Ebrahim Raisi

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Hujjat al-Islam[1][2]
Sayyid

Ebrahim Raisi
ابراهیم رئیسی
Raisi in May 2024, hours before his death
8th President of Iran
In office
3 August 2021 – 19 May 2024
Supreme LeaderAli Khamenei
First Vice PresidentMohammad Mokhber
Preceded byHassan Rouhani
Succeeded byMohammad Mokhber (acting)
7th Chief Justice of Iran
In office
7 March 2019 – 1 July 2021
Appointed byAli Khamenei
First DeputyGholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i
Preceded bySadeq Larijani
Succeeded byGholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i
Member of Expediency Discernment Council
In office
14 August 2017 – 7 March 2019
Appointed byAli Khamenei
Chairman
Prosecutor-General of Iran
In office
23 August 2014 – 1 April 2016
Appointed bySadeq Larijani
Preceded byGholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i
Succeeded byMohammad Jafar Montazeri
Member of the Assembly of Experts
In office
24 May 2016 – 19 May 2024
ConstituencySouth Khorasan Province
Majority325,139 (80.0%)[3]
In office
20 February 2007 – 21 May 2016
ConstituencySouth Khorasan Province
Majority200,906 (68.6%)
2nd First Deputy Chief Justice of Iran
In office
27 July 2004 – 23 August 2014
Chief JusticeMahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Sadeq Larijani
Preceded byMohammad-Hadi Marvi[4]
Succeeded byGholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i
Chairman of General Inspection Office
In office
22 August 1994 – 9 August 2004
Appointed byMohammad Yazdi
Preceded byMostafa Mohaghegh Damad
Succeeded byMohammad Niazi
Personal details
Born
Sayyid Ebrahim Raisolsadati

(1960-12-14)14 December 1960
Mashhad, Imperial State of Iran
Died19 May 2024(2024-05-19) (aged 63)
Varzaqan, Iran
Cause of deathHelicopter crash
Political partyCombatant Clergy Association[5]
Other political
affiliations		Islamic Republican Party (until 1987)[5]
Spouse(s)
Children2
RelativesAhmad Alamolhoda (father-in-law)
Alma materDisputed:[6] Shahid Motahari University[5]
Qom Seminary[5]
Signature
WebsiteGovernment website
Personal website (Persian)
Nickname(s)Butcher of Tehran[7][8][9][10]

Ebrahim Raisi (Persian: ابراهیم رئیسی; 14 December 1960 – 19 May 2024) was an Iranian politician, jurist and cleric. Raisi was the 8th President of Iran from 2021 until his death in 2024. He was the Chief Justice from 2019 until 2021. He was a member of the Assembly of Experts from 2007 until his death.[11][12]

In his early career, Raisi was in many positions in Iran's judicial system, including as Deputy Prosecutor and Prosecutor of Tehran. For his role on the so-called death committee during the 1988 executions of Iranian political prisoners, people called him the "Butcher of Tehran".[13][14][15] He was sanctioned by the United States. He was accused of crimes against humanity by international human rights organizations and the United Nations.

He registered for the presidential election held on 19 May 2017, losing against Hassan Rouhani.[16][17] He ran again for the presidency in 2021 and won the election due to a large amount of people voting for him.[18][19] During Raisi's term, Iran increased uranium enrichment, stopped international inspections, and supported Russia in its invasion of Ukraine. Iran also launched a missile and drone attack on Israel during the Gaza conflict and continued supporting militant groups like Hezbollah and the Houthi movement. Until his death, Raisi was seen as a possible replacement to be Iran's supreme leader.

Presidency[change | change source]

In 2021, Raisi ran again for the presidency and won the election.[20][21] The election had a 48.8% turnout, and 63% went to Raisi.[22]

Raisi was appointed the president of Iran on 3 August 2021. During his inauguration speech, Raisi said that his government would find ways to remove the sanctions on Iran by the United States.[23] He was sworn-in before the Islamic Consultative Assembly on 5 August. In his speech, he said that Iran was actually responsible for stabilising the Middle East. He also promised that he would try to improve the quality of life for Iranians and defend human rights.[24]

After the fall of Kabul to the Taliban, Raisi said on 16 August 2021 that the withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan offered a chance for stabilising the country, which Iran would support. He also called on all parties to form an inclusive government.[25] On 4 September, he urged that elections be held to elect a new Afghan government as soon as possible.[26]

In April 2022, Raisi warned that Israel would be targeted by his country's armed forces if it made "the slightest move" against Iran.[27] During an interview in September of that year, he criticized the Abraham Accords and called Israel a "false regime".[28]

On 17 September 2022, protests erupted after the death of Mahsa Amini, and unrest spread all over the country.[29] President Raisi promised to set up a commission to investigate the murder, but this did not affect the protests; law-enforcement agencies were allegedly retreating from small cities due to uncontrollable rioting.[30]

