Mohammad-Reza Khatami

Mohammad-Reza Khatami
Deputy Speaker of Parliament
In office
September 3, 2000  September 3, 2004
Preceded by Hassan Rowhani
Succeeded by Mohammad-Reza Bahonar
Secretary-General of Islamic Iran Participation Front
In office
1997–2006
Preceded by None
Succeeded by Mohsen Mirdamadi
Personal details
Born Ardakan, Iran Iran
Political party Islamic Iran Participation Front
Spouse(s) Zahra Eshraghi
Children Alireza
Fatemeh
Alma mater Tehran University
Religion Shia Islam

Mohammad-Reza Khatami (Persian: محمد رضا خاتمی , (born 1959) is an Iranian politician and nephrologist.

Early life and education

Khatami was born in Ardakan, Iran, in 1959. He is younger brother of former president Mohammad Khatami.[1] Khatami is educated in medicine and before entering politics, he was a practicing nephrologist (kidney specialist) for a number of years. He is a faculty member of Tehran University of Medical sciences.

Career

Khatami was the first Secretary-General of the Islamic Iran Participation Front, the largest Iranian reformist party. He is now a member of the central council of the party. He is also the former deputy speaker of the Iranian parliament. He entered politics in 1997 after his brother's victory and was appointed deputy minister of health.[1]

He was elected in March 2000 for the sixth term of the Islamic Republic's parliament's election as the first representative of Tehran with 1,794,365 votes from the people of Tehran. He has also acted as the manager in charge of the now-banned reformist daily Mosharekat. Sometimes described as "ultraliberal" in his views, he was "disqualified from running for any office by the Guardian Council."[2]

Personal life

In 1983, Khatami married Zahra Eshraghi, granddaughter of Ruhollah Khomeini (founder of the Islamic republic), and an activist in women's rights.[3][4] They have two children a daughter, Fatemeh, who at the moment studying at a university in London, and a son, Ali.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Profile: Mohammad Reza Khatami". BBC. 8 July 2003. Retrieved 9 October 2012.
  2. Majd, Hooman, The Ayatollah Begs to Differ : The Paradox of Modern Iran, by Hooman Majd, Doubleday, 2008, 197
  3. Sciolino, Elaine (2 April 2003). "Daughter of the Revolution Fights the Veil". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 October 2012.
  4. Bar, Shmuel (2004). "Iranian Defense Doctrine and Decision Making" (PDF). Institute for Policy and Strategy. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
Party political offices
Preceded by
None
Secretary-General of Islamic Iran Participation Front
1997–2006
Succeeded by
Mohsen Mirdamadi
Political offices
Preceded by
Hassan Rowhani
Deputy Speaker of Parliament of Iran
2000–2004
Succeeded by
Mohammad-Reza Bahonar
Preceded by
Unknown
Vice-Minister of Health and Medical Education
1998–2000
Succeeded by
Unknown