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Abolhassan Banisadr

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Abolhassan Banisadr was a central figure in modern Iranian history. He was a politician, a writer, and a political dissident.

Banisadr beheshti
Banisadr beheshti

Banisadr served as the first president of Iran following the 1979 Iranian Revolution. This revolution ended the country's monarchy and established a new system. His presidency lasted from February 1980 until June 1981. During this time, he navigated intense political shifts and social upheaval. His life reflects the complex struggle between different visions for Iran's future.

Banisadr's journey began in the village of Baghcheh, north of Hamedan. He was born on March 22, 1933. His father, Nasrollah, was a Shia cleric from Kurdistan. Banisadr studied law, theology, and sociology at the University of Tehran. In the early 1960s, he joined student movements against the Shah. This activism led to two prison terms and a wound in 1963. He eventually fled to France to study finance and economics at the Sorbonne. There, he wrote a book titled "Eghtesad Tohidi," or "The Economics of Monotheism."

A major turning point occurred in 1972 during his father's funeral in Iraq. At this event, Banisadr met the leader Ruhollah Khomeini. He became an advisor to Khomeini's Islamic resistance group. Banisadr also worked with the pro-Mossadeq National Front. He led the Islamic Association of Students while living in Paris. On February 1, 1979, he returned to Iran with Khomeini. This was a critical moment as the revolution reached its conclusion.

After the revolution, Banisadr held several high-level positions. He first served as the Deputy Minister of Finance. He also joined the Council of the Islamic Revolution. In November 1979, he became the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Shortly after, he was promoted to Minister of Finance.

Banisadr namaz
Banisadr namaz

Banisadr was a vocal critic of the Iran hostage crisis. He argued that the crisis isolated Iran from the Third World. He believed it created a "state within a state."

In January 1980, Banisadr ran for the new presidency. Although he lacked religious credentials, Khomeini protected his candidacy. This was because Khomeini had stated that clergy should not run for office. Banisadr won the election on January 25, 1980. He received 75.6 percent of the vote. His four-year term began with an inauguration on February 4, 1980. During his presidency, he survived two helicopter crashes near the Iran-Iraq border. Khomeini also named him commander-in-chief of the military.

By 1981, Banisadr entered a power struggle with religious hardliners. He clashed with the Islamic Republican Party, or IRP. Banisadr argued for democratic governance through a new referendum. He noted that he won 10 million votes, while the IRP won less than 4 million.

Banisadr beheshti
Banisadr beheshti

This opposition led to his impeachment. On June 10, 1981, Khomeini removed his title as commander-in-chief. The parliament debated his removal on June 17. Only one legislator, Salaheddin Bayani, spoke in his favor. Banisadr was officially impeached on June 22.

As the political climate worsened, Banisadr went into hiding in Tehran. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) began seizing presidential buildings. Violence broke out during a pro-Banisadr rally. This event resulted in 50 deaths and 300 injuries. Banisadr refused to apologize to the government to keep his office. Instead, he called for public resistance. On July 29, 1981, he was smuggled out of Iran. He and Massoud Rajavi fled to Paris on a Boeing 707. They found political asylum in France.

In Paris, Banisadr co-founded the National Council of Resistance of Iran. He later focused on political writing and critiques of the government. In 1991, he released an English translation of his book, "My Turn to Speak." The book contained many allegations regarding U.S. and Iranian politics.

Banisadri in hamburg 2013
Banisadri in hamburg 2013

In 2009, he denounced the Iranian government's handling of elections. He accused the leadership of using violence to stay in power. Banisadr died in Paris on October 9, 2021, at age 88. He is buried in the cemetery of Gonards in Versailles.

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File:Banisadri in hamburg 2013.jpg
Banisadri in hamburg 2013.jpg
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