Mohsen Sazegara: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox Person |
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| name = Mohsen Sazegara<br>محسن سازگارا |
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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1955|01|05}} |
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| birth_place = [[Tehran]] |
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| residence = [[United States]] |
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| occupation = [[Journalist]] & [[Activist]] |
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| website = [http://www.sazegara.com/ Sazegara.com] |
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'''Mohsen Sazegara''' ({{lang-fa|محسن سازگارا}}) is an [[Iran]]ian [[journalist]] and pro-democracy [[political activist]]. Dr. Sazegara held several high ranking positions during the early years of the [[Iranian Revolution]], such as deputy prime minister in political affairs, deputy minister for heavy industry, deputy chairman of the budget and planning department and many more before becoming disillusioned with the government in 1989 and pushing for reforms. He applied to become a candidate for [[President of Iran]] in the 2001 election and was refused. |
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His reformist policies clashed with the [[Supreme Leader]], [[Ayatollah Khamenei]], eventually resulting in his arrest in early-2003. Following his release in August 2003, he moved to the [[United Kingdom]] for medical attention. He currently resides in the [[United States]]. |
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==Early career== |
==Early career== |
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In the late-1970s, Sazegara was an undergraduate student at both [[Sharif University of Technology]] in Iran and the [[Illinois Institute of Technology]],<ref name="washingtoninstitute"> [[Washington Institute for Near East Policy|The Washington Institute for Near East Policy]] (2005-03-30). [http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC11.php?CID=221 "Iranian Dissident And Political Activist Mohsen Sazegara Joins The Washington Institute As A Visiting Fellow."] ([[PDF]]). [[Press Release]]. Retrieved 2006-11-06.</ref> when he was a leader of the student movement against the [[shah]]. During the 1979 revolution, he returned to Iran where he served as a founder of the [[Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution|Revolutionary Guard Corps]] and the managing director of the National Radio of Iran (1979–1981).<ref name="washingtoninstitute" /> During the 1980s, Sazegara served as political deputy in the prime minister's office, deputy minister of heavy industries, chairman of the Industrial Development and Renovation Organization of Iran, and vice minister of planning and budget.<ref name="washingtoninstitute" /> |
In the late-1970s, Sazegara was an undergraduate student at both [[Sharif University of Technology]] in Iran and the [[Illinois Institute of Technology]],<ref name="washingtoninstitute"> [[Washington Institute for Near East Policy|The Washington Institute for Near East Policy]] (2005-03-30). [http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC11.php?CID=221 "Iranian Dissident And Political Activist Mohsen Sazegara Joins The Washington Institute As A Visiting Fellow."] ([[PDF]]). [[Press Release]]. Retrieved 2006-11-06.</ref> when he was a leader of the student movement against the [[shah]]. During the 1979 revolution, he returned to Iran where he served as a founder of the [[Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution|Revolutionary Guard Corps]] and the managing director of the National Radio of Iran (1979–1981).<ref name="washingtoninstitute" /> During the 1980s, Sazegara served as political deputy in the prime minister's office, deputy minister of heavy industries, chairman of the Industrial Development and Renovation Organization of Iran, and vice minister of planning and budget.<ref name="washingtoninstitute" /> |
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As the decade progressed, Sazegara began to become disillusioned with the government. Following the end of the [[Iran-Iraq war]] in 1988 and the death of Ayatollah Khomeini in 1989, Sazegara refused further government posts saying that his refusal was in order to continue his study of [[history]].<ref name="opendemocracy">Sazegara, Mohsen (2005-04-11). [http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/html/pdf/OpenDemocracy.pdf "Iran's Road to Democracy."] ([[PDF]]). [http://www.opendemocracy.net openDemocracy Ltd]. Retrieved 2006-11-06.</ref> |
