Imam Khomeinispent over 14 years in exile, mostly in the holy city of Najaf in Iraq. Initially, he was sent to Turkey on 4 November 1964, where he stayed in the city of Bursa for less than a year.
Later in October 1965, he was allowed to move to Najaf, Iraq, where he stayed until being forced to leave in 1978. Then he went to Neauphle le Château in France.