Saeed Emami
Encyclopedia
Saeed Emami was the Iranian deputy minister of intelligence under Ali Fallahian
, and an intelligence officer under Ghorbanali Dorri-Najafabadi
. The Islamic government accused him of having independently organized the assassinations of dissidents
(known as the "chain murders
") shortly after he allegedly committing suicide.
, near Shiraz, Iran
as Daniyal Ghavami in a wealthy family of Jewish background
. In 1978, he moved to the United States
with the help of his uncle, Soltan Mohammad Etemad, to pursue his studies in Mechanical Engineering
. After the Iranian Revolution
, he returned and became involved in intelligence gathering. In 1984, when the Majlis of Iran
(the Iranian Parliament) approved the establishment of the Ministry of Intelligence, he officially applied for a job, but was rejected by Saeed Hajjarian
. He later joined the ministry and became the deputy of the ministry during the tenure of Ali Fallahian
.
believes that "they just wanted to justify his arrest and torture". According to Hamshahri
, he was the first Holocaust denier in the Islamic Republic.
, he was arrested and imprisoned. According to Muhammad Sahimi
Iranian dissidents are reported to believe "he was murdered in order to prevent the leak of sensitive information about MOIS operations, which would have compromised the entire leadership of the Islamic Republic."
He was later alleged to have assisted in the defection of Abolghassem Farhad Mesbahi, a former Iranian Intelligence official. Mesbahi has stated he fled Iran in 1996 after his former co-worker Emami warned him of an assassination order. Mesbahi was offered asylum in Germany where he was a witness in the Mykonos restaurant assassinations
trial, contributing to a German court ruling blaming Iranian government officials for the attack and issuing an arrest warrant for Iranian Intelligence Minister Ali Fallahian
. It has been implied that Emami's arrest was at least in part for this action.
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...
, and an intelligence officer under Ghorbanali Dorri-Najafabadi
Ghorbanali Dorri-Najafabadi
Ayatollah Ghorbanali Dorri-Najafabadi is an Iranian politician and cleric, previously the Minister of Intelligence of Islamic Republic of Iran...
. The Islamic government accused him of having independently organized the assassinations of dissidents
Chain murders of Iran
The Chain Murders of Iran , or Serial Murders, were a series of murders and disappearances from 1988-1998 by Iranian government operatives of Iranian dissident intellectuals who had been critical of the Islamic Republic system in some way.The victims included more than 80 writers, translators,...
(known as the "chain murders
Chain murders of Iran
The Chain Murders of Iran , or Serial Murders, were a series of murders and disappearances from 1988-1998 by Iranian government operatives of Iranian dissident intellectuals who had been critical of the Islamic Republic system in some way.The victims included more than 80 writers, translators,...
") shortly after he allegedly committing suicide.
Biography
Emami was born in AbadehAbadeh
Abadeh is a city in and the capital of Abadeh County, in Fars Province, Iran. Abadeh is situated at an elevation of in a fertile plain on the high road between Isfahan and Shiraz, from the former and from the latter. At the 2006 census, its population was 52,042, in 14,184 families...
, near Shiraz, Iran
Shiraz, Iran
Shiraz is the sixth most populous city in Iran and is the capital of Fars Province, the city's 2009 population was 1,455,073. Shiraz is located in the southwest of Iran on the Roodkhaneye Khoshk seasonal river...
as Daniyal Ghavami in a wealthy family of Jewish background
Persian Jews
Persian Jews , are Jews historically associated with Iran, traditionally known as Persia in Western sources.Judaism is one of the oldest religions practiced in Iran. The Book of Esther contains some references to the experiences of Jews in Persia...
. In 1978, he moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with the help of his uncle, Soltan Mohammad Etemad, to pursue his studies in Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
. After 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 returned and became involved in intelligence gathering. In 1984, when the Majlis of Iran
Majlis of Iran
The National Consultative Assembly of Iran , also called The Iranian Parliament or People's House, is the national legislative body of Iran...
(the Iranian Parliament) approved the establishment of the Ministry of Intelligence, he officially applied for a job, but was rejected by Saeed Hajjarian
Saeed Hajjarian
Saeed Hajjarian is an Iranian intellectual, prominent journalist, pro-democracy activist and university lecturer. He has been an intelligence official, a member of Tehran's city council, and advisor to president Mohammad Khatami...
. He later joined the ministry and became the deputy of the ministry during the tenure of 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...
.
Jewish background
Many sources claimed that Emami was of Jewish origin, but Ali FallahianAli 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...
believes that "they just wanted to justify his arrest and torture". According to Hamshahri
Hamshahri
Hamshahri is a major national Iranian Persian-language newspaper published by the Municipality of Tehran, and founded by Gholamhossein Karbaschi. It is the first coloured daily newspaper in Iran and has over 60 pages of classified advertisement, and is priced at 1000 Iranian rials. Currently, the...
, he was the first Holocaust denier in the Islamic Republic.
Arrest and death
In 1999, after being charged of orchestrating the Chain MurdersChain murders of Iran
The Chain Murders of Iran , or Serial Murders, were a series of murders and disappearances from 1988-1998 by Iranian government operatives of Iranian dissident intellectuals who had been critical of the Islamic Republic system in some way.The victims included more than 80 writers, translators,...
, he was arrested and imprisoned. According to Muhammad Sahimi
Muhammad Sahimi
Muhammad Sahimi is a Professor of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, and holds the NIOC Chair in petroleum engineering at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. He is also active in journalism, writing frequently on Iranian politics.-Career:Sahimi received his B.S...
On June 20, 1999, it was announced that Saeed Emami had died in prison the night before. It was claimed that Emami had attempted to commit suicide by drinking a depilatory compound in the bathroom on June 16, 1999. He had been taken to a hospital and had undergone treatment, but had died on June 19. It was claimed that he died of a cardiac arrest and because he suffered from respiratory problems. His family held a memorial service for him in which 400 people participated.
Iranian dissidents are reported to believe "he was murdered in order to prevent the leak of sensitive information about MOIS operations, which would have compromised the entire leadership of the Islamic Republic."
He was later alleged to have assisted in the defection of Abolghassem Farhad Mesbahi, a former Iranian Intelligence official. Mesbahi has stated he fled Iran in 1996 after his former co-worker Emami warned him of an assassination order. Mesbahi was offered asylum in Germany where he was a witness in the Mykonos restaurant assassinations
Mykonos restaurant assassinations
In the Mykonos restaurant assassinations , Iranian-Kurdish opposition leaders Sadegh Sharafkandi, Fattah Abdoli, Homayoun Ardalan and their translator Nouri Dehkordi were assassinated at the Mykonos Greek restaurant in Berlin, Germany on 17 September 1992.In the Mykonos trial, the German court...
trial, contributing to a German court ruling blaming Iranian government officials for the attack and issuing an arrest warrant for 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...
. It has been implied that Emami's arrest was at least in part for this action.
See also
- Ministry of Intelligence of Iran
- Dariush ForouharDariush ForouharDariush Forouhar was a founder and leader of the Hezb-e Mellat-e Iran , a pan-Iranist opposition party in Iran and served as Minister of Labor in the Provisional Revolutionary Government of Mehdi Bazargan in 1979...
- Ali Akbar Saeedi Sirjani
- Chain Murders of IranChain murders of IranThe Chain Murders of Iran , or Serial Murders, were a series of murders and disappearances from 1988-1998 by Iranian government operatives of Iranian dissident intellectuals who had been critical of the Islamic Republic system in some way.The victims included more than 80 writers, translators,...