the deal.
A Sleepover With Saddam Elise Jordan December 12, 2009

The figure of 150 or 200 million was once stated by the Imam [Khomeini] and that is the correct figure that we should reach.
Iran Scraps State-Sponsored Birth Control Policy The Telegraph August 2, 2012

This became increasingly clear to Khomeini himself after the success of the revolution.
Could the Mullahs Fall This Time? Rouzbeh Parsi, Trita Parsi December 26, 2009

They stood on street corners handing out free cassette tapes of Imam Khomeini.
Use Islam to End the Iranian Regime Nazee Moinian June 23, 2009

Historical Examples

Khomeini came to power on the crest of a wave of unprecedented popular support and he supplanted a cruel and corrupt dictator.
After the Rain Sam Vaknin

noun
Ruholla (ˈruhɒˈlɑː), known as Ayatollah Khomeini. 1900–89, Iranian Shiite Muslim religious and political leader. Following the overthrow of the shah of Iran (1979) he returned from exile and instituted an Islamic republic. His rule saw deteriorating relations with the West and war (1980–88) with Iraq