Kazem Rajavi
Encyclopedia
Dr. Kazem Rajavi (February 8, 1934 – April 24, 1990) was a renowned human rights advocate and elder brother of Iranian opposition leader Massoud Rajavi
. Because of his international endeavors to defend human rights in Iran
, Kazem Rajavi was a distinguished personality.
Kazem Rajavi was Iran's first Ambassador
to the United Nations
headquarters in Geneva
following the 1979 Iranian Revolution
. Shortly after his appointment, he resigned his post in protest to the “repressive policies and terrorist activities of the ruling clerics in Iran”.
He then intensified his campaign against mass executions, arbitrary arrests, and torture carried out by Iran’s theocratic leadership.
Kazem Rajavi, then the representative of the opposition National Council of Resistance of Iran
(NCRI) in Switzerland
, was gunned down in broad daylight by several agents of the Ministry of Intelligence and National Security of Iran on April 24, 1990 as he was driving to his home in Coppet
, a village near Geneva
. Rajavi's assassination required enormous resources, extensive planning, and coordination among several of the regime's organizations.
After extensive investigations, Roland Chatelain, the Swiss magistrate in charge of the case, and Swiss judicial and police officials confirmed the role of Iran's government under Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani
and the participation of thirteen official agents of the Iranian regime who had used "service passports" to enter Switzerland for their plot
Recently, Swiss magistrates have issued an international arrest warrant for a former Iranian intelligence minister, Ali Fallahian
, in connection with the 1990 killing of the Geneva university professor.
Fallahian and 13 Iranian diplomats are wanted on charges of murdering Kazem Rajavi.
At the age of 56, he held six doctorate degrees in the fields of law, political science, and sociology from the universities of Paris
and Geneva
.
Massoud Rajavi
Massoud Rajavi , is the president of the National Council of Resistance of Iran and the leader of People's Mujahedin of Iran , an opposition organization active inside and outside of Iran. After leaving Iran in 1981, he resided in France and Iraq...
. Because of his international endeavors to defend human rights in Iran
Human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran
The state of human rights in Iran has been criticized both by Iranians and international human right activists, writers, and NGOs. The United Nations General Assembly and the Human Rights Commission have condemned prior and ongoing abuses in Iran in published critiques and several resolutions.The...
, Kazem Rajavi was a distinguished personality.
Kazem Rajavi was Iran's first Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
headquarters in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
following the 1979 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...
. Shortly after his appointment, he resigned his post in protest to the “repressive policies and terrorist activities of the ruling clerics in Iran”.
He then intensified his campaign against mass executions, arbitrary arrests, and torture carried out by Iran’s theocratic leadership.
Kazem Rajavi, then the representative of the opposition National Council of Resistance of Iran
National Council of Resistance of Iran
The National Council of Resistance of Iran , founded in 1981 in France, is the parliament in exile of the "Iranian Resistance", and is a political umbrella coalition of five Iranian opposition political organizations, the largest organization being the People's Mujahedin of Iran.The President-elect...
(NCRI) in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, was gunned down in broad daylight by several agents of the Ministry of Intelligence and National Security of Iran on April 24, 1990 as he was driving to his home in Coppet
Coppet
Coppet is a municipality in the district of Nyon in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland.-History:Coppet is first mentioned in 1294 as Copetum. In 1347 it was mentioned as Copet.-Geography:...
, a village near Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
. Rajavi's assassination required enormous resources, extensive planning, and coordination among several of the regime's organizations.
After extensive investigations, Roland Chatelain, the Swiss magistrate in charge of the case, and Swiss judicial and police officials confirmed the role of Iran's government under Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani
Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani
Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani is an influential Iranian politician and writer, who was the fourth President of Iran. He was a member of the Assembly of Experts until his resignation in 2011...
and the participation of thirteen official agents of the Iranian regime who had used "service passports" to enter Switzerland for their plot
Recently, Swiss magistrates have issued an international arrest warrant for a former Iranian intelligence minister, Ali Fallahian
Ali Fallahian
Hojatoleslam Ali Fallahian, is an Iranian politician and cleric. He has served as a member of the 3rd Assembly of Experts of the IRI and as the Minister of Intelligence of Islamic Republic of Iran in cabinet of President Hashemi Rafsanjani...
, in connection with the 1990 killing of the Geneva university professor.
Fallahian and 13 Iranian diplomats are wanted on charges of murdering Kazem Rajavi.
At the age of 56, he held six doctorate degrees in the fields of law, political science, and sociology from the universities of Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
.