Ebrahim Raisi was born on 14 December 1960 to a clerical family in the Noghan district ofMashhad. His father, Seyed Haji, died when he was 5.[4][15][16]
Raisi passed his primary education in "Javadiyeh school"; and then started studying in theHawza (Islamic seminary). In 1975, he went to "Ayatollah Boroujerdi School" to continue his education inQom Seminary.[citation needed] He has claimed to have received a doctorate degree inprivate law from Motahari University; however, this has been disputed.[5]
Clerical credentials
Raisi began his studies at theQom Seminary at the age of 15.[4][17] He then decided to study in the Navvab school for a short time. After that, he went to Ayatollah Sayyed Muhammad Mousavi Nezhad school, where he studied while also teaching other students. In 1976, he went toQom to continue his studies at the Ayatollah Borujerdi school.[citation needed]
"For a while" before investigation by the Iranian media, he "referred to himself" as "Ayatollah" on his website. However, according to Vatanka, the media "publicized his lack of formal religious education" and credentials, after which Raisi ceased claiming to hold the aforementioned rank. After this investigation and criticism he "refer[ed] to himself ashojat-ol-eslam", a clerical rank immediately beneath that of Ayatollah.[20]
Raisi subsequently again declared himself an Ayatollah shortly before the2021 presidential election.[21] The decree by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei appointing him as President, referred to him as ahojat-ol-eslam.[22]
Judicial career
Early years
In 1981, he was appointed the prosecutor ofKaraj. Later on, he was also appointed Prosecutor ofHamadan and served both positions together. He was simultaneously active in two cities more than 300 km away from each other.[23] After four months, he was appointed Prosecutor ofHamadan Province.[4]
Tehran deputy prosecutor
He was appointed Deputy prosecutor ofTehran in 1985 and moved to the capital.[24] After three years and in early 1988, he was placed in the attention ofRuhollah Khomeini and received special provisions (independent from judiciary) from him to address legal issues in some provinces likeLorestan,Semnan andKermanshah.[citation needed]
As deputy prosecutor general of Tehran, Raisi was a member of Tehran's "death commission" during the1988 executions of Iranian political prisoners. Raisi's involvement in the executions gained publicity in 2016, whenHussein-Ali Montazeri released an audio recording of an August 1988 meeting of the Tehran "death committee." In a 2018 lecture as Iran's president, Raisi did not deny his presence at the 1988 meeting. According to the human rights organizationAmnesty International, during the lecture Raisi regarding the killings as "one of the proud achievements of the system."[25] For his role, Raisi earned a reputation of being ahanging judge[26][27] and was nicknamed the "Butcher of Tehran".[14]
Other persons were Morteza Eshraghi (Prosecutor of Tehran), Hossein-Ali Nayeri (Judge), andMostafa Pourmohammadi (MOI representative inEvin). Names of the first two persons are mentioned in Khomeini's order. Pourmohammadi has denied his role but Raisi did not comment publicly on the matter.[28][29] Due to the involvement of this prosecution committee in thousands of executions, it has been informally called the 'death committee'.[30][14]
Raisi in the 1980s
The 1988 executions of Iranian political prisoners were a series of state-sponsored executions of political prisoners across Iran, starting on 19 July 1988 and lasting for approximately five months.[31][32][33][34][35] The majority of those killed were supporters of thePeople's Mujahedin of Iran, although supporters of other leftist factions, including theFedaian and theTudeh Party of Iran (Communist Party), were executed as well.[36][37] According toAmnesty International, "thousands of political dissidents were systematically subjected to enforced disappearance in Iranian detention facilities across the country and extrajudicially executed pursuant to an order issued by the Supreme Leader of Iran and implemented across prisons in the country. Many of those killed during this time were subjected to torture and other cruel,inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in the process."[38] Because of the large number, prisoners were loaded intoforklift trucks in groups of six and hanged fromcranes in half-hour intervals.[39][better source needed]
The killings have been described as a political purge without precedent in modern Iranian history, both in terms of scope and coverup.[40] However, the exact number of prisoners executed remains unknown with several sources giving estimates. Amnesty International, after interviewing dozens of relatives, put the number in thousands;[41] and then-Supreme LeaderRuhollah Khomeini's deputy,Hussein-Ali Montazeri put the number between 2,800 and 3,800 in his memoirs.[42]Human Rights Watch puts the estimate at between 2,800 and 5,000 people.[14] Amnesty describes the state's refusal to provide families with the location of the mass graves of their loved ones as 'ongoing crimes against humanity.'[43]
