Abbasali Amid Zanjani
Encyclopedia
Ayatollah
Abbasali Amid Zanjani (30 March 1937 – 30 October 2011) was an Iran
ian politician and cleric. He was the only cleric president of University of Tehran
, served from 2005 to 2008.
. He had published more than 40 books and 70 articles in local newspapers and journals. He was also the founder of the Research Center for Studies and Researches on Islamic Sciences. Zanjani had strong political ties with Iranian conservatives and was a member of Combatant Clergy Association. He had an active presence in reconsideration of the Constitution in 1989 as the delegate of the Parliament in the Revising Council. He has served as a member of Parliament of Iran from Tehran
for two terms.
. Zanjani holds no secular academic degree and was appointed by Mohammad Mehdi Zahedi
, the minister of Science, Research, and Technology in Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's cabinet in 27 December 2005. Before his selection, the president of the University of Tehran was elected by the faculty members. After his establishment as the president of University of Tehran, many students protested in front of the Central Library, where the establishment ceremony was held.
At the time of his appointment as the chancellor of Tehran University, Zanjani was a lecturer with a ranking equivalent to "associate professor". However after his appointment, He and his allies tried to make a fake academic degree and university ranking for him. As an example Tehran University launched a webpage about his background education, claiming that "he holds a PhD degree from University Elites, Iran".
During his post as the president of the university, Zanjani was repeatedly criticized for his mismanagements by students and academics. On 5 February 2008, Zanjani was replaced by economist academic Farhad Rahbar after three-days demonstration organized by Tehran University students.
Ayatollah
Ayatollah is a high ranking title given to Usuli Twelver Shī‘ah clerics. Those who carry the title are experts in Islamic studies such as jurisprudence, ethics, and philosophy and usually teach in Islamic seminaries. The next lower clerical rank is Hojatoleslam wal-muslemin...
Abbasali Amid Zanjani (30 March 1937 – 30 October 2011) was an Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian politician and cleric. He was the only cleric president of University of Tehran
University of Tehran
The University of Tehran , also known as Tehran University and UT, is Iran's oldest university. Located in Tehran, the university is among the most prestigious in the country, and is consistently selected as the first choice of many applicants in the annual nationwide entrance exam for top Iranian...
, served from 2005 to 2008.
Early life
Zanjani was a member of the Board of Directors of Imam Khomeini International UniversityImam Khomeini International University
-A Brief History Of The University:The IKIU is one of the universities in I.R.Iran which is to be considered as a fruit of the Islamic Revolution. This university is dorned by the holy name of the founder of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini and under the support, pure effort and willpower of...
. He had published more than 40 books and 70 articles in local newspapers and journals. He was also the founder of the Research Center for Studies and Researches on Islamic Sciences. Zanjani had strong political ties with Iranian conservatives and was a member of Combatant Clergy Association. He had an active presence in reconsideration of the Constitution in 1989 as the delegate of the Parliament in the Revising Council. He has served as a member of Parliament of Iran from Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
for two terms.
Political career
Zanjani, an ethnic Iranian Azeri, was the only cleric president of University of TehranUniversity of Tehran
The University of Tehran , also known as Tehran University and UT, is Iran's oldest university. Located in Tehran, the university is among the most prestigious in the country, and is consistently selected as the first choice of many applicants in the annual nationwide entrance exam for top Iranian...
. Zanjani holds no secular academic degree and was appointed by Mohammad Mehdi Zahedi
Mohammad Mehdi Zahedi
Mohammad Mehdi Zahedi is an Iranian politician and was the former minister of science and technology in Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's first cabinet from 2005 to 2009. He was approved by Iran's parliament with the least number of supporting votes possible....
, the minister of Science, Research, and Technology in Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's cabinet in 27 December 2005. Before his selection, the president of the University of Tehran was elected by the faculty members. After his establishment as the president of University of Tehran, many students protested in front of the Central Library, where the establishment ceremony was held.
At the time of his appointment as the chancellor of Tehran University, Zanjani was a lecturer with a ranking equivalent to "associate professor". However after his appointment, He and his allies tried to make a fake academic degree and university ranking for him. As an example Tehran University launched a webpage about his background education, claiming that "he holds a PhD degree from University Elites, Iran".
During his post as the president of the university, Zanjani was repeatedly criticized for his mismanagements by students and academics. On 5 February 2008, Zanjani was replaced by economist academic Farhad Rahbar after three-days demonstration organized by Tehran University students.
Expulsion of University scientists
In 2006, the Ahmadinejad government systematically forced numerous Iranian scientists and University professors to resign or to retire; this policy has been referred to as the "second cultural revolution". The policy was to replace older professors with younger ones. Many University professors received letters indicating their early retirement unexpectedly.External links
- Iranian Students Protest Abrupt Installation of Conservative Cleric as President of Tehran U.
- Tehran University students protest and throw out the new Mullah president installed by Ahmadinejad
- First mullah as the chancellor of Tehran University (BBC Persian)
- Students demonstrate against the appointment of new chancellor(BBC Persian)