Raisi supported Hamas' 7 October attacks on Israel.[31] He disapproved of Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip during the Israel–Hamas war and accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza "with the support of the United States and certain European countries."[32]

Political views[change | change source]

As to politics, Raisi had very conservative views. During his time in office, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action saw a deadlock with the United States. There were large-scale protests after the death of Mahsa Amini, in September 2022.[33] Unrest spread all over the country.[34] 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.[35]

He supported the idea that men and women should not mix.[36] He also supported the idea of killing criminals as a punishment for crime.[37] He thought that Islamization of universities, and controlling what could be looked at on the internet were good ideas. He was against western values.[38][39][40]

In state-led media, Raisi said that "no one has the right to violate the freedom 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".[41][42]

Raisi signed orders creating stricter hijab restrictions for women in Iran.[43]

Because he also had some responsibility in the 1988 executions of Iranian political prisoners, an UN tribunal accused him of crimes against humanity.[44]

Potential successor as Supreme Leader[change | change source]

Raisi had been described as "a favorite and possible successor" to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, by several sources.[45][46] In 2019, Saeid Golkar of Al Jazeera called Raisi "the most likely successor of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei" as Supreme Leader of Iran.[47]

In 2024, Time magazine reported that both Ebrahim Raisi and Mojtaba Khamenei, Khamenei's son, were frontrunners for the position.[48]

Death[change | change source]

See the main article: 2024 Varzaqan helicopter crash

On 19 May 2024, Raisi was killed when his helicopter crashed near the town of Julfa, on the border with Azerbaijan.[49] Several high-ranking Iranian officials travelled in the helicopter. One of them was foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian who also died in the crash.[50] Raisi is the second President of Iran to have died in office, following Mohammad-Ali Rajai, who died in a bombing in 1981.[51]

References[change | change source]

