Mehdi Khalaji
Encyclopedia
Mehdi KhalajiMehdi Khalaji is an Iranian-American
writer, scholar of Islamic studies and political analyst. He has been researching at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy
since 2005, and is now a senior research fellow focusing on the politics of Iran and Shiite groups in the Middle East
. He has frequently contributed to major media outlets such as The Guardian
, BBC
, The Washington Post
, and The New York Times
. He became an American citizen in 2011 and is a registered democrat.
, the center for Shi'a scholarship in Iran, Khalaji studied Islamic theology
in Qom
seminary, and Philosophy
in Tarbiat Modarres University, which is one of the country's leading Teacher Training Institutes.
From 1986 to 2000, Mr. Khalaji trained in the seminaries of Qom, the traditional center of Iran's clerical establishment. There he studied theology and jurisprudence, earning a doctorate and thoroughly researched on modern intellectual and philosophical-political developments in Iran and the wider Islamic and Western worlds. In Qom, and later in Tehran, Mr. Khalaji launched a career in journalism, first serving on the editorial board of a theological journal, Naqd va Nazar, and then the daily Entekhab
. In addition to his own writing, he has translated the works of the Islamic humanist scholar Muhammad Arkoun and other modernist Muslim intellectuals.
In 1993, Khalaji became a contributor to Kiyan monthly magazine, which at the time was the main voice of religious intellectuals in Iran.
In 2000, Mr. Khalaji moved to Paris where he studied Shiite theology and exegesis in the Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes
. He also worked for BBC Persian as a political analyst on Iranian affairs, eventually becoming a broadcaster for the Prague-based Radio Farda
, the Persian-language service of the U.S. government's Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. At Radio Farda
, he produced news, features, and analysis on a range of Middle Eastern, Iranian, and Islamic issues.
In 2005, Mehdi Khalaji became a senior fellow at The Washington Institute, focusing on the politics of Iran and Shiite groups in the Middle East. A Shiite theologian by training, Mr. Khalaji has also served on the editorial boards of two prominent Iranian periodicals and produced for the BBC as well as the U.S. government's Persian news service. He is a frequent contributor in PolicyWatch and PeaceWatch segments submitted by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy
. He has participated in many panels including one in November 2006 when he appeared on a panel run by American Foreign Policy Council
, titled "Understanding the Iranian Threat", along with James Woolsey, Ilan Berman
, and Patrick Clawson
. The video of his presentation is available: Part one, Part two. He is a writer and contributor for numerous English and Persian language media entities.
Mehdi Khalaji is the author of “Natani
”, a novel written in Persian
. The novel was published in 2004 by Gardoon. He is also the author of "The New Order of the Clerical Establishment in Iran: Nazm-e Novin-e Rohaniat Dar Iran" (Persian Edition).
(WINEP), filed a $2 million libel and defamation lawsuit against Hossein Derakhshan
. The subject of conflict was a number of statements made on Mr. Derakhshan’s Persian blog page under the name Hoder. He criticizes Khalaji for his alleged "service to the enemies of his people and humanity". He also called Khalaji a traitor and labeled him as Dick Cheney’s puppet. The hosting site of Mr. Derakhshan’s blog, Hosting Matters, forced him to remove all posts that referred to Mr. Khalaji. Derakhshan began a new blog page after his Hosting Matters account was terminated and attempted to clarify his previous alleged remarks, attesting they were mistranslated. He then made an attempt to justify his previous statements (referring to Mr. Khalaji’s relation to Dick Cheney, which is non-existent, and other posts that listed Khalaji as an enemy of Iran) by linking Khalaji’s work with the Washington Institute for Near East Policy
as work in direct opposition to the current Iranian regime and President Ahmadinejad, therefore making him an enemy of Iran.
At the demand of Hosting Matters, Derakhshan was ordered to remove all posts referring to Khalaji. Hosting Matters told him directly that, "we do not have the time, interest, or resources to invest in continually dealing with his complaints and to review" Derakhshan's site.