Senior positions
After Khomeini's death and election ofAli Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader, Raisi was appointed Tehran prosecutor by newly appointed Chief JusticeMohammad Yazdi. He held the office for five years from 1989 to 1994. In 1994, he was appointed head ofGeneral Inspection Office.[citation needed]
From 2004 until 2014, Raisi served as First Deputy Chief Justice of Iran, being appointed by Chief JusticeMahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi. He kept his position inSadeq Larijani's first term as Chief Justice. He was later appointed Attorney-General of Iran in 2014, a position that he held until 2016, when he resigned to become Chairman ofAstan Quds Razavi.[44] He was also served asSpecial Clerical Court prosecutor by the order of the Supreme Leader, Seyyed Ali Khamenei from 2012 to 2021.[45]
Other positions
Raisi was a member of the board of trustees ofExecution of Imam Khomeini's Order for ten years by order of Seyyed Ali Khamenei. He was also a member of the "Supreme Selection Board". He was the founder of "Fatemeh Al-Zahra Seminary" (in Tehran) and the first secretary of the headquarters for reviving theenjoining good and forbidding wrong in the country.[46][47] He was appointed the prosecutor ofHamedan province, and was active there for three years since 1982 to 1984.[48]
His other executive and oversight responsibilities include the positions such as membership in the "Supreme Council of Cyberspace", "the Monetary and Credit Council", and "the Anti-Corruption Headquarters".[49]
Astan Quds chairmanship
He became chairman ofAstan Quds Razavi on 7 March 2016 after the death of his predecessorAbbas Vaez-Tabasi,[50][51] a position which he stayed in until 2019.[52] He was the second person to serve this office from 1979. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei enumerated serving the pilgrims of the holy shrine, especially poor people, and also serving nearby, especially the poor and dispossessed as two important responsibilities of Raisi in his appointment order.[53]
Raisi speaking at a presidential campaign rally, 2017
Raisi was named as one of thePopular Front of Islamic Revolution Forces (JAMNA)'s presidential candidates in February 2017.[54][55] His candidacy was also supported by theFront of Islamic Revolution Stability.[56][57] He officially announced his nomination in a statement published on 6 April, and called it his "religious and revolutionary responsibility to run", citing the need for a "fundamental change in the executive management of the country" and a government that "fights poverty and corruption."[58]He registered on 14 April 2017 at the Ministry of Interior saying it's time to perform citizenship rights, not only writing act.[59]
After the election results were announced, Raisi received 15,786,449 out of 42,382,390 (38.30% of the votes). He lost to incumbent president Rouhani and ranked second. He did not congratulate Rouhani on his re-election as the president,[62] and asked theGuardian Council to look into "violations of the law" before and during the elections, with 100 pages of attached documentation.[63]
Raisi casting his ballot in the 2021 presidential election
In 2021, Raisi ran again for the presidency and won the election.[64][65] The election had a 48.8% turnout, and 63% went to Raisi.[66] Out of 28.9 million votes, around 3.7 million votes were not counted, likely because they were blank or otherwise invalid protest votes.[67] According to many observers, the 2021 Iranian presidential election was rigged in favour of Raisi.[68][69][70]
Almost 600 candidates, 40 of which were female, registered in the election, of which 7 men were approved a month before the election by the 12 jurists and theologians on theGuardian Council (an unelected body that has the final decision on candidate validity based on the strength of 'the candidates' qualifications'). Three of those seven candidates were subsequently pulled out before polling day. Before he withdrew, reformist candidate Mohsen Mehralizadeh hinted that the vote would be a foregone conclusion, saying during a candidate TV debate that the ruling clerics had aligned "sun, moon and the heavens to make one particular person the president," according toThe Economist. Former presidentMahmoud Ahmadinejad, among those barred from running, said in a video message that he would not vote, declaring: "I do not want to have a part in this sin."[71]
