Hossein Fatemi
Encyclopedia
Hossein Fatemi was a scholar, journalist, and famous politician of Iran
. A close associate of Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh, he proposed nationalization of Iranian oil and gas assets. Initially a journalist, he served as Foreign Affairs Minister of Iran from 1951 to 1953. After the 1953 CIA-orchestrated coup d'état toppled the democratically elected
government of Mosaddegh, Fatemi was arrested, tortured, and convicted by a military court of "treason against the Shah", and executed by a firing squad.
, the youngest of five. In his teens he moved to Isfahan for higher education where he became involved in the publication of the newspaper Bākhtar, owned by his older brother. This same paper was later moved to Tehran
in 1942. He was a caustic critic of the Iranian monarch Rezā Shāh
, and his views were candidly reflected in his newspaper editorials. From 1944 to 1948 he studied in France, where he earned a bachelor's degree
in journalism
and a doctorate degree in law
.
From its founding in 1949, he was an active member of the Iranian National Front, the democratic and nationalist movement of Mosaddegh, and served as an assistant to prime minister and as deputy of Tehran in the Iranian parliament. At the age of 33 he served in Mosaddegh's cabinet, as the minister of Foreign Affairs—the youngest minister of Foreign Affairs in Iranian history. According to Mosaddegh's memoir published after Fatemi's death, Fatemi was the initiator of the policy of oil nationalization in Iran. On 15 February 1952, he was the target of an unsuccessful assassination by the Islamist group of Fadayan-e Islam
, who also had planned to assassinate Mosaddegh. In the shooting attack, Fatemi suffered serious injuries which sidelined him for the next seven or eight months, and left permanent wounds.
immediately fled to Baghdad. In the aftermath of the first coup attempt, while Mosaddegh still remained a strong proponent of constitutional monarchy, Fatemi advised Mosaddegh to declare a republic in light of the failed coup attempt. Subsequently, Fatemi, in a fiery editorial in his newspaper Bākhtar and a public speech, denounced the Shah as "a traitor to his country", a "venomous serpent", and a "coward". On 19 August, the offices of Fatemi's newspaper were attacked and burnt down by mobs incited by an Iranian CIA agent. Later that day the second coup attempt succeeded. With Mosaddegh arrested, Fatemi went underground, taking shelter in a Tudeh safe house. He began to write his memoir, but after 204 days of concealment, he was discovered and arrested. He was then tortured and convicted by a military court on 10 October for "treason against the Shah" and sentenced to death.
Fatemi was executed by firing squad on 10 November 1954 (19 Aban 1333 AP
) in Tehran, when he was still suffering from fever and the injuries of the unsuccessful attempt of assassination on him by Fadayan-e Islam. In his will, he made Mossadegh the guardian of his only son, Cyrus. Fatemi is buried in Ebn-e Babooyeh
cemetery in Shahr-e Ray, near Tehran.
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...
. A close associate of Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh, he proposed nationalization of Iranian oil and gas assets. Initially a journalist, he served as Foreign Affairs Minister of Iran from 1951 to 1953. After the 1953 CIA-orchestrated coup d'état toppled the democratically elected
Election
An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
government of Mosaddegh, Fatemi was arrested, tortured, and convicted by a military court of "treason against the Shah", and executed by a firing squad.
Career
Fatemi was born in Nain, IranNain, Iran
Nain is a city in and the capital of Nain County, Isfahan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 24,424, in 6,950 families.It has one of the earliest remaining mosques in Iran, and has a Sassanid era fort, now in ruins, called Narin Ghal'eh....
, the youngest of five. In his teens he moved to Isfahan for higher education where he became involved in the publication of the newspaper Bākhtar, owned by his older brother. This same paper was later moved to 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...
in 1942. He was a caustic critic of the Iranian monarch Rezā Shāh
Reza Shah
Rezā Shāh, also known as Rezā Shāh Pahlavi and Rezā Shāh Kabir , , was the Shah of the Imperial State of Iran from December 15, 1925, until he was forced to abdicate by the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran on September 16, 1941.In 1925, Reza Shah overthrew Ahmad Shah Qajar, the last Shah of the Qajar...
, and his views were candidly reflected in his newspaper editorials. From 1944 to 1948 he studied in France, where he earned a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
and a doctorate degree in law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
.
From its founding in 1949, he was an active member of the Iranian National Front, the democratic and nationalist movement of Mosaddegh, and served as an assistant to prime minister and as deputy of Tehran in the Iranian parliament. At the age of 33 he served in Mosaddegh's cabinet, as the minister of Foreign Affairs—the youngest minister of Foreign Affairs in Iranian history. According to Mosaddegh's memoir published after Fatemi's death, Fatemi was the initiator of the policy of oil nationalization in Iran. On 15 February 1952, he was the target of an unsuccessful assassination by the Islamist group of Fadayan-e Islam
Fadayan-e Islam
Fadā'iyān-e Islam , was an Iranian Islamic fundamentalist secret society founded in 1946, by a 21 year-old theology student named Navvab Safavi. Safavi sought to purify Islam in Iran by ridding it of `corrupting individuals` by means of carefully planned assassinations of certain leading...
, who also had planned to assassinate Mosaddegh. In the shooting attack, Fatemi suffered serious injuries which sidelined him for the next seven or eight months, and left permanent wounds.
Arrest and execution
In August 1953, Mosaddegh's government was overthrown by a CIA-orchestrated coup d'état. On 14 August, Fatemi was to be arrested along with Mosaddegh and other close associates, but the first U.S.-led coup attempt failed. Fatemi was arrested by a Royalist group of officers and soldiers who were in such a hurry that he was not allowed to put shoes on, but he was released on the morning of the 15th and went directly to Mosaddegh's residence. Fearful of the apparent failure of the coup, Mohammad Reza PahlaviMohammad Reza Pahlavi
Mohammad Rezā Shāh Pahlavi, Shah of Iran, Shah of Persia , ruled Iran from 16 September 1941 until his overthrow by the Iranian Revolution on 11 February 1979...
immediately fled to Baghdad. In the aftermath of the first coup attempt, while Mosaddegh still remained a strong proponent of constitutional monarchy, Fatemi advised Mosaddegh to declare a republic in light of the failed coup attempt. Subsequently, Fatemi, in a fiery editorial in his newspaper Bākhtar and a public speech, denounced the Shah as "a traitor to his country", a "venomous serpent", and a "coward". On 19 August, the offices of Fatemi's newspaper were attacked and burnt down by mobs incited by an Iranian CIA agent. Later that day the second coup attempt succeeded. With Mosaddegh arrested, Fatemi went underground, taking shelter in a Tudeh safe house. He began to write his memoir, but after 204 days of concealment, he was discovered and arrested. He was then tortured and convicted by a military court on 10 October for "treason against the Shah" and sentenced to death.
Fatemi was executed by firing squad on 10 November 1954 (19 Aban 1333 AP
Iranian calendar
The Iranian calendars or sometimes called Persian calendars are a succession of calendars invented or used for over two millennia in Greater Iran...
) in Tehran, when he was still suffering from fever and the injuries of the unsuccessful attempt of assassination on him by Fadayan-e Islam. In his will, he made Mossadegh the guardian of his only son, Cyrus. Fatemi is buried in Ebn-e Babooyeh
Ebn-e Babooyeh
Ebn-e Babooyeh cemetery, Ibn-e Baabevey, or Ibn Babviyeh is located in Iran in the town of Rey ....
cemetery in Shahr-e Ray, near Tehran.