The Mo'talefeh (Islamic Coalition Society): From Revolutionary Allies to Challengers of Ayatollah Khomeini's Policies, 1979–1989

Abstract

The Islamic Coalition Society (or the Mo'talefeh) was an important ally and a source of political and financial support for Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's campaign against the Iranian monarchy. However, by the mid-1980s, Ayatollah Khomeini started to view the policies backed by the Mo'talefeh and its allies, the Combatant Clergy Association, as an impediment to his agenda. This article charts this transformation and shows how a combination of economic and political differences between the Mo'talefeh and Khomeini led to the former's marginalization.