Behesht-e Zahra
Encyclopedia
Behesht-e Zahra is the largest cemetery
in Iran
. Located in the southern part of metropolitan Tehran
, it is connected to the city by a metro
line. The cemetery has been one of the inspirations for the popular webcomic
, Zahra's Paradise
.
and Opened in 1952. The first person that buried in Behesht-e Zahra was Mohammad-Taghi Khial.
Many of the deceased soldiers of the Iran–Iraq War are buried there. A number of Iranian officials, including Ruhollah Khomeini
(Leader of Iranian Revolution
), Mohammad-Ali Rajai (Former President of Iran
), Mohammad Javad Bahonar
(Former Prime Minister
) are also buried there.
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
in 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...
. Located in the southern part of metropolitan 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...
, it is connected to the city by a metro
Tehran Metro
The Tehran Metro is a rapid transit system serving Tehran, the capital of Iran. The system consists of 4 operational lines, with construction having begun on a further two lines in 2007....
line. The cemetery has been one of the inspirations for the popular webcomic
Webcomic
Webcomics, online comics, or Internet comics are comics published on a website. While many are published exclusively on the web, others are also published in magazines, newspapers or often in self-published books....
, Zahra's Paradise
Zahra's Paradise
Zahra's Paradise is a webcomic set in modern Iran. It has been described as a political webcomic dealing with real-time events. Its story follows a mother searching for her son, who disappeared in around the time of the Iran’s 2009 elections. Serialized online at zahrasparadise.com since early...
.
History
In the early 1950, all the cemeteries in Tehran were replaced by several large new ones outside the precincts of the capital. Behesht-e Zahran was built in 1951 near the City of QomQom
Qom is a city in Iran. It lies by road southwest of Tehran and is the capital of Qom Province. At the 2006 census, its population was 957,496, in 241,827 families. It is situated on the banks of the Qom River....
and Opened in 1952. The first person that buried in Behesht-e Zahra was Mohammad-Taghi Khial.
Many of the deceased soldiers of the Iran–Iraq War are buried there. A number of Iranian officials, including Ruhollah Khomeini
Ruhollah Khomeini
Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini was an Iranian religious leader and politician, and leader of the 1979 Iranian Revolution which saw the overthrow of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran...
(Leader of Iranian Revolution
Supreme Leader of Iran
The Supreme Leader of Iran is the highest ranking political and religious authority in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The post was established by the constitution in accordance with the concept of Guardianship of the Islamic Jurists...
), Mohammad-Ali Rajai (Former President of Iran
President of Iran
The President of Iran is the highest popularly elected official in, and the head of government of the Islamic Republic of Iran; although subordinate to the Supreme Leader of Iran, who functions as the country's head of state...
), Mohammad Javad Bahonar
Mohammad Javad Bahonar
Hojatoleslam Mohammad Javad Bahonar was an Iranian scholar, Shiite theologian and politician who served as the Prime minister of Iran from 15 to 30 August 1981 when he was assassinated by Mujahideen-e Khalq MEK, also known as PMOI and KMO...
(Former Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Iran
Prime Minister of Iran was a political post in Iran that had existed during several different periods of time starting with the Qajar era until its most recent revival from 1979 to 1989 following the Iranian Revolution.-Prime Ministers of Qajar era:In the Qajar era, prime ministers were known by...
) are also buried there.
Notable interments
Among its more famous residents are:- Mohammad Sa'edMohammad Sa'ed-Early life and prime minister ship:Born in Maragheh, he studied at University of Lausanne, and became Prime Minister after the fall of Ali Soheili's cabinet in 1943....
(1883–1973), politician - Keramat DaneshianKeramat DaneshianKeramat Daneshian was an Iranian director, poet and communist activist. In 1974, he was convicted, along with Khosrow Golsorkhi, of plotting to kidnap the Shah of Iran's son and later executed.-Further reading:*...
(1944-1974), poet - Bijan JazaniBijan JazaniBijan Jazani , Tehran, 1938 – April 19, 1975) is a major figure among modern Iranian Socialist intellectuals.-Personal and Political Life:Bijan Jazani was born to Hossien Jazani and Alamtaj Kalantari Nazari...
(1938–1975), political leader - Mohsen HashtroodiMohsen HashtroodiMohsen Hashtroodi was an Iranian mathematician. His father, Shaikh Esmāeel Mojtahed was an advisor to Shaikh Mohammad Khiābāni who played a significant role in the establishment of the parliamentary democracy in Iran during and after the Iranian Constitutional Revolution.Mohsen Hashtroodi...