Iranian-American
Iranian-Americans are Americans of Iranian ancestry or people possessing Iranian and American dual citizenship.Iranian-Americans are amongst the most highly educated groups in the United States...
writer, scholar of Islamic studies and political analyst. He has been researching at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy
Washington Institute for Near East Policy
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy is a think tank based in Washington, D.C. focused on United States foreign policy in the Middle East. It was established by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in 1985...
since 2005, and is now a senior research fellow focusing on the politics of Iran and Shiite groups in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. He has frequently contributed to major media outlets such as The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
, and The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
. He became an American citizen in 2011 and is a registered democrat.
Education and Career
A native from 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....
, the center for Shi'a scholarship in Iran, Khalaji studied Islamic theology
Islamic theology
Islamic theology is a branch of Islamic studies regarding the beliefs associated with the Islamic faith. Any religious belief system, or creed, can be considered an example of aqidah. However, this term has taken a significant technical usage in Islamic history and theology, denoting those...
in Qom
Qom
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....
seminary, and Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
in Tarbiat Modarres University, which is one of the country's leading Teacher Training Institutes.
From 1986 to 2000, Mr. Khalaji trained in the seminaries of Qom, the traditional center of Iran's clerical establishment. There he studied theology and jurisprudence, earning a doctorate and thoroughly researched on modern intellectual and philosophical-political developments in Iran and the wider Islamic and Western worlds. In Qom, and later in Tehran, Mr. Khalaji launched a career in journalism, first serving on the editorial board of a theological journal, Naqd va Nazar, and then the daily Entekhab
Entekhab
Entekhab was a high circulation newspaper of Iran. Entekhab's publisher was Mohammad Mahdi Faghihi a close advisor to Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, and a board member on .The paper still operates an online version....
. In addition to his own writing, he has translated the works of the Islamic humanist scholar Muhammad Arkoun and other modernist Muslim intellectuals.
In 1993, Khalaji became a contributor to Kiyan monthly magazine, which at the time was the main voice of religious intellectuals in Iran.
In 2000, Mr. Khalaji moved to Paris where he studied Shiite theology and exegesis in the Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes
École pratique des hautes études
The École pratique des hautes études is a Grand Établissement in Paris, France. It is counted among France's most prestigious research and higher education institutions....
. He also worked for BBC Persian as a political analyst on Iranian affairs, eventually becoming a broadcaster for the Prague-based Radio Farda
Radio Farda
Radio Farda is the Iranian Branch of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's broadcast services. It broadcasts 24 hours a day in the Persian language from its headquarters Prague, Czech Republic. Radio Farda first aired December 2002. Radio Farda broadcasts political, cultural, social, and art news...
, the Persian-language service of the U.S. government's Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. At Radio Farda
Radio Farda
Radio Farda is the Iranian Branch of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's broadcast services. It broadcasts 24 hours a day in the Persian language from its headquarters Prague, Czech Republic. Radio Farda first aired December 2002. Radio Farda broadcasts political, cultural, social, and art news...
, he produced news, features, and analysis on a range of Middle Eastern, Iranian, and Islamic issues.
In 2005, Mehdi Khalaji became a senior fellow at The Washington Institute, focusing on the politics of Iran and Shiite groups in the Middle East. A Shiite theologian by training, Mr. Khalaji has also served on the editorial boards of two prominent Iranian periodicals and produced for the BBC as well as the U.S. government's Persian news service. He is a frequent contributor in PolicyWatch and PeaceWatch segments submitted by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy
Washington Institute for Near East Policy
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy is a think tank based in Washington, D.C. focused on United States foreign policy in the Middle East. It was established by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in 1985...
. He has participated in many panels including one in November 2006 when he appeared on a panel run by American Foreign Policy Council
American Foreign Policy Council
The American Foreign Policy Council is a conservative non-profit U.S. foreign policy think tank operating in Washington, D.C., since 1982...
, titled "Understanding the Iranian Threat", along with James Woolsey, Ilan Berman
Ilan Berman
Ilan I. Berman is Vice President of the American Foreign Policy Council, a non-profit U.S. foreign policy think tank in Washington, DC. He focuses on regional security in the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Russian Federation...
, and Patrick Clawson
Patrick Clawson
Patrick Lyell Clawson is an American economist and Middle East scholar. He is currently the Director for Research at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and senior editor of Middle East Quarterly....
