Mostafa Pourmohammadi

{{Short description|Iranian cleric}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix =

| name = Mostafa Pourmohammadi

| image = Mostafa Pourmohammadi 2024.jpg

| imagesize =

| smallimage =

| caption = Pourmohammadi in 2024

| order =

| office = Minister of Justice

| term_start = 15 August 2013

| term_end = 20 August 2017

| president = Hassan Rouhani

| predecessor = Morteza Bakhtiari

| successor = Alireza Avayi

| office1 = Chairman of General Inspection Office

| term_start1 = 2 July 2008

| term_end1 = 15 August 2013

| appointer1 = Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi

| predecessor1 = Mohammad Niazi

| successor1 = Naser Seraj

| office2 = Minister of Interior

| term_start2 = 24 August 2005

| term_end2 = 15 May 2008

| president2 = Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

| predecessor2 = Abdolvahed Mousavi Lari

| successor2 = Seyyed Mehdi Hashemi {{small|(acting)}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1960|3|9|df=yes}}{{fact|date=May 2025}}

| birth_place = Qom, Iran

| death_date =

| death_place =

| alma_mater = University of Mashhad

| spouse =

| children = 4

| party = Combatant Clergy Association

| website = [http://pourmohammadi.ir Official website]

| signature = Mostafa Pourmohammadi signature.svg

| native_name_lang = fa

| native_name = {{nobold|مصطفی پورمحمدی}}

}}

Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi ({{langx|fa|مصطفی پورمحمدی}}; born 9 March{{fact|date=May 2025}} 1960){{Cite news |date=2013-08-05 |title=Biography of Mostafa Pourmohammadi |url=https://en.irna.ir/news/80763397/Biography-of-Mostafa-Pourmohammadi |access-date=2024-08-20 |work=IRNA English |language=en |archive-date=24 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240824175545/https://en.irna.ir/news/80763397/Biography-of-Mostafa-Pourmohammadi |url-status=live }} is an Iranian politician and prosecutor, who has served at different positions and cabinet posts. He was Minister of Interior from 2005 to 2008 and Minister of Justice from 2013 until 2017. Pourmohammadi is reportedly implicated in the 1988 execution of MEK prisoners.{{Cite press release |title=Interior Minister Pour-Mohammadi and Iranian Human Rights Abuses |date=11 October 2006 |url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2006/73894.htm |website=U.S. State Department |access-date=25 May 2019 |archive-date=17 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117164007/https://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2006/73894.htm |url-status=live }}

Early life and education

Pourmohammadi was born in Qom, Iran in 1960.{{cite news|title=Who's Who in Iranian Politics. Mostafa Pourmohammadi|url=http://www.irdiplomacy.ir/en/page/1910287/Mostafa+PourMohammadi.html|access-date=19 June 2013|newspaper=IRD Diplomacy|date=12 December 2012|archive-date=5 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170605210712/http://www.irdiplomacy.ir/en/page/1910287/Mostafa+PourMohammadi.html|url-status=live}}{{cite book|author1=Yonah Alexander|author2=Milton M. Hoenig|title=The New Iranian Leadership: Ahmadinejad, Terrorism, Nuclear Ambition, and the Middle East|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_ac30INKAu4C&pg=PA265|access-date=28 June 2013|year=2008|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-275-99639-0|pages=265}} However, the IRNA reports his birth year as 1959. His father was from Rafsanjan and his mother was from Yazd.

He was educated in Islamic jurisprudence, principles of jurisprudence, and philosophy in the Haqqani seminary in Qom.{{cite book|title=Mullahs, Guards, and Bonyads|year=2010|publisher=RAND Corporation|location=Santa Monica|url=https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/monographs/2009/RAND_MG878.pdf|author=David E. Thaler|author2=Alireza Nader|author3=Shahram Chubin|author4=Jerrold D. Green|author5=Charlotte Lynch|author6=Frederic Wehrey|author6-link=Frederic Wehrey|access-date=29 July 2013|chapter=Factionalism and the Primacy of Informal Networks|archive-date=23 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240723002700/https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/monographs/2009/RAND_MG878.pdf|url-status=live}} He completed his education in extra-jurisprudence and principles in Mashhad, Qom, and Tehran. He holds a level four jurisprudence and Islamic law degree, which is equivalent to a PhD.

Career

Pourmohammadi was a prosecutor in the Revolutionary Court in Bandar Abbas, Kermanshah and Mashhad from 1979 to 1986.{{cite web|title=Biography of Pour-Mohammadi, nominee for post of interior minister|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/iran/2005/iran-050814-irna04.htm|work=IRNA via Global Security|access-date=16 August 2013|date=14 August 2005|archive-date=20 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520233921/https://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/iran/2005/iran-050814-irna04.htm|url-status=live}} Next he served as prosecutor of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Court in the western regions in 1986.{{cite web|title=Ministers of Murder: Iran's New Security Cabinet|url=http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/country,,HRW,COUNTRYREP,IRN,,43ba8a664,0.html|publisher=Human Rights Watch|access-date=22 February 2013|date=15 December 2005}}

He was appointed Deputy Intelligence Minister in 1987 under then-Minister of Intelligence Hojjatoleslam Ali Fallahian during the term of the former president Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.{{cite news|last=Haeri|first=Safa|title=Iran's new president presents and "undiscovered island"|url=http://www.iran-press-service.com/ips/articles-2005/august-2005/ahmadinejad_cabinet_15805~print.shtml|access-date=4 February 2013|work=Iran Press Service|date=5 August 2005|location=Paris-Tehran|archive-date=19 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219183424/http://www.iran-press-service.com/ips/articles-2005/august-2005/ahmadinejad_cabinet_15805~print.shtml|url-status=dead}} He was also named director the ministry's counterintelligence directorate.{{cite web|title=Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security: A profile|url=https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/9920777|work=Library of Congress, Federal Research Division|access-date=5 August 2013|format=Report|date=December 2012|archive-date=21 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231221000424/https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/9920777|url-status=live}} From 1997 to 1998 Pourmohammadi served as the director of the ministry's foreign directorate. His term as deputy intelligence minister ended in 1999.{{cite web|title=Potential Candidate Series: Mostafa Pourmohammadi|url=http://iranelectionwatch.com/potential-candidate-series-mostafa-pourmohammadi/|publisher=Iran Election Watch|access-date=19 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220072923/http://iranelectionwatch.com/potential-candidate-series-mostafa-pourmohammadi/|archive-date=20 December 2013|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|last=La Guardia|first=Anton|title=Rights group attacks Iran's 'ministers of murder'|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/1505554/Rights-group-attacks-Irans-ministers-of-murder.html|access-date=16 August 2013|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=15 December 2005|archive-date=20 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520233918/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/1505554/Rights-group-attacks-Irans-ministers-of-murder.html|url-status=live}}

In addition, he was acting Deputy Minister of Information from 1997 to 1999. He also served as member and head of the board of trustees of Center for Islamic Revolution Documents. He was appointed by Supreