Hossein Saffar Harandi

Mohammad-Hossein Saffar-Harandi
6th Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance
In office August 2, 2005 – July 23, 2009
President	Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Preceded by	Ahmad Masjed-Jamei
Succeeded by	Mohamamd Hosseini
Personal details
Born	September 29, 1953 (1953-09-29) (age 58) Gorgan, Iran
Alma mater	Iran University of Science and Technology (B.A. in Western Philosophy) Tehran University (M.A. in education)
Religion	Usuli Twelver Shi'a Islam

Mohammad-Hossein Saffar-Harandi (born 1953) was the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance of Iran until he abruptly ceased to be minister on 26 July 2009 after he had opposed the appointment of Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei as First Vice President.

Background

Harandi was born in Tehran in 1953 and graduated from the Iran University of Science and Technology in civil engineering in 1973. He obtained his master's degree in Military Sciences in 1993 and completed a certificate on strategic management in 1994.

Activities

Harandi was deputy commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps in Hormozgan, Kerman and other provinces in 1980 to 1983.

As Iranian Minister of Guidance and Culture, Mohammed Hossien Saffar Harandi, had a negative opinion of music. When he assumed his post, he stated that one of the first issues that he would combat would be the types of music that are against the values of the Republic of Iran, including rock and rap. He called upon Iranian musicians to produce purposeful and meaningful music. One result was the composition and production of a "nuclear symphony" in support of Iran's right to develop a nuclear program for peaceful purposes.^[1]

Harandi ceased to be Minister on 26 July 2009. Amid reports of his dismissal he said he was resigning. "Unfortunately due to the recent events which shows the esteemed government's weakness, I will no longer consider myself the minister of culture and will not show up at the ministry as of tomorrow," he said in a letter of resignation carried by the Fars news agency.^[2] Analysts described his termination as significant because of his being "especially close" to Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, and connected to Harandi's support of Khamenei's order to Ahmadinejad to not appoint Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei as vice president.^[3]

Opposition

Safar-Harandi has been infuriated over Ahmadinejad's remarks.^[2] He was recently seen at an opposition meet with leading figures. Safar-Harandi stated he will actively work with the opposition to insure justice is meted out against all those who committed crimes. He is emerging as a leading opponent to the current leadership.^[2]

See also

• Mohsen Rezaee

References

1. ^ Manal Lutfi (2007-05-26). "Iran's Underground Music Revolution". Asharq Al-Awsat. http://aawsat.com/english/news.asp?section=3&id=9082. Retrieved 2009-07-30. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} "Iran intelligence minister sacked". BBC News. 2009-07-26. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8169839.stm. Retrieved 2009-07-26. 
3. ^ Erdbrink, Thomas (2009-07-27). "Two Ministers Forced to Leave Iranian Cabinet Firing and Resignation Indicate Tension Between President and Supreme Leader". Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/26/AR2009072602242.html. Retrieved 2009-07-30. 

External links

• http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-236/0612078377005848.htm

Political offices
Preceded by Ahmad Masjed-Jamei	Minister of Culture 2005-2009	Succeeded by Mohammad Hosseini
Party political offices
Preceded by Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel	Deputy leader of Alliance of Builders of Islamic Iran 2004-2007	Succeeded by Esfandiar Rahim Mashai

Persondata
Name	Saffar-Harandi, Mohammad-Hossein
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1953-09-29
Place of birth	Gorgan, Iran
Date of death
Place of death