Ahmad Haj Sayyed Javadi, Iranian defense lawyer and politician, who
served as the first interior minister after the 1979 revolution died today in
Tehran at the age of 96. He was one of the leading members of the National
Front and later the Liberation Movement of Mehdi Bazargan, the first
post-revolution prime minister. He was elected to the parliament after the
revolution.
During the shah’s regime, Haj Sayyed Javadi defended many political activists including the future supreme leader Ali Khamenei. After the revolution, he continued defending the opponents of the growing autocracy. For his outspoken defense of human rights he was imprisoned a number of times in the Islamic Republic, who was now led by Ayatollah Khamenei, his old client during shah’s dictatorship.
During the time he served as the interior minister he helped this blogger who was then the youngest editor-in-chief of a daily newspaper in the country to maintain the permission to publish the paper until the Bazargan government fell after the hostage taking incident.
We extend out deepest condolences on the passing of a champion of human rights to his family and to all freedom loving Iranians.
1979 File photo (barargan.info):
During the shah’s regime, Haj Sayyed Javadi defended many political activists including the future supreme leader Ali Khamenei. After the revolution, he continued defending the opponents of the growing autocracy. For his outspoken defense of human rights he was imprisoned a number of times in the Islamic Republic, who was now led by Ayatollah Khamenei, his old client during shah’s dictatorship.
During the time he served as the interior minister he helped this blogger who was then the youngest editor-in-chief of a daily newspaper in the country to maintain the permission to publish the paper until the Bazargan government fell after the hostage taking incident.
We extend out deepest condolences on the passing of a champion of human rights to his family and to all freedom loving Iranians.
1979 File photo (barargan.info):
First row from right: Ahmad Haj Sayyed Javadi, Interior Minister; Mehdi
Bazargan, Prime Minister; Yadollah Sahabi, Minister without Portfolio.
Second
row from right: Ali Khamenei, member of the revolutionary council; Gen. Javad
Fakouri, Minister of Defense
