Ali Fallahian

Hojatoleslam Ali Fallahian, (PerB| علی فلاحیان, born 1945 in Najafabad, Isfahan, Iran) is an Iranian politician and cleric. He has served as a member of the of the 3^rd Assembly of Experts of the IRI and as the Minister of Intelligence of Islamic Republic of Iran in cabinet of President Hashemi Rafsanjani.

He is currently on the official Wanted list of Interpol, for allegations of "crimes against life and health, hooliganism, vandalism and damage" related to 1994 AMIA bombing case, [ [http://www.interpol.int/public/Data/Wanted/Notices/Data/2006/54/2006_34754.asp Wanted profile on Interpol website] ] [ [http://www.interpol.int/Public/ICPO/PressReleases/PR2007/PR200754.asp Interpol press release] ] and has been named by investigative reporter Akbar Ganji as the "master key" of the 1998 "Chain Murders" of four dissident Iranian intellectuals.

Terrorism convictions abroad

Fallahian is under an international warrant issued in 1996 by German court because of his role in the Mykonos restaurant assassinations [ [http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/press/1997/4/415.html Press Conference by the Press Secretary April 15, 1997] Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan ] . Sadeq Sharafkandi from Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran and 3 of his colleagues were assassinated September, 1992 in Berlin, by Iranian-Lebanese agents. Fallahian was also the most prominent member of a group of five Iranians and Lebanese for whom international arrest warrants issued in March 2007. They were identified as the principal conspirators in the Bombing of the Jewish community building in Buenos Aires in July 1994, which killed 85 people.
Ali Fallahian is also charged by a Swiss court [ [http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/swissinfo.html?siteSect=106&sid=6617021&cKey=1144592966000 Swiss orders arrest of Iranian ex-minister] April 9, 2006 ] [ [http://www.stopfundamentalism.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=368&Itemid=80 Issue 41 - Iran War Peace Options News ] ] [ [http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200604/10/eng20060410_257175.html People's Daily Online - Switzerland orders arrest of Iranian ex-minister on murder charges ] ] with masterminding the assassination of Kazem Rajavi, a brother of Mujahedin-e Khalq leader Massoud Rajavi, near Geneva in broad daylight by several agents on 24 April 1990 [ [http://news3.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-04/10/content_4403509.htm Xinhua - English ] ] . An international arrest warrant has been issued against him and as a result, he is unable to leave the country. [ [http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2006/April/middleeast_April249.xml&section=middleeast&col= Khaleej Times Online - Iran ex-minister wanted by Swiss in murder of exiled oppn leader ] ]

Controversy in Iran

Saeed Emami, a controversial figure in Iran's political and intelligence scene was the deputy of the Minister during Fallahian's time. His previous deputy was Ruhollah Hosseinian.

In December 2000, appearing before an Islamic Revolutionary Court, investigative reporter Akbar Ganji "ending months of guessing and expectations from both the authorities and the public" when he announced the "Master Key" to the chain murders of four dissident Iranian intellectuals was Fallahian. [ [http://www.iran-press-service.com/articles_2000/dec_2000/ganji_named_fallahian_11200.htm GANJI IDENTIFIED FALLAHIAN AS THE "MASTER KEY" IN CHAIN MURDERS] ]

References and notes

See also

*Haghani Circle
*Saeed Emami

External links

* [http://www.iran-press-service.com/articles/fallahian_arrested.html FORMER INTELLIGENCE MINISTER ALI FALLAHIAN UNDER HOUSE ARREST]
* [http://www.iricrimes.org/lr_int.asp?pgn=timemisc Iran's State of Terror]
* [http://www.interpol.int/public/Data/Wanted/Notices/Data/2006/54/2006_34754.asp Ali Fallahian's profile on Interpol website]