Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf
Encyclopedia
Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf ' onMouseout='HidePop("90856")' href="/topics/Torghabeh">Torghabeh
, near Mashhad
) is the current Mayor of Tehran, Iran.
father and a Persian
mother. At the age of nineteen, he was one of the commanders of the defense forces during the Iran–Iraq War. Shortly afterwards he was named commander of the Rasulollah (the messenger of God) division (one of the most successful divisions in that war). By the time he was twenty-two, he was already commander of the Nasr Troops—a position that in the West would be led by a Major General
at the least. After the war he was selected as Deputy Commander of the Resistance Force and Basij
Troops under General Afshar. Ghalibaf received the degree of Major General in 1996 after he had successfully completed a masters degree in Geopolitics
. In 1998, when Commanding General Rezaie (head of the AGIR/IRGC) retired and Commanding General Safavi took over, he was named Commander of AFAGIR (Air Force of the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution). Ghalibaf is quoted as saying, "On that night I went home and told my family about my new position. My son laughed and said so they have named someone who can't even fly, as Commander of an Air Force. I told him don't worry, I'll soon fly Jumbo Jets, and now I am a co-pilot of Jumbos." In 2001, he received a PhD in Geopolitics from Tarbiat Modares University
.
, Ali Khamenei
, to succeed General Hedayat Lotfian as Chief of the Police Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran following the Iran student protests in July 1999.
After becoming Iran's chief of police, Ghalibaf initiated some reforms in the forces, including the Police 110 project whose goal was to make the police more accessible to the general public. He was also successful in handling the student protests in 2003 with his deputy Morteza Talaei, Chief of the Police Forces of Tehran
, and helped end the protests without any fatalities or serious damages. In addition, he served as the special representative of President of Iran at the time, Mohammad Khatami
, on the Anti-Traffic Committee.
On April 5, 2005, Ghalibaf submitted his resignation from the military positions (including the Police Forces) due to his intention to run for the presidency of Iran; his resignation was approved by the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
, and was being considered to be supported by some factions of the conservative alliance because of his popularity with both wings. However, in the final days before the election, the major support went to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
It has also been reported that Ghalibaf has claimed in a private party that he has the support of Ali Khamenei for the presidential office. However, Khamenei has previously mentioned that nobody knows his vote.
, he has been referred to as one of the most successful mayors of Tehran, although he is hardly supported by the administration of President Ahmadinejad. He was also longlisted for the 2008 World Mayor
award.
On October 13, 2008, he announced his support for dialogue with the United States as suggested by President (then presidential candidate) Barack Obama
. According to Ghalibaf, "I think the world community, the Iranian society and the US society would benefit" from such talks.
Torghabeh
Torqabeh is a city in and the capital of Torqabeh and Shandiz County, in Razavi Khorasan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 13,158, in 3,668 families....
, near Mashhad
Mashhad
Mashhad , is the second largest city in Iran and one of the holiest cities in the Shia Muslim world. It is also the only major Iranian city with an Arabic name. It is located east of Tehran, at the center of the Razavi Khorasan Province close to the borders of Afghanistan and Turkmenistan. Its...
) is the current Mayor of Tehran, Iran.
Early life and military career
Ghalibaf was born to a Khorasani KurdishKurdish people
The Kurdish people, or Kurds , are an Iranian people native to the Middle East, mostly inhabiting a region known as Kurdistan, which includes adjacent parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey...
father and a Persian
Persian people
The Persian people are part of the Iranian peoples who speak the modern Persian language and closely akin Iranian dialects and languages. The origin of the ethnic Iranian/Persian peoples are traced to the Ancient Iranian peoples, who were part of the ancient Indo-Iranians and themselves part of...
mother. At the age of nineteen, he was one of the commanders of the defense forces during the Iran–Iraq War. Shortly afterwards he was named commander of the Rasulollah (the messenger of God) division (one of the most successful divisions in that war). By the time he was twenty-two, he was already commander of the Nasr Troops—a position that in the West would be led by a Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
at the least. After the war he was selected as Deputy Commander of the Resistance Force and Basij
Basij
The Basij is a paramilitary volunteer militia established in 1979 by order of the Islamic Revolution's leader Ayatollah Khomeini. The force consists of young Iranians who have volunteered, often in exchange for official benefits...