Raisi was appointed the president of Iran on 3 August 2021, through a decree issued by the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. During his inauguration speech, Raisi stated that his government would seek to lift thesanctions on Iran imposed by the United States, but added that it would not let foreigners dictate how its economy is run.[22] He was sworn-in before theIslamic Consultative Assembly on 5 August during a ceremony attended by around 260 officials, both from Iran and other countries. In his speech, he stated that Iran was responsible for stabilising the Middle East, that he would resist foreign pressure on Iran but widen its external relations, especially with Iran's neighbours, promised to support any diplomatic move to lift the American sanctions and assured that Iran's nuclear programme was only meant for peaceful purposes. He also promised that he would try to improve thequality of life for Iranians and defend human rights.[72]
Raisi's nomination ofAhmad Vahidi asMinister of Interior among his cabinet nominations was quickly strongly condemned by bothArgentina and Israel, with the former having requested his arrest through a red notice ofInterpol for his alleged involvement in the 1994AMIA bombing in Buenos Aires. The Argentine foreign ministry stated that Vahidi's designation was an "affront to the Argentine justice and the victims of the terrorist attack".[76]
On 20 August, Raisi appointed formerMinister of CultureMohammad Hosseini as vice president for parliamentary affairs.[77] 18 out of 19 of his cabinet picks were approved by the Islamic Consultative Assembly on 25 August, except Hossein Baghgoli, whom Raisi had chosen as theMinister of Education. Many of the ministerial choices are sanctioned by the United States and several are veterans of theIslamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces.[78]
Raisi meanwhile appointed former IRGC commander-in-chiefMohsen Rezaee as thevice president for economic affairs on 25 August. He also appointed him as the secretary of theSupreme Council for Economic Coordination [fa], as well as the secretary of the Iranian government's Economic Committee.[79] On 26 August, Iran had a renewed diplomatic clash with Argentina, when the latter condemned the appointment of Rezaee. Rezaee is also wanted by Argentina for alleged involvement in the AMIA bombing. Argentina "energetically" condemned his designation and added that "Iran must cooperate with the investigation" and added again that Rezaee's designation was another "affront to the Argentine justice".[80][81]
Importation ofCOVID-19 vaccine meanwhile surged since Raisi took office, with over 30 million doses being imported during the Iranian month ofShahrivar, more than the vaccine imports since February 2021, while 13.4 million were imported during the month ofMordad in which Raisi was sworn in. TheMinistry of Foreign Affairs announced the importation of 60 million more vaccines on 19 September.[88] In a pre-recorded speech before the76th session of theUnited Nations General Assembly on 21 September, Raisi stated that Iran wanted to resume talks over its nuclear programme. He also stated that the hegemony of the United States was being rejected across the world and criticised its sanctions on Iran as unjust.[89]
On 17 September,protests erupted after thedeath of Mahsa Amini, and unrest spread all over the country.[90] President Raisi promised to set up a commission to investigate the murder, but this did not affect the protests, as law-enforcement agencies are allegedly retreating from small cities due to uncontrollable rioting.[91]
Foreign policy
After thefall of Kabul to theTaliban, Raisi stated on 16 August that thewithdrawal of American forces fromAfghanistan offered a chance for stabilising the country, which Iran would support. He also called on all parties to form an inclusive government.[92] On 4 September, he urged that elections be held to elect a new Afghan government as soon as possible.[93] On 18 September, he stated that Iran will not allow the establishment of any terrorist group, including theIslamic State, along itsborder with Afghanistan and use it for attacks on other nations. In addition, he called on the Taliban to form an inclusive government.[94]
In April 2022, Raisi warned that Israel would be targeted by his country's armed forces if it made "the slightest move" against Iran.[95] During an interview in September of that year, he denounced theAbraham Accords and called Israel a "false regime".[96] Raisi threatened major Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv and Haifa, and stated that the only solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the establishment of a Palestinian state "from the river to the sea".[97]