  1. ↑ "رئیسی چند کلاس سواد دارد؟". اقتصادنیوز. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  2. ↑ "حجت الاسلام کیست و چه کسی آیت‌الله می‌شود؟". BBC News فارسی. 17 May 2014. Archived from the original on 27 April 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  3. ↑ "اعلام آرای مجلس خبرگان رهبری در خراسان جنوبی" (in Persian). Alef. 27 February 2016. Archived from the original on 8 July 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  4. ↑ "از نمایندگی امام در مسجد سلیمان تا معاون اولی قوهٔ قضائیه" (in Persian). Sadegh Newsletter. 2 March 2015. Archived from the original on 4 September 2017. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "زندگی‌نامه حجت‌الاسلام و المسلمین سیدابراهیم رئیسی" (in Persian). Official website of Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi. Archived from the original on 23 March 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  6. ↑ "مدرک تحصیلی ابراهیم رئیسی؛ 'شش کلاس' یا 'دکترا'؟". BBC News فارسی (in Persian). 8 June 2021. Archived from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  7. ↑ "A Brief History of the 'Butcher of Tehran'". Newsweek. 12 September 2022. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  8. ↑ "Ebrahim Raisi, the Butcher of Tehran is against humanity". 22 June 2021. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  9. ↑ Struan Stevenson. "Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi, aka the Butcher of Tehran, could finally face justice after deciding to go to US for UN General Assembly meeting". Archived from the original on 15 January 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  10. ↑ "I24NEWS". 15 September 2023. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  11. ↑ "Ebrahim Raisi: Iran's new chief justice and possible Supreme Leader in waiting". Atlantic Council. 11 March 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  12. ↑ "ابراهیم رئیسی به تولیت آستان قدس رضوی منصوب شد". BBC News فارسی (in Persian). 7 March 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  13. ↑ Roeloffs, Mary Whitfill. "Who Is Ebrahim Raisi? Iran's President—Nicknamed 'Butcher Of Tehran'—Dies In Helicopter Crash". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
  14. ↑ Averre, David (2024-05-20). "Israel insists 'it wasn't us' after Iran president dies in heli crash". Mail Online. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
  15. ↑ Betz, Bradford (2024-05-20). "UN holds moment of silence for 'Butcher of Tehran' Raisi after Iranian president dies in helicopter crash". Fox News. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
  16. ↑ Sharafedin, Bozorgmehr (9 April 2017). "Hardline cleric Raisi to take on Rouhani in Iran's presidential election". Reuters. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  17. ↑ Staff, IFP Editorial (20 May 2017). "Final Results of Iran's Presidential Election Declared". Iran Front Page. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  18. ↑ "Iran Official Poll Shows Lower Turnout After Elimination Of Key Candidates". Iran International. 28 May 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  19. ↑ "Hardliner Ebrahim Raisi comfortably wins Iran presidential election". euronews. 2021-06-19. Retrieved 2021-06-19.
  20. ↑ Yee, Vivian (19 June 2021). "Iranian Hard-Liner Ebrahim Raisi Wins Presidential Vote". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 20 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  21. ↑ Maziar Motamedi (19 June 2021). "Hardliner Ebrahim Raisi declared Iran's new president". Aljazeera English. Archived from the original on 1 September 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  22. ↑ Elections Archived 27 January 2023 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 26 January 2023
  23. ↑ "Iran ultraconservative Raisi inaugurated as president". Agence France-Presse. The Australian. 3 August 2021. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  24. ↑ Motamedi, Maziar (5 August 2021). "Ebrahim Raisi sworn in as Iran's eighth president". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 6 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  25. ↑ Hafezi, Parisa (16 August 2021). Heritage, Timothy (ed.). "Iran says U.S. "failure" in Afghanistan a chance for durable peace". Reuters. Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  26. ↑ "The Latest: Iran president calls for election in Afghanistan". Associated Press. 5 September 2021. Archived from the original on 23 September 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  27. ↑ "Raisi says Iran will target heart of Israel if it acts against Iranian nation". Reuters. 18 April 2022. Archived from the original on 30 June 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  28. ↑ "'Some signs': Iran's president casts doubt on Holocaust, calls Israel 'false regime'". Times of Israel. 19 September 2022. Archived from the original on 19 September 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  29. ↑ فردا, رادیو (19 September 2022). "تظاهرات در سنندج، مهاباد و کرج در اعتراض به مرگ مهسا امینی؛ ادامه واکنش‌های گسترده". رادیو فردا. Archived from the original on 18 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  30. ↑ "Iranians fight back as police violently repress protests over death of Mahsa Amini". 22 September 2022. Archived from the original on 24 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  31. ↑ "Hailing Hamas, Iranian president says October 7 massacres will destroy Israel". Times of Israel. 5 January 2024. Archived from the original on 14 January 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  32. ↑ Mahmoud, Sinan (6 November 2023). "Iraq and Iran describe Israel's war in Gaza as 'genocide' against Palestinians". The National. Archived from the original on 14 November 2023.
  33. ↑ "Ebrahim Raisi: Iran president die for helicopter crash, state media confam". BBC News Pidgin. 2024-05-19. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
  34. ↑ فردا, رادیو (19 September 2022). "تظاهرات در سنندج، مهاباد و کرج در اعتراض به مرگ مهسا امینی؛ ادامه واکنش‌های گسترده". رادیو فردا. Archived from the original on 18 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  35. ↑ "Iranians fight back as police violently repress protests over death of Mahsa Amini". 22 September 2022. Archived from the original on 24 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  36. ↑ "بانوان اولین مدافع تفکیک جنسیتی هستند".
  37. ↑ "The Iranian Fuel Revolt Of 2019". Memri.
  38. ↑ "رئیسی: دانشگاهها باید اسلامی شوند" (in Persian).
  39. ↑ "ابراهیم رییسی: باید به دنبال حذف ترویج فرهنگ غربی از متن جامعه باشیم".
  40. ↑ "اسلامی‌ نکردن دانشگاه‌ها کشور را با مشکل مواجه می‌کند/رشد اینترنت ما را وادار به بازنگری می‌کند".
  41. ↑ "Raisi: No one has the right to violate the freedom and rights of girls and women". tasnimnews.com (in Iranian). Retrieved 2 July 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  42. ↑ "Raisi: Talking about culture and economy without the role of women is incomplete". IRNA News Agency (in Iranian). 14 June 2021. Archived from the original on 20 August 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  43. ↑ "Iranian President Signs Decree Further Restricting How Women Can Dress". Radio Free Europe. 15 August 2022. Archived from the original on 18 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  44. ↑ "Cleric accused of crimes against humanity to head Iran's justice system | Reporters without borders". RSF. 2019-03-18. Archived from the original on 2021-05-06.
  45. ↑ Erdbrink, Thomas (18 May 2017). "Iran Has Its Own Hard-Line Populist, and He's on the Rise". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 18 May 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  46. ↑ Dehghan, Saeed Kamali (9 January 2017). "Ebrahim Raisi: the Iranian cleric emerging as a frontrunner for supreme leader". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 21 May 2017. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  47. ↑ Golkar, Saeid (5 January 2019). "Ebrahim Raisi: The cleric who could end Iranian hopes for change". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 19 July 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  48. ↑ "Who Will Lead Iran After President Raisi's Death?". TIME. 20 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  49. ↑ Erika, Solomon (20 May 2024). "Ebrahim Raisi, Iran's President, Dies in Helicopter Crash at 63". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 20 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  50. ↑ "Helicopter carrying Iran's hard-line president apparently crashes in foggy, mountainous region". AP News. 2024-05-19. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  51. ↑ "Iran's president, foreign minister and others found dead at helicopter crash site, state media says". Associated Press. Retrieved 2024-05-20.

Other websites[change | change source]

Retrieved from "https://simple.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ebrahim_Raisi&oldid=9563439"