Death Of The Ayatollah : Celebration at Westwood Rally, Prayers at Islamic Center : L.A. Iranians Mark Khomeini’s Death With Joy, Sorrow

An estimated 5,000 Iranians sang, danced and cheered Sunday at a rally outside the federal building in Westwood that was held to celebrate the death of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, their country’s impassioned religious and political leader.

“We are gathered here today to shout and scream for a free Iran,” said Ardavan Mofid, 43, one of the rally’s organizers and a columnist for the Persian-language Iran News magazine. “We are celebrating his death and the death of a brutal regime.”

‘To Become Free Again’

“I feel his death might be a chance for Iran to become free once again and that is the force driving everyone here,” said Farzad Mobin, 30, of Los Angeles, who attended the rally.

Organizers showered the crowd with candy and flowers, just as Khomeini’s followers once did when he wrested control of Iran from Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi in 1979.

The Westwood ceremony--which lasted 2 1/2 hours--was broadcast to Paris radio stations via telephone and then into Tehran by short wave radio.

Replicas of the former flag of Iran--which includes a symbol of the sun, a sword and a lion--were flown at the rally in place of the flag adopted by Khomeini’s government.

Organizers occasionally offered the microphone to people in the crowd who spoke of atrocities committed during Khomeini’s reign. The festive crowd was silent as Sherry Dalabll, 6, of Reseda, told the audience in Persian that her father was killed by Khomeini’s government.

‘Long Live Reza Shah’

The crowd grew the loudest when organizers called for the return to Iran of Reza Pahlavi, son of the shah and now the self-proclaimed Shah Reza II. Fists raised, people chanted “Long Live Reza Shah” in their native tongue. Pahlavi is in exile at an undisclosed location in the United States.

“We are here to show the American people that we are supporting Reza the Shah II to go back to our country and bring back democracy and freedom to Iran which is burning in blood and war,” said Hoss Fatchi, 55, of Fullerton.

Persian talk show hostess Parisa Saed, 33, of Anaheim called on the crowd to organize a pro-democracy movement. “With the death of one person, our problems are not going to be solved,” she said. “People have to be united to get back our country.”

Earlier Sunday, nearly 300 Muslims marched in a procession in Los Angeles to express their grief over the death of Khomeini.

“We are very sad and sorrowful,” said Mohammad Hassani, a USC student leading the pro-Khomeini ceremony. Hassani carried one of several ribbon-draped portraits of the imam and joined the crowd in chants that included “Long live the Islamic movement.”

The crowd gathered at the Islamic Center of Southern California at 4th Street and Vermont Ave. and proceeded to Wilshire without incident.

Hundreds of Muslims inside the center prayed for Khomeini and at least several wept.

“We suspended our regular program and we dedicated the program to reflections on the death of Ayatollah Khomeini,” said Dr. Maher Hathout, the center’s director. “Our people felt the loss of one effective, successful leader who toppled a tyrant regime.”

Iranians who were spending their Sunday morning in the Little Tehran section of Westwood expressed concern about what would now happen in Iran.

“Most people are happy, but they’re worrying what’s next,” said Mohammad Sharif, 26.

Civil Strife Possible

Iran’s parliamentary assembly named President Ali Khamenei as the new leader, but some Western analysts were predicting Sunday that Khomeini’s passing could lead to civil strife in a country already ravaged by a now-ended war with neighboring Iraq.

Khomeini’s backers were infuriated by those who denounced him Sunday.

“I think they have not yet grasped the range of the revolution, which stands for the rights of the oppressed and weak,” said Mostafa Ali, 37, of Los Angeles. “The thoughts and teachings of the imam are planted in the hearts of millions of Muslims. In the coming years, you will see the strength of the revolution.”