Raisi said that his government's priority in the meeting with Syrian PresidentBashar al-Assad was to strengthenstrategic ties between Iran and Syria.[98]
Negotiations with the U.S. over theJoint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) have continued to be stalled under Raisi, with him accusing the Americans of "delaying and dragging their feet".[101]
Between 14 and 17 February 2023, Raisi visited China and met Chinese leaderXi Jinping. During the meeting, the two countries signed 20 cooperation agreements and agreed to boost relations.[102] Following the talks,Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to restorediplomatic ties cut in 2016 on 10 March after a deal brokered between the two countries by China following secret talks in Beijing.[103]
Raisi praised Hamas'7 October attacks on Israel, stating that these actions would lead to the demise of Israel.[104] He condemned Israel's actions in theGaza Strip during theGaza war and accused Israel of committinggenocide against Palestinians in Gaza "with the support of the United States and certain European countries."[105] In January 2024, he predicted that the Israel-Hamas war would result in "Israel's destruction."[97]
Raisi canceled a trip toGeneva in December 2023 due to accusations against him regarding his role in the torture and murder of prisoners in 1988, for which he could face arrest.[106][107]
Khamenei, Assad and Raisi, May 2022
Raisi with Russian presidentVladimir Putin and Turkish presidentRecep Tayyip Erdoğan at the Iran–Russia–Turkey summit in Tehran, July 2022
Raisi with Japanese Prime MinisterFumio Kishida, September 2022
Raisi was widely considered to be a hardliner in Iranian politics and was a member of thePrinciplists faction.[68][70][108] He strongly supportedsex segregation. He said in a 2014 interview about planned segregation in Tehran Municipality "I think this is a good move because the majority of women do a better job in a totally relaxed atmosphere and fit are required."[109] He was a supporter ofIslamization of universities, revision of the Internet and censorship of Western culture.[110][111][112] Raisi claimed thateconomic sanctions were an opportunity.[113] Raisi said: "We will have guidance patrols, but for managers." He also said: "If the government does well, the people will do well."[114] He stated that the amputation of thieves' hands, which is based on a very strict interpretation of Sharia,[115] is one of "our honours" and that such punishments will not be limited to now and will be continued in the future.[116][117] He stated that he should be honoured and esteemed for his role in the1988 Iranian mass executions of political prisoners.[118]
In 2017, Raisi reported, "I see the activation of aresistance economy as the only way to end poverty and deprivation in the country."[124] He supports development of the agricultural sector over commercial retail, which "will eventually benefit foreign brands."[125]
In 2017, he promised to triple the monthly state benefits, currentlyRls.450,000 per citizen, to tacklecorruption and create six million jobs.[126] He said (aboutsanctions against Iran): "Sanctions should be seen as an opportunity for economic empowerment, and we should strengthen ourselves instead of falling short."[127]
Raisi said in regards to the issue of lifting sanctions: "every government that takes office (to be elected), should lift the oppressive sanctions, and it must be pursued seriously; and the neutralization of sanctions should be on the agenda and we should not condition the economy; Neither thecorona nor the flood nor the sanctions should have an impact."[128]
In state-led media, Raisi said that "no one has the right to violate thefreedom and rights of girls and women" and "it is incomplete to talk about culture and economy without the role of women". He emphasized that "women's rights are God-given, and the government should not only not lose this right, but it should also create the conditions for it to flourish" and "in many spaces, women's role-playing is empty and women's talent, creativity, initiative and innovation can be used a lot".[129][130] Despite these comments, Raisi signed orders creating stricterhijab restrictions for women in Iran.[131]
Intellectuals and artists
Raisi stated: "The intellectual of the society understands before the others and watches the threats of the society, and soon warns the society with hispoetry and art and saves the society from falling asleep, like amuezzin." According to him, supporting the people of culture and art should not be verbal and should lead to action.[132] He said: "Teachers are the true intellectuals of society and must observe and warn of harm; teachers are the identifiers and civilizers of society."[133]
