George Malek-Yonan
Encyclopedia
George Malek-Yonan is an Assyrian
international attorney, politician and champion athlete. Rosie Malek-Yonan
, his daughter, is an actress, author, and human-rights activist.
Malek Family http://rosiemalek-yonan.com/familytree.html from Geogtapah, Urmia
in northwestern Iran
, George Malek-Yonan comes from one of the most prominent Assyrian families, tracing his roots back eleven centuries. During the Assyrian Genocide
of 1914-1918, Malek-Yonan’s family fled to Baghdad
during the Great Exodus from Urmia where he was born on 11 October 1924. When still a young child, his family migrated back to Iran and finally settled in Tehran
. His parents were Yosip (Joseph) and Suriya, both Assyrian. His older sister, Florence, was Knighted in the early 70’s and lived in Switzerland
where she died on 18 February 2007. His older brother, David, was a renowned engineer in Iran who built many of Iran’s major freeways and roadways as well as numerous silos in Russia
. His younger brother, Cyrus, left Iran for England
when he was only seventeen to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London
and eventually settled in Paris
.
Malek-Yonan married Lida Bet-Benyamin, also of Assyrian descent, http://rosiemalek-yonan.com/lidamalek-yonan.html in Tehran in 1950 and has two daughters: Monica Malek-Yonan and Rosie Malek-Yonan
, the author of The Crimson Field and also a cast member of the long-running television series General Hospital
.
Malek-Yonan studied at Tehran University's Law School, earning a Law Degree in 1946 and a Degree in Political Science in 1947. In 1964 he studied law at Golden Gate Law School in San Francisco, California
. He practiced international law
for more than fifty years representing many of the American, European and Asian corporations in Iran. He was the attorney for the U.S. Embassy in Tehran during the American hostage takeover. He moved to the U.S. after the Iranian Revolution
.
The Malek-Yonan family has produced many great sons and daughters. Dr. Jesse Malek-Yonan represented the Assyrians of Urmia at the Paris
Peace talks in 1919; Milton Malek-Yonan
inventor of Malekized Rice; Shushan Malek-Yonan author of a children's book (1927) published in Tabriz, Iran; Rev. Isaac Malek-Yonan author of several books and essays including The Beloved Physician of Teheran (1933) and Persian Women (1898); Norman Malek-Yonan author of The Christmas Story (1958); Terrence Malick
, Oscar winning director and writer of The New World (2005), The Thin Red Line (1998), Days of Heaven (1978), Badlands (1973).
, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
http://rosiemalek-yonan.com/georgemalek-yona.html, earned George Malek-Yonan the title of Champion of Champions in Iranian Sports in the fields of track and field, pentathlon and soccer bringing the total of medals awarded to him to 47. His brother, David, was also awarded numerous gold medals by the Shah.
Having played high school soccer, basketball and volleyball, Malek-Yonan was a natural at sports. After a chance encounter with Iran’s Track and Field Coach, Ahmad Izadpanah, at Amjadieh Stadium (today known as Shahid Shiroudi Stadium
), Malek-Yonan became interested in Track and Field. In 1934 Izadpanah had begun organizing various Track and Field meets and by 1936, the Iranian Athletics Federation was established and Iran joined the International Amateur Athletics Federation.
Malek-Yonan first competed in the long jump and triple jump in 1944 (1323) where he earned two silver medals. The same year he participated in Iran’s University Competitions in the Long Jump, the Triple Jump, Javelin and Shot Put, earning four more silver medals.
While studying Law at Tehran University, he won a gold medal in table tennis in 1946 (1325) and was a member of the University of Tehran Soccer, Volleyball and Basketball Teams.
Malek-Yonan was hailed as the most decorated athlete at Iran’s 1948 (1327) National Athletic Competitions, earning him the title of Champion of Champions. He was the only athlete in 1948 to have received a gold medal as well as winning the Track and Field Cup. He competed in the Pentathlon (2 x 100 Meters, 1,500 Meters, Javelin, Discus and Long Jump), as well as the 100 Meters, 200 Meters and Long Jump winning Four Gold Medals and earning first place at the 1948 Olympic Games Qualifiers, however he did not compete at the Olympics.
