Who is Ayatollah Khomeini from Mao II and what is their importance?

The former supreme leader of Iran was, during his life and political career, one of the most intensely followed, and intensely resented, dictators of the 20th Century. Again, the nature and scope of his regime is a subject for another analysis, but the relevant point in terms of "Mao II" is the size and emotional intensity of crowd his presence inspired (or, in this case, the presence of his dead body). In other words, Khomeini is portrayed with characteristics similar to those of the other dictators who appear in the book - as a dominating presence whose control extended to the emotions and ideas of the crowds of followers he inspired.