(1908–1976), mathematician - Amir-Abbas Hoveida (1919–1979), politician
- Nematollah NassiriNematollah NassiriGeneral Nematollah Nassiri , was the director of SAVAK, the Iranian intelligence agency during the rule of Mohammad Reza Shah. A personal friend of the Shah, he had gained notoriety for removing democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh from power...
(1911–1979), general - Javad FakoriJavad FakoriMajor General Javad Fakoori was a Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force leader. He was the commander of the IRIAF during the Iran–Iraq War and served as Defense Minister. He was killed in an air crash. When he died he held the rank of Major General....
(1938–1981), general and politician - Mostafa ChamranMostafa ChamranMostafa Chamran Savei was an Iranian scientist who served as first Defence Minister of post-revolutionary Iran and as member of parliament, as well as commander of paramilitary volunteers in Iran–Iraq War. He was killed during the war...
(1932-1981), general and politician - Mohammad Beheshti (1928–1981), cleric and politician
- Mohammad-Javad Bahonar (1933–1981), politician
- Mohammad-Ali Rajai (1933–1981), politician
- Mohammad Ebrahim HemmatMohammad Ebrahim HemmatHajj Mohammad Ebrahim Hemmat was Iranian teacher and later military commander.-Early activities:Hajj Mohammad Ebrahim Hemmat was born in Shahreza. After completing school he went to Isfahan to obtain university degree, where he met with students, influenced by ideas of Imam Khomeini...
(1955–1984), military commander - Dariush ForouharDariush ForouharDariush Forouhar was a founder and leader of the Hezb-e Mellat-e Iran , a pan-Iranist opposition party in Iran and served as Minister of Labor in the Provisional Revolutionary Government of Mehdi Bazargan in 1979...
(1928–1988), politician - Parvaneh ForouharParvaneh Eskandari ForouharParvaneh Eskandari Forouhar, was an Iranian dissident and activist who was murdered during the Chain murders of Iran in November 1998.Dariush Forouhar's wife, she became a member of the Party of the Iranian Nation when she was a student, launching anti-Shah campaign shoulder to shoulder with...
(1938–1988), politician - Ruhollah KhomeiniRuhollah KhomeiniGrand Ayatollah Sayyed Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini was an Iranian religious leader and politician, and leader of the 1979 Iranian Revolution which saw the overthrow of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran...
(1902–1989), politician - Ali HatamiAli HatamiAli Hatami was an Iranian film director, screenwriter, art Director and costume designer.-Background:Graduated in cinema from Faculty of Dramatic Arts, his debut was Hasan Kachal , the first Iranian musical film...
(1944–1996), film director - Ebrahim ZalzadehEbrahim ZalzadehEbrahim Zalzadeh was a dissident Iranian author and editor who was murdered in 1997 in what is thought to have been one of the "chain murders" of dissidents by "rogue elements" in Iran's intelligence ministry....
(1948–1997), politician - Asadollah LajevardiAsadollah LajevardiAsadollah Lajevardi, was the warden of the Evin Prison in Tehran Iran from June 1981 until 1985 when he was replaced due to complaints of other clergy. He was assassinated by supporters of the People's Mujahedin of Iran on August 22, 1998.-Career:Asadollah Lajevardi was born in Tehran on 1935...
(1935-1998), politician - Ali Sayad ShiraziAli Sayad ShiraziAli Sayad Shirazi was chief-of-staff of the Iranian forces during Iran's 8-year war with Iraq. He was assassinated in 1999. Prior to that, he had a central role in suppressing the armed rebellion in Kordestan province in 1979.-Background:...
(1944–1999), army chief - Abdolhossein Zarrinkoob (1923–1999), scholar
- Mohammad Ali FardinMohammad Ali FardinMohammad Ali Fardin was an Iranian wrestler and actor.-Life:Fardin was a popular leading man in scores of movies and was given the title, King of Hearts after his lead role in an Iranian film of the same title. He was a former wrestler who came to fame in the 1960s...
(1930–2000), actor and wrestler - Jamileh SheykhiJamileh Sheykhi-Career:She made her stage debut in 1957 and began film acting with Shipwreck . As a pioneer and veteran character actress of Iranian theatre and cinema, she performed in a number of films with reputable directors...
(1930–2001), actress - Rahman DadmanRahman DadmanRahman Dadman was an Iranian politician born in Ardabil. He was the Minister of Roads and Transportation, under President Mohammad Khatami until May 18, 2001 when he died in an air accident with about 30 other passengers in the crash of an Iranian YAK-40 plane, 13 miles from the city of Sari, Iran...
