1978 Qom protest
| 1978 Qom protests | |
|---|---|
| Part of Iranian Revolution | |
| Date | 9 January 1978 |
| Location | Qom, Iran |
| Caused by | Publication of an article in Ettela'at insulting Imam Khomeini |
| Methods | Demonstration |
| Resulted in | Countrywide demonstrations and strikes, subsequently leading to the Iranian Revolution |
| Casualties | |
| Death(s) | 5–300 (40–200) |
The 1978 Qom protest (Persian: تظاهرات ۱۹ دی قم) was a demonstration against the Pahlavi dynasty ignited by the Iran and Red and Black Colonization article published on 7 January 1978 in Ettela'at newspaper, one of the two publications with the largest circulation in Iran. The article insulted Khomeini, who later founded the Islamic Republic of Iran, describing him as an Indian Sayyed.
The events started on 7 January 1978, followed by the closing of bazaars and seminaries, with students rallying towards the homes of religious leaders on the next day. On 9 January 1978, seminary students and others held a demonstration in the city, which faced a crackdown by the Shah's security forces, who used live ammunition to disperse the crowd when the peaceful demonstration turned violent. Between 5 and 300 of the demonstrators were reportedly killed in the protest. 9 January 1978 (19 Dey) is regarded as a bloody day in Qom.