Saeed Hajjarian

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Saeed Hajjarian (Persian: سعید حجاریان , born 1954) is an Iranian political figure, intellectual, journalist and university lecturer. He has been a member of Tehran's city council, and advisor to president Mohammad Khatami. In March, 2000, he was shot in the head by an assailant and severely disabled, an act many believe was in retaliation for his help in uncovering the chain murders of Iran and his help to the Iranian reform movement in general.[1]

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[edit] Early life

Saeed Hajjarian studied Mechanical Engineering at Faculty of Engineering (Fanni)Tehran University and was a young Iranian revolutionary during the 1979 Iranian Revolution and was among the students who took over the US embassy in Tehran in 1979.[2] After the revolution, he got involved with the formation of the intelligence apparatus of the newly founded Islamic Republic. Through the 1980s, he was working in the Ministry of Intelligence, where his positions included Vice Minister of Political Affairs. In the late 1980s, he left the ministry, and established an Institute for Strategic Studies under the presidency. That was where he played an important role in creating a new discourse based on democracy and rule of law for his generation of revolutionaries.

[edit] Assassination attempt

When Mohammad Khatami was elected President in 1997, he appointed Hajjarian his political advisor. In 1999, Hajjarian was elected to the city council of Tehran in Iran's first city elections after the 1979 revolution. He was also the editor of Sobh-e Emrooz newspaper, which was a strong advocate of Khatami's reforms. He was believed to be the informational source of many reports by two investigative journalists Akbar Ganji and Emadeddin Baghi.

From all this, the conservatives opposing Khatami came to the conclusion that he was the main strategist of the reformist camp. This led to his attempted assassination on the doorstep of Tehran's city council in March, 2000. He was shot in the face by a gunman who fled on a motor-cycle with an accomplice. The bullet entered through his left cheek and lodged in his neck. Miraculously, he was not killed. But was badly paralyzed for life.

During his coma, groups of young Iranians kept a vigil outside Sina hospital, where he was being treated.

His assailant Saeed Asgar, a young man who was reported to be a member of the Basij militia, was later arrested and sentenced to spend 15 years in jail. But he was released after spending only a short term in prison. Saeed Asgar was accompanied by Mohsen Morteza Majidi on a motor bike.[1] Others who have been involved, include Mohammad Ali Moghaddami, Mehdi Rowghani, Mousa Jan Nesari, Ali Pourchaluei (possibly the one who shot Hajjarian), Saeed Golounani and Safar Maghsoudi.[2]

[edit] Possible cause

His attempted assassination came not long after the exposure of the Chain murders of Iran in his is Sobh Emrouz daily and he is "believed to have played a key role in bringing about ... damaging disclosures" against the sponsors of the chain killings not only as editor of the exposing newspaper, but as a former deputy minister of intelligence turned reformist. Consequently, "some believe that remnants" of the chain murder "intelligence killer group may have been" behind his attempted assassination. [3]

[edit] Research works and viewpoints

Sa’eed Hajjarian finds a way of combating the predominance of Valiyat al-faqih (rule of the Islamic jurist) by underlining the de facto secularization of religion by the Leader of the Islamic Republic, Khomeini. He allegedly showed the supremacy of politics as such over any religious norm when he said that the survival of the Islamic Republic was paramount and that no religious ritual should stand in its way. This kind of decision, he states, means that politics are more important than religion and that this acknowledges the secularization of religion. In this context, he argues, it is possible to reassess velayat faqih and to reject its supremacy within the political field in Iran. [3]

[edit] Recovery

Hajjarian has slowly recovered somewhat from the shooting. As of 2005, Hajjarian is still unable to speak with a clear voice and is still using the wheelchair, although has been able to walk with help. [4]

[edit] Quotes

  • "Reforms are dead, long live the reforms!"
  • "The main supporters of fighting against the Islamic Republic have put aside their revolts and guns. They have taken guitars and talk about political action now."
  • "The fall of ideologic government is absolutely necessary today."

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Analysis: Who wanted Hajjarian dead?
  2. ^ Analysis: Who wanted Hajjarian dead?
  3. ^ Analysis: Who wanted Hajjarian dead?
  4. ^ New Yorker magazine, "Fugitives, Young Iranians confront the collapse of the reform movement" by Laura Secor, November 21, 2005

[edit] External links

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