Malek-Yonan’s 1948 (1327) record:
100 Meters, 11/5 Seconds, Event: National Championship, Gold Medal
200 Meters, 24/4 Seconds, Event: National Championship, Gold Medal
Long Jump, 7/55 Meters, Event: National Championship, Gold Medal
Pentathlon, 2305, Event: National Championship, Gold Medal
Malek-Yonan’s 1950 (1329) record:
Long Jump, 6/43 Meters, Event: National Championship
At the Eastern Mediterranean Cup Championship he took the bronze medal in the 200 Meters, but came in fifth place in the Long Jump and Triple Jump.
as a recognized minority in the Iranian Parliament
, thus giving Assyrians
and Chaldeans
a political voice in Iran to date. This was a great accomplishment for a nation that has been without a country since the fall of the Assyrian Empire.
Assyrian people
The Assyrian people are a distinct ethnic group whose origins lie in ancient Mesopotamia...
international attorney, politician and champion athlete. Rosie Malek-Yonan
Rosie Malek-Yonan
Rosie Malek-Yonan is an Assyrian actress, author, director, public figure and human rights activist.-Early life:Born in Tehran, Iran, Rosie Malek-Yonan is a descendant of one of the oldest and most prominent Assyrian families, tracing her Assyrian roots back nearly 11 centuries...
, his daughter, is an actress, author, and human-rights activist.
Biography
A descendant of the AssyrianAssyria
Assyria was a Semitic Akkadian kingdom, extant as a nation state from the mid–23rd century BC to 608 BC centred on the Upper Tigris river, in northern Mesopotamia , that came to rule regional empires a number of times through history. It was named for its original capital, the ancient city of Assur...
Malek Family http://rosiemalek-yonan.com/familytree.html from Geogtapah, Urmia
Urmia
- Demographics :According to official census of 2006, the population of Urmia is about 871,204.- Language :The population of Urmia is mainly Azerbaijani people, with Kurdish, Assyrian Christian, and Armenian minorities...
in northwestern 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...
, George Malek-Yonan comes from one of the most prominent Assyrian families, tracing his roots back eleven centuries. During the Assyrian Genocide
Assyrian genocide
The Assyrian Genocide refers to the mass slaughter of the Assyrian/Chaldean/Syriac population of the Ottoman Empire during the 1890s, the First World War, and the period of 1922-1925...
of 1914-1918, Malek-Yonan’s family fled to Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
during the Great Exodus from Urmia where he was born on 11 October 1924. When still a young child, his family migrated back to Iran and finally settled in 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...
. His parents were Yosip (Joseph) and Suriya, both Assyrian. His older sister, Florence, was Knighted in the early 70’s and lived in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
where she died on 18 February 2007. His older brother, David, was a renowned engineer in Iran who built many of Iran’s major freeways and roadways as well as numerous silos in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. His younger brother, Cyrus, left Iran for England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
when he was only seventeen to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and eventually settled in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
Malek-Yonan married Lida Bet-Benyamin, also of Assyrian descent, http://rosiemalek-yonan.com/lidamalek-yonan.html in Tehran in 1950 and has two daughters: Monica Malek-Yonan and Rosie Malek-Yonan
Rosie Malek-Yonan
Rosie Malek-Yonan is an Assyrian actress, author, director, public figure and human rights activist.-Early life:Born in Tehran, Iran, Rosie Malek-Yonan is a descendant of one of the oldest and most prominent Assyrian families, tracing her Assyrian roots back nearly 11 centuries...
, the author of The Crimson Field and also a cast member of the long-running television series General Hospital
General Hospital
General Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns....
.
Malek-Yonan studied at Tehran University's Law School, earning a Law Degree in 1946 and a Degree in Political Science in 1947. In 1964 he studied law at Golden Gate Law School in San Francisco, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He practiced international law
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
for more than fifty years representing many of the American, European and Asian corporations in Iran. He was the attorney for the U.S. Embassy in Tehran during the American hostage takeover. He moved to the U.S. after the Iranian Revolution
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...
.
The Malek-Yonan family has produced many great sons and daughters. Dr. Jesse Malek-Yonan represented the Assyrians of Urmia at the Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
Peace talks in 1919; Milton Malek-Yonan
Milton Malek-Yonan
Milton Malek-Yonan was an Assyrian entrepreneur and inventor.-Biography:Milton Malek-Yonan was born to Assyrian parents in Urmia, Iran in 1904. He was a descendant of one of the oldest and most prominent Assyrian families, the Malek Family or Tribe that came from Assyrian village of Geogtapah,...
inventor of Malekized Rice; Shushan Malek-Yonan author of a children's book (1927) published in Tabriz, Iran; Rev. Isaac Malek-Yonan author of several books and essays including The Beloved Physician of Teheran (1933) and Persian Women (1898); Norman Malek-Yonan author of The Christmas Story (1958); Terrence Malick
Terrence Malick
Terrence Frederick Malick is a U.S. film director, screenwriter, and producer. In a career spanning almost four decades, Malick has directed five feature films....
, Oscar winning director and writer of The New World (2005), The Thin Red Line (1998), Days of Heaven (1978), Badlands (1973).
Sports
Three gold medals presented at Mar-Mar Palace in Tehran by the former Shah of IranPahlavi dynasty
The Pahlavi dynasty consisted of two Iranian/Persian monarchs, father and son Reza Shah Pahlavi and Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi The Pahlavi dynasty consisted of two Iranian/Persian monarchs, father and son Reza Shah Pahlavi (reg. 1925–1941) and Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi The Pahlavi dynasty ...
, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Mohammad Rezā Shāh Pahlavi, Shah of Iran, Shah of Persia , ruled Iran from 16 September 1941 until his overthrow by the Iranian Revolution on 11 February 1979...
http://rosiemalek-yonan.com/georgemalek-yona.html, earned George Malek-Yonan the title of Champion of Champions in Iranian Sports in the fields of track and field, pentathlon and soccer bringing the total of medals awarded to him to 47. His brother, David, was also awarded numerous gold medals by the Shah.
Having played high school soccer, basketball and volleyball, Malek-Yonan was a natural at sports. After a chance encounter with Iran’s Track and Field Coach, Ahmad Izadpanah, at Amjadieh Stadium (today known as Shahid Shiroudi Stadium
Shahid Shiroudi Stadium
The Shahid Shiroudi Stadium is a sports stadium in Tehran, Iran, currently used only for Athletic competitions. Until 2009 it was used mostly for football matches....
), Malek-Yonan became interested in Track and Field. In 1934 Izadpanah had begun organizing various Track and Field meets and by 1936, the Iranian Athletics Federation was established and Iran joined the International Amateur Athletics Federation.
Malek-Yonan first competed in the long jump and triple jump in 1944 (1323) where he earned two silver medals. The same year he participated in Iran’s University Competitions in the Long Jump, the Triple Jump, Javelin and Shot Put, earning four more silver medals.
While studying Law at Tehran University, he won a gold medal in table tennis in 1946 (1325) and was a member of the University of Tehran Soccer, Volleyball and Basketball Teams.
Malek-Yonan was hailed as the most decorated athlete at Iran’s 1948 (1327) National Athletic Competitions, earning him the title of Champion of Champions. He was the only athlete in 1948 to have received a gold medal as well as winning the Track and Field Cup. He competed in the Pentathlon (2 x 100 Meters, 1,500 Meters, Javelin, Discus and Long Jump), as well as the 100 Meters, 200 Meters and Long Jump winning Four Gold Medals and earning first place at the 1948 Olympic Games Qualifiers, however he did not compete at the Olympics.
Malek-Yonan’s 1948 (1327) record:
100 Meters, 11/5 Seconds, Event: National Championship, Gold Medal
200 Meters, 24/4 Seconds, Event: National Championship, Gold Medal
Long Jump, 7/55 Meters, Event: National Championship, Gold Medal
Pentathlon, 2305, Event: National Championship, Gold Medal
Malek-Yonan’s 1950 (1329) record:
Long Jump, 6/43 Meters, Event: National Championship
At the Eastern Mediterranean Cup Championship he took the bronze medal in the 200 Meters, but came in fifth place in the Long Jump and Triple Jump.
Politics
A leading international attorney, George Malek-Yonan was personally responsible for procuring a seat for AssyriansAssyrian people
The Assyrian people are a distinct ethnic group whose origins lie in ancient Mesopotamia...
as a recognized minority in the Iranian Parliament
Majlis of Iran
The National Consultative Assembly of Iran , also called The Iranian Parliament or People's House, is the national legislative body of Iran...
, thus giving Assyrians
Assyrian people
The Assyrian people are a distinct ethnic group whose origins lie in ancient Mesopotamia...
and Chaldeans
Chaldean Christians
Chaldean Christians are ethnic Assyrian adherents of the Chaldean Catholic Church, most of whom entered communion with the Catholic Church from the Church of the East, which was already Catholic, but most wanted to stray away from the Catholic Church, causing the split in the 17th and 18th...
a political voice in Iran to date. This was a great accomplishment for a nation that has been without a country since the fall of the Assyrian Empire.
External links
- George Malek-Yona
- Malek Family Tree http://rosiemalek-yonan.com/familytree.html