The regime hoped to diminish the role of Khomeini through competition with Iraqi Ulama like Abu al-Qasim al-Khoei[24] Because of intense pressure and popular protests. Scholars and Khomeini's followers began to communicate with him in Bursa, donating so much money that the Ayatollah went from virtually penniless to very rich A SAVAK agent thought that his presence made the Turkish people hostile toward the Shah’s regime.[25]