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Ahmad Nafisi

Ahmad Nafisi
Mayor of Tehran
In office
22 May 1962 – November 1963
MonarchMohammad Reza Pahlavi
Prime MinisterAli Amini
Personal details
Born1919
Died2004(2004-00-00) (aged 84–85)
SpouseNezhat Nafisi
ChildrenAzar Nafisi
Alma mater
AwardsLegion of Honour

Ahmad Nafisi (Persian: احمد نفیسی; 1919–2004) was an Iranian bureaucrat who briefly served as the mayor of Tehran between 1962 and 1963 and as director of the plan organization.[1] His career abruptly ended in 1963 when he was jailed. He was released from the prison in 1967 after he was cleared of all charges.

Biography

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Nafisi was born in 1919.[1] He graduated from the University of Tehran and then from American University in Washington, D.C.[2]

On 22 May 1962 Nafisi was appointed by Prime Minister Ali Amini as the mayor of Tehran.[2] During his term French President Charles de Gaulle visited Tehran and awarded Nafisi with the Legion of Honour medal.[3] The French magazine Paris Match featured President de Gaulle and Nafisi following the visit.[3] Nafisi organized and hosted the opening meeting of the newly established association, Congress of Free Man and Women, on 27 August 1963.[2]

Nafisi was arrested in November 1963 and jailed for his alleged involvement in activities against the rule of the Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi[1][4] and for corruption claims.[3] It was also claimed that Nafisi had relations with the rebellious clergy.[5] He was found not to be guilty of doing something wrong and was released from prison in 1967.[3][6] Michael Axworthy argued that his imprisonment was a result of the Prime Minister Hassan Ali Mansur's jealousy of Nafisi.[5]

Nafisi married Nezhat Nafisi, and they had a daughter, Azar.[7] He died in 2004.[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Morteza Rasouli. "An Interview with Ahmad Nafisi, the former mayor of Tehran". Institute for Iranian Contemporary Studies. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Ali Rahnema (2021). The Rise of Modern Despotism in Iran: The Shah, the Opposition, and the US, 1953–1968. London: Oneworld Publications. pp. 624–625. ISBN 978-0-86154-143-0.
  3. ^ a b c d Afshin Matin-Asgari (September 2006). "Book review". Iranian Studies. 39 (3): 419–420. JSTOR 4311838.
  4. ^ Salameh Nematt (25 April 2017). "Family Secrets in Tehran". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  5. ^ a b Michael Axworthy (2016). Revolutionary Iran: A History of the Islamic Republic. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press. p. 71. ISBN 978-0-19-046896-5.
  6. ^ Bill Lueders (2 March 2022). "A Life Well Read". The Progressive. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  7. ^ Kevin Howell (22 December 2008). "Monday Interview: Azar Nafisi on Things I've Been Silent About". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  8. ^ Janet Somerville (4 March 2022). "In 'Read Dangerously,' Azar Nafisi reminds us that great books can transcend prejudices". The Star. Retrieved 14 January 2023.