Troops under General Afshar. Ghalibaf received the degree of Major General in 1996 after he had successfully completed a masters degree in Geopolitics
Geopolitics
Geopolitics, from Greek Γη and Πολιτική in broad terms, is a theory that describes the relation between politics and territory whether on local or international scale....
. In 1998, when Commanding General Rezaie (head of the AGIR/IRGC) retired and Commanding General Safavi took over, he was named Commander of AFAGIR (Air Force of the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution). Ghalibaf is quoted as saying, "On that night I went home and told my family about my new position. My son laughed and said so they have named someone who can't even fly, as Commander of an Air Force. I told him don't worry, I'll soon fly Jumbo Jets, and now I am a co-pilot of Jumbos." In 2001, he received a PhD in Geopolitics from Tarbiat Modares University
Tarbiat Modares University
Tarbiat Modares University is located in Tehran, Iran, and was founded in 1982. Tarbiat Modares University is the only exclusively graduate university in Iran, and is a highly reputed university, which was actually funded to train university professors.-Faculties and academics:TMU includes seven...
.
Police career
Ghalibaf was selected by the Supreme Leader of IranSupreme 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...
, Ali Khamenei
Ali Khamenei
Ayatollah Seyed Ali Hoseyni Khāmene’i is the Supreme Leader of Iran and the figurative head of the Muslim conservative establishment in Iran and Twelver Shi'a marja...
, to succeed General Hedayat Lotfian as Chief of the Police Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran following the Iran student protests in July 1999.
After becoming Iran's chief of police, Ghalibaf initiated some reforms in the forces, including the Police 110 project whose goal was to make the police more accessible to the general public. He was also successful in handling the student protests in 2003 with his deputy Morteza Talaei, Chief of the Police Forces of 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...
, and helped end the protests without any fatalities or serious damages. In addition, he served as the special representative of President of Iran at the time, Mohammad Khatami
Mohammad Khatami
Sayyid Mohammad Khātamī is an Iranian scholar, philosopher, Shiite theologian and Reformist politician. He served as the fifth President of Iran from August 2, 1997 to August 3, 2005. He also served as Iran's Minister of Culture in both the 1980s and 1990s...
, on the Anti-Traffic Committee.
On April 5, 2005, Ghalibaf submitted his resignation from the military positions (including the Police Forces) due to his intention to run for the presidency of Iran; his resignation was approved by the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
2005 Presidential campaign
Ghalibaf was a candidate in the Iranian presidential election of 2005Iranian presidential election, 2005
Iran's ninth presidential election took place in two rounds, the first on June 17, 2005, the run-off on June 24. Mohammad Khatami, the previous President of Iran, stepped down on August 2, 2005, after serving his maximum two consecutive four-year terms according to the Islamic Republic's constitution...
, and was being considered to be supported by some factions of the conservative alliance because of his popularity with both wings. However, in the final days before the election, the major support went to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
It has also been reported that Ghalibaf has claimed in a private party that he has the support of Ali Khamenei for the presidential office. However, Khamenei has previously mentioned that nobody knows his vote.
Mayor of Tehran
On September, 2005, Ghalibaf was elected by the Tehran City Council to succeed Ahmadinejad as the 57th Mayor of Tehran with 8 out of 15 votes of the council. Along with Gholamhossein KarbaschiGholamhossein Karbaschi
Gholamhossein Karbaschi is an Iranian politician who was the Mayor of Tehran from 1989 until 1998. He is considered politically reformist and is a close ally of former president Mohammad Khatami...
, he has been referred to as one of the most successful mayors of Tehran, although he is hardly supported by the administration of President Ahmadinejad. He was also longlisted for the 2008 World Mayor
World Mayor
World Mayor is a biennial award organized by The City Mayors Foundation since 2004. It intends to raise the profile of mayors worldwide, as well as honour those who have served their communities well and who have contributed to the well-being of cities, nationally and internationally...
award.
On October 13, 2008, he announced his support for dialogue with the United States as suggested by President (then presidential candidate) Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
. According to Ghalibaf, "I think the world community, the Iranian society and the US society would benefit" from such talks.