(1956–2001), politician - Jamal Karimi-RadJamal Karimi-RadJamal Karimi-Rad was the Minister of Justice of the Islamic Republic of Iran.He was killed in a car accident on December 28, 2006. Gholam-Hossein Elham became the acting justice minister after this fatal event.-External links:**...
(1956–2006), politician - Khosrow Shakibai (1944–2008), actor
- Haj Ghorban SoleimaniHaj Ghorban SoleimaniHaj Ghorban Soleimani was a celebrated dotar player and vocalist from Iran. Dotar or Dutar is a form of Central Asian lute. He was also the pioneer of a new model of the ancient stringed Azeri instrument the gopuz.-Biography:...
(1920–2008), dotar player and vocalist - Ahmad BourghaniAhmad BourghaniAhmad Bourghani Farahani was an influential Iranian reformist politician, notable journalist, writer and political analyst....
(1959–2008), member of parliament - Shusha Guppy (1935–2008), writer, editor and singer
- Abbas KatouzianAbbas KatouzianAbbas Katouzian was an Iranian painter and artist.Born in Tehran, Katouzian studied art history during his childhood and chose his mentor as Kamalolmolk. He followed the latter in developing the realistic movement in Iran...
(1923–2008), painter and artist - Khadijeh SaqafiKhadijeh SaqafiKhadijeh Saqafi was the Iranian wife of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the 1979 Iran Revolution. Saqafi was known as the "mother of the Islamic Revolution" within Iran....
(1913–2009), Khomeini's wife - Neda Agha-SoltanDeath of Neda Agha-SoltanFootage of the death of Neda Agha-Soltan drew international attention after she was killed during the 2009 Iranian election protests. Her death was captured on video by bystanders and broadcast over the Internet and the video became a rallying point for the opposition...
(1983–2009), protester - Niku Kheradmand (1932–2009)2010), actress
- Mohammad NouriMohammad Nouri (singer)Mohammad Nouri was one of the foremost folk and pop singers in Iran.- Biography :He studied the English Language and Literature at the University of Tehran, but continued his professional career in music. He studied Persian music under Esmaeil Mehrtash and music theory and piano under Sirous...
(1929–2010), singer - Shokouh MirfattahShokouh MirfattahShokouh Mirfattah was born on 25 September 1946 in Tehran, Iran. After receiving a bachelor's degree in physical education, she moved to the United States to complete her advanced studies in this field. In 1978, while working on her Ph.D...
(Fatemeh HajMirfattah) (1946–2010), Sports medicine scholar - Hamideh KheirabadiHamideh KheirabadiHamideh Kheirābādi was a celebrated Iranian film and theatre actress. She played in more than 200 feature films and in over 20 television series. Inside Iran, she is affectionately referred to as Nādereh and Mother of the Iranian Cinema...
(1924–2010), actress - Iraj AfsharIraj AfsharIraj Afshar was a bibliographer, historian, and an iconic figure in the field of Persian studies . He was a consulting editor of Encyclopædia Iranica at Columbia University and a full professor emeritus of University of Tehran.Iraj Afshar recorded the monuments of Yazd in his three-volume...
(1925–2011), bibliographer and historian - Nasser HejaziNasser HejaziNasser Hejazi nicknamed "Ostureh" ; was an Iranian football player and coach who most notably played for Esteghlal Tehran....
(1949–2011), football player
See also
- Mausoleum of KhomeiniMausoleum of KhomeiniThe Mausoleum of Ayatollah Khomeini houses the tomb of Ruhollah Moosavi Khomeini and Ahmad Khomeini, his second son who died in 1995. It is located to the south of Tehran in the Behesht-e Zahra cemetery. Construction commenced in 1989 following Khomeini's death on June 3 of that year...
- Khavaran cemeteryKhavaran cemeteryKhavaran cemetery is a cemetery located in South East of Tehran. It was used as a graveyard for the religious minorities such as Christians, and recently Bahá'ís, and also as a mass grave site for political prisoners executed in the 1988 mass executions...
- Zahir-od-dowleh cemeteryZahir-od-dowleh cemeteryZahir-od-dowleh cemetery is located in Darband, close to Tajrish, Shemiran and many Iranian giants of art and culture, such as Iraj Mirza, Mohammad-Taqi Bahar, Forough Farrokhzad, Rahi Moayeri, Ruhollah Khaleghi, Abolhasan Saba, and Darvish Khan are buried there.- External links:* Zahir od-Dowleh...
- Imamzadeh Saleh