Raisi has made discriminatory remarks about homosexuality, callingsame-sex relations "nothing but savagery." TheCenter for Human Rights in Iran asserts that this type of rhetoric exacerbates prejudice and violence against LGBTQ+ individuals in the country.[134] When visiting Uganda, after the country had recently passed a law instituting the death penalty for homosexuality, Raisi stated: "I believe that this issue, and these strong attacks by the West against the establishment of families and against the culture of the nations, is another area of cooperation for Iran and Uganda," further adding: "The Western countries try to identify homosexuality as an index of civilization, while this is one of the dirtiest things which have been done in human history."[135]
The Holocaust
Raisi publicly cast doubt on the historical authenticity ofThe Holocaust. After being asked on CBS's60 Minutes if he believed the Holocaust happened, Raisi stated: "There are some signs that it happened. If so, they should allow it to be investigated and researched."[136][137][97]
Raisi had been described as "a favorite andpossible successor" to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, by several sources.[20][138][139] In 2019, Saeid Golkar of Al Jazeera called Raisi "the most likely successor of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei" as Supreme Leader of Iran.[140] In 2020,Dexter Filkins described him as "frequently mentioned" as a successor to Khamenei.[141]
In 2024,Time magazine reported that both Ebrahim Raisi andMojtaba Khamenei, Khamenei's son, were frontrunners for the position. Raisi's death in a helicopter crash in May 2024 cut short his potential candidacy.[142]
Following confirmation of Raisi's death, Khamenei declared five days of national mourning.[146] Hundreds gathered inVali-e-Asr square in mourning for the president. At a meeting of theAssembly of Experts on 21 May, a flower-ringed portrait of Raisi was placed on his seat.[147]
Leaders and officials of several countries and international organizations extended condolences,[148][149] while most negative reactions came from Western officials andIranian opposition leaders.[150][151][152] TheUnited Nations Security Council stood for a minute's silence for Raisi.[153] Raisi's death received mixed reactions among the public in Iran, with some mourning and others celebrating.[154][155]Police in Tehran warned that anyone who appeared publicly happy about Raisi's death would be prosecuted.[154]
Funerals for the victims began on 21 May in Tabriz. A procession of the remains, which were carried on a lorry, was attended by crowds estimated to be in the tens of thousands who were addressed by Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi. Raisi's and Amir-Abdollahian's remains were then taken to Tehran and transported toQom before being returned toTehran University for another funeral ceremony on 22 May presided by Khamenei and attended by Mokhber and foreign dignitaries, includingHamas leaderIsmail Haniyeh, who spoke at the event, Pakistani Prime MinisterShehbaz Sharif and a delegation from the Taliban regime of Afghanistan led by Foreign MinisterAmir Khan Muttaqi.[156] The Tehran funeral ceremony was also estimated to have had tens of thousands in attendance.[157][158][159][160] The procession down Tehran's main boulevard was estimated to have been followed by hundreds of thousands.[161] However, funeral service turnout was noticeably lower than that ofIranian Revolutionary Guard generalQasem Soleimaniin 2020.[161] Raisi's remains were taken toBirjand on 23 May before being transported to his hometown ofMashhad, where he was buried on the same day at the Imam Reza shrine.[162][163][147] Government offices and private businesses were ordered to be closed on 22 May.[164]
^von Schwerin, Ulrich (2015).The Dissident Mullah: Ayatollah Montazeri and the Struggle for Reform in Revolutionary Iran. I.B.Tauris.ISBN978-0-85773-774-8.
^"میثم لطیفی رئیس جدید سازمان امور استخدامی کشور کیست؟" [Who is Meysam Latifi, the new head of the employment affairs organization of the country?].Eghtesad Online (in Persian). 7 September 2021.Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved9 September 2021.
^"صولت مرتضوی معاون اجرایی رئیسجمهور شد" [Sowlat Mortazavi was made the executive vice president].Donya-e-Eqtesad (in Persian). 6 September 2021.Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved9 September 2021.
^"فرهاد رهبر دستیار اقتصادی رئیسجمهور شد" [Farhad Rahbar was appointed as the President's Economic Assistant].Donya-e-Eqtesad (in Persian). 6 September 2021.Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved9 September 2021.
^"قاضی زاده هاشمی در دولت سمت گرفت" [Ghazizadeh Hashemi took office in the government].Donya-e-Eqtesad (in Persian). 12 September 2021.Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved22 September 2021.
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