Mohammad Tavasoli
Encyclopedia
Mohammad Tavasoli is an Iran
ian democracy activist and politician. He became the leader of the Nationalist-Religious Coalition on 11 June 2011. He is also the director of the political officer of the Freedom Movement
.
in 1962 to study transportation and traffic. After visiting the United States in 1967, he was returned to Iran and banned from traveling. He was arrested in 1971 because he helped a member of MEK
and was jailed for one year. Before the Iranian Revolution
, he was one the staff responsible for the advertising campaign rally to welcome Ruhollah Khomeini
back to Iran after 15 years.
, he was elected as Mayor of Tehran
. He was mayor from February 1979 until February 1980. He was jailed with Hashem Sabbaghian
in 1983 but was released seven months later. He was jailed again after the 2009-2010 Iranian election protests after participating in a rally in June 2009. He was elected as the new leader of the Nationalist-Religious Coalition in 11 June 2011 after the previous leader, Ezatollah Sahabi, died on 31 May 2011.
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 democracy activist and politician. He became the leader of the Nationalist-Religious Coalition on 11 June 2011. He is also the director of the political officer of the Freedom Movement
Freedom Movement of Iran
The Freedom Movement of Iran is an Iranian political organization which was founded in 1961 by Mehdi Bazargan, Mahmoud Taleghani, Yadollah Sahabi, Mostafa Chamran, Ali Shariati, Sadegh Ghotbzadeh and some other political or religious figures...
.
Early life
Tavasoli studied at Tehran University in 1956 and was one of the members of Anjoman-e Eslami. He joined the freedom movement soon after it was established. He went to GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in 1962 to study transportation and traffic. After visiting the United States in 1967, he was returned to Iran and banned from traveling. He was arrested in 1971 because he helped a member of MEK
MEK
MEK or Mek may refer to:* In chemistry and industry methyl ethyl ketone, a solvent, used also to weld some plastics* The Iranian guerilla-cum-opposition group Mujahideen-e Khalq* Mek, a comic mini series by Warren Ellis...
and was jailed for one year. Before 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...
, he was one the staff responsible for the advertising campaign rally to welcome 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...
back to Iran after 15 years.
Political career
After the Iranian RevolutionIranian 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...
, he was elected as Mayor 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...
. He was mayor from February 1979 until February 1980. He was jailed with Hashem Sabbaghian
Hashem Sabbaghian
Hashem Sabbaghian is an Iranian politician, humanitarian, democracy activist and former parliament member. He was Minister of Interior in the Interim Government of Mehdi Bazargan in 1979. Later, he became member of parliament from 1980 to 1984.-Early life:He was born on 1 January 1937 in Tehran....
in 1983 but was released seven months later. He was jailed again after the 2009-2010 Iranian election protests after participating in a rally in June 2009. He was elected as the new leader of the Nationalist-Religious Coalition in 11 June 2011 after the previous leader, Ezatollah Sahabi, died on 31 May 2011.