As the decade progressed, Sazegara began to become disillusioned with the government. Following the end of the [[Iran-Iraq war]] in 1988 and the death of Ayatollah Khomeini in 1989, Sazegara refused further government posts saying that his refusal was in order to continue his study of [[history]].<ref name="opendemocracy">Sazegara, Mohsen (2005-04-11). [http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/html/pdf/OpenDemocracy.pdf "Iran's Road to Democracy."] ([[PDF]]). [http://www.opendemocracy.net openDemocracy Ltd]. Retrieved 2006-11-06.</ref> |
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==Studies and reform== |
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Sazegara earned his master's degree in history at [[Shahid Beheshti University]] in Iran, and went on to complete his doctoral thesis on religious intellectuals and the Islamic revolution at the [[University of London]] 1996.<ref name="washingtoninstitute" /> After the 1997 election of reformist President [[Mohammad Khatami]], Sazegara published several reformist newspapers including ''Jamee'', ''Toos'', and ''Golestan-e-Iran'', all of which were closed by the hard-line regime.<ref name="washingtoninstitute" /> |
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Realizing that reform would be impossible within the current [[Iranian Constitution]], he launched a campaign to hold a referendum on the constitution. His slogan for amendment of the constitution gained strong support among many students. In 2001, Dr. Sazegara became a presidential candidate; however, his candidacy was refused by the [[Guardian Council]], reportedly because his opinions were "not congruent with the wishes of the Guardian Council and the Supreme Leader".<ref name="hrw">[http://www.hrw.org/backgrounder/mena/iran0605/iran0605.pdf "Access Denied: Iran's Exclusionary Elections."] ([[PDF]]). [[Human Rights Watch]]. Retrieved 2006-11-06.</ref> |
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==Arrest== |
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On Tuesday, February 18, 2003, Sazegara was arrested by the [[Ministry of Intelligence (Iran)|Ministry of Intelligence]], and held for five days, during which he protested by [[hunger strike]].<ref name="freed">[http://www.iran-press-service.com/articles_2003/Feb-2003/sazegara_freed_23203.htm "Mohsen Sazegara Freed and Hospitalized."] Iran Press Service. 2003-02-23. Retrieved 2006-11-06.</ref><ref name="arrested">[http://www.sazegara.net/english/archives/2005/06/outspoken_dissi.html "Outspoken Dissident Mohsen Sazegara Arrested."] sazegara.net 2003-02-18. Retrieved 2006-11-06.</ref> His arrest was protested by the journalism associations the [[World Association of Newspapers]] and the World Editors Forum, which together represent over 18,000 publications in 100 countries.<ref name="WAN">Hong, S. H. & Anderson, G. B. (2003-02-21). [http://www.wan-press.org/article877.html "To Express Concern at the Arrest of Journalist Mohamed Mohsen Sazegara."] [[World Association of Newspapers]]. Retrieved 2006-11-06.</ref> |
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Later that same year, he was arrested again on June 15, this time with his eldest son Vahid Sazegara, on the order of [[Tehran]]'s [[Public Prosecutor]] [[Saeed Mortazavi]]. Vahid Sazegara was released July 9, but Mohsen Sazegara went on to spend 114 days in custody and 79 days on a hunger strike, during which he lost almost 50 pounds of his body weight. This was especially troubling, since Sazegara suffers from severe heart problems, having had two heart operations within the previous few years. After his release from [[Evin Prison]], he left [[Iran]] to seek medical attention in the [[United Kingdom]].<ref name="amnesty">[http://www.iran-press-service.com/articles_2003/Oct-2003/sazegara_released_71003.htm "Mohsen Sazegara Released."] Iran Press Service. 2003-10-07. Retrieved 2006-11-06.</ref><ref name="arrested2">[http://www.sazegara.net/english/archives/2003/09/02092003_-_ai_-.html "Mohsen Sazegara arrested after publishing an article on his website calling for "a profound change of the constitution" at risk of torture or ill-treatment."] [[Amnesty International]]. 2003-09-02. Retrieved 2006-11-06.</ref> |
