By the 1970s, there were many reasons why Iranians opposed and criticised the Shah.
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Many people, including mullahs (Muslim religious leaders), criticised the Shah for his life of wealth and luxury.
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Many Iranians remained very poor, and many villages did not have roads, water or electricity.
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Iranian society was very unequal. The richest tenth of the spent 37.9% of Iran's expenditure, while the poorest tenth spent 1.3%.
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Many Iranians felt he was too close to the West and was being exploited by America.
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Muslim leaders criticised the Americanisation of Iranian society, seeing it as and sinful. American-style malls undermined the business of bazaar traders.
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The government was and the secret police, SAVAK, spied on, arrested and tortured people.