. The video of his presentation is available: Part one, Part two. He is a writer and contributor for numerous English and Persian language media entities.
Mehdi Khalaji is the author of “Natani
Natani
Natani is a Persian language romance novel written by Iranian American writer and scholar Mehdi Khalaji about the life of the son of an Ayatollah growing up in Qom, Iran. The novel alternates between the present and the past, a reflection of the protagonist’s life as he converses with a complete...
”, a novel written in Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
. The novel was published in 2004 by Gardoon. He is also the author of "The New Order of the Clerical Establishment in Iran: Nazm-e Novin-e Rohaniat Dar Iran" (Persian Edition).
Khalaji vs. Derakhshan defamation lawsuit
In November 2007, Mr. Khalaji, being a fellow at a think-tank called the Washington Institute for Near East PolicyWashington Institute for Near East Policy
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy is a think tank based in Washington, D.C. focused on United States foreign policy in the Middle East. It was established by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in 1985...
(WINEP), filed a $2 million libel and defamation lawsuit against Hossein Derakhshan
Hossein Derakhshan
Hossein Derakhshan , also known as Hoder, is an Iranian blogger. He is credited with starting the blogging revolution in Iran and is called the father of Persian blogging by many journalists. He also helped to promote podcasting in Iran...
. The subject of conflict was a number of statements made on Mr. Derakhshan’s Persian blog page under the name Hoder. He criticizes Khalaji for his alleged "service to the enemies of his people and humanity". He also called Khalaji a traitor and labeled him as Dick Cheney’s puppet. The hosting site of Mr. Derakhshan’s blog, Hosting Matters, forced him to remove all posts that referred to Mr. Khalaji. Derakhshan began a new blog page after his Hosting Matters account was terminated and attempted to clarify his previous alleged remarks, attesting they were mistranslated. He then made an attempt to justify his previous statements (referring to Mr. Khalaji’s relation to Dick Cheney, which is non-existent, and other posts that listed Khalaji as an enemy of Iran) by linking Khalaji’s work with the Washington Institute for Near East Policy
Washington Institute for Near East Policy
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy is a think tank based in Washington, D.C. focused on United States foreign policy in the Middle East. It was established by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in 1985...
as work in direct opposition to the current Iranian regime and President Ahmadinejad, therefore making him an enemy of Iran.
At the demand of Hosting Matters, Derakhshan was ordered to remove all posts referring to Khalaji. Hosting Matters told him directly that, "we do not have the time, interest, or resources to invest in continually dealing with his complaints and to review" Derakhshan's site.
Arrest of father
In January 2010, Mehdi Khalaji’s father, Ayatollah Mohammad Taghi Khalaji, was arrested in Iran. He was arrested "with no apparent reason", but is thought to have been arrested in order to intimidate Mehdi. Ayatollah Mohammad Taghi Khalaji is a supporter of the Islamic regime in Iran, however it seems that this was irrelevant and did not stop his arrest.Publications
View all of Mehdi Khalaji's publicationsBooklets
- Apocalyptic Politics: On the Rationality of Iranian Politics
- Through the Veil: The Role of Broadcasting in U.S. Public Diplomacy toward Iranians
- The Last Marja: Sistani and the End of Traditional Religious Authority in Shiism
Books
- NataniNataniNatani is a Persian language romance novel written by Iranian American writer and scholar Mehdi Khalaji about the life of the son of an Ayatollah growing up in Qom, Iran. The novel alternates between the present and the past, a reflection of the protagonist’s life as he converses with a complete...
(novel in Persian, published in Berlin by Nashr-e Gardoon) - The New Order of the Clerical Establishment in Iran: Nazm-e Novin-e Rohaniat Dar Iran" (Persian Edition) (Amazon link)
Articles
- The Ayatollah Will Overwhelm Ahmadinejad
- Influence Curtailed: Democracy in the Arab World Stands to Strip Iran of Its Power
- Iran's Supreme Power Struggle
- A Marriage of Convenience
- The Iran Primer: Power, Politics, and U.S. Policy
- The Iranian Clergy's Silence