Hamid Baqai
Encyclopedia
Hamid Baqai is an 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...

ian politician who was Head of Presidential Center
President of Iran
The President of Iran is the highest popularly elected official in, and the head of government of the Islamic Republic of Iran; although subordinate to the Supreme Leader of Iran, who functions as the country's head of state...

 since 9 April 2011. He has been described as a pragmatic, moderate
Moderate
In politics and religion, a moderate is an individual who is not extreme, partisan or radical. In recent years, political moderates has gained traction as a buzzword....

 Conservative with "liberal views on cultural and social issues" Before his appointment in office, He was Head of Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization from 30 July 2009 to 9 April 2011. He is a top advisor to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Early life

He was born on 6 April 1969 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...

, 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...

. His family was from Kermanshah
Kermanshah
Kermanshah is a city in and the capital of Kermanshah Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 784,602, in 198,117 families.The overwhelming majority of Kermanshahi people are Shi'a Muslims...

. He have Ph.D from Iran University of Science and Technology
Iran University of Science and Technology
The Iran University of Science and Technology is a research institution and university of engineering and science in Iran, offering both undergraduate and postgraduate studies...

 in physiology.

Political career

He was appointed Deputy Head of Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization
Vice President of Iran
Vice President of Iran is defined by article 124 of the Iranian constitution, as anyone appointed by the President to lead an organization related to Presidential affairs. , there are 12 Vice Presidents in Iran...

 in 24 August 2005 by Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei
Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei
Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei is a top adviser, and close confident of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He is currently Ahmadinejad's Chief of Staff. He served as the head of the Presidential Center from 2009 to 2011, and was First Vice President of Iran for one week in 2009 before he was ordered...

. When Mashaei became First Vice President of Iran
Vice President of Iran
Vice President of Iran is defined by article 124 of the Iranian constitution, as anyone appointed by the President to lead an organization related to Presidential affairs. , there are 12 Vice Presidents in Iran...

 in July 2009, Baqai was appointed as Head of Organization and was in office until 9 April 2011 when he became Head of Presidential Center of Iran
President of Iran
The President of Iran is the highest popularly elected official in, and the head of government of the Islamic Republic of Iran; although subordinate to the Supreme Leader of Iran, who functions as the country's head of state...

 and succeeded Rahim Mashaei again.

On 21 May 2011, he was banned from public offices for four years because he was exposed as having a part in a multi-million dollar embezzlement during the construction of a building in Kish Island. The building was planned for the summit of countries of the Non-aligned movement
Non-Aligned Movement
The Non-Aligned Movement is a group of states considering themselves not aligned formally with or against any major power bloc. As of 2011, the movement had 120 members and 17 observer countries...

. The paper said Baqai had paid the contractor roughly $340 million in addition to the initial amount on the contract. State-run media revealed that the contractor, Fiak Company, was founded by a regime-affiliated individual abroad on the recommendation of Baqai and Mashai. The company was started by officially declaring $1,000 in its holdings.

As of 10 August 2011 he was Vice President for Executive Affairs.

External links

  • Saeed Kamali Dehghan
    Saeed Kamali Dehghan
    Saeed Kamali Dehghan is an award-winning Iranian journalist who writes for The Guardian. He has been named as the 2010 Journalist of the Year in Britain at the Foreign Press Association. He currently writes for The Guardian from London but and has worked as an Iran correspondent for The Guardian...

    , Ahmadinejad grooms chief-of-staff to take over as Iran's president, The Guardian
    The Guardian
    The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...

    , 21 April, 2011
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