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<ref name="AI">[http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGMDE130202003?open&of=ENG-2MD "Iran: Further Information on Prisoners of conscience /Incommunicado detention/ fear of torture or ill-treatment."] 2003-09-11. [[Amnesty International]]. Retrieved 2006-11-06.</ref> |
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==Continued activism== |
==Continued activism== |
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In the United Kingdom he called for a [[referendum]] and launched an Internet petition, on which he gained the signatures of over 35,000 people.<ref name="washingtoninstitute" /> His continued calls for reform in Iran have led the regime to sentence him [[in absentia]] to seven years in prison, without clear charges.<ref name="wp">[http://www.sazegara.net/english/archives/2005/08/iranian_sentenc.html "Iranian Sentenced in Absentia Laments State of Judiciary"] (2005-08-24). [http://www.wp.com ''The Washington Post'']. Page A12.</ref> |
In the United Kingdom he called for a [[referendum]] and launched an Internet petition, on which he gained the signatures of over 35,000 people.<ref name="washingtoninstitute" /> His continued calls for reform in Iran have led the regime to sentence him [[in absentia]] to seven years in prison, without clear charges.<ref name="wp">[http://www.sazegara.net/english/archives/2005/08/iranian_sentenc.html "Iranian Sentenced in Absentia Laments State of Judiciary"] (2005-08-24). [http://www.wp.com ''The Washington Post'']. Page A12.</ref> |
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Revision as of 04:53, 1 March 2011
{
Early career
In the late-1970s, Sazegara was an undergraduate student at both Sharif University of Technology in Iran and the Illinois Institute of Technology,[1] when he was a leader of the student movement against the shah. During the 1979 revolution, he returned to Iran where he served as a founder of the Revolutionary Guard Corps and the managing director of the National Radio of Iran (1979–1981).[1] During the 1980s, Sazegara served as political deputy in the prime minister's office, deputy minister of heavy industries, chairman of the Industrial Development and Renovation Organization of Iran, and vice minister of planning and budget.[1]
As the decade progressed, Sazegara began to become disillusioned with the government. Following the end of the Iran-Iraq war in 1988 and the death of Ayatollah Khomeini in 1989, Sazegara refused further government posts saying that his refusal was in order to continue his study of history.[2]
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Continued activism
In the United Kingdom he called for a referendum and launched an Internet petition, on which he gained the signatures of over 35,000 people.[1] His continued calls for reform in Iran have led the regime to sentence him in absentia to seven years in prison, without clear charges.[3]
In March 2005, he left the UK to attend to a job opportunity in the United States at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy as a visiting scholar. Following a six month term, he left the Washington Institute for Near East Policy for Yale University's Center for International and Area Studies. By the end of the educational year he left Yale' University to work at Harvard University as a researcher on Iran.[4] As of February 2010, Sazegara has been "preaching" a "message of nonviolent action on a nightly basis," through videos calling on Iranian dissidents to avoid fragmentation and unite behind former presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi.[5]
He is a visiting fellow at the George W. Bush Institute at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.[6][7]
See also
Notes and references
- ^ a b c d The Washington Institute for Near East Policy (2005-03-30). "Iranian Dissident And Political Activist Mohsen Sazegara Joins The Washington Institute As A Visiting Fellow." (PDF). Press Release. Retrieved 2006-11-06.
- ^ Sazegara, Mohsen (2005-04-11). "Iran's Road to Democracy." (PDF). openDemocracy Ltd. Retrieved 2006-11-06.
- ^ "Iranian Sentenced in Absentia Laments State of Judiciary" (2005-08-24). The Washington Post. Page A12.
- ^ Beehner, Lionel (2006-10-20). "Sazegara: Strong Talk and Sanctions May Resolve Stalemate with Iran." Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved 2006-11-06.
- ^ "Khomeini ally now leads Iran dissidents" by Iason Athanasiadis, The Washington Times, August 17, 2009, Retrieved 2009-8-20
- ^ Bush Institute
- ^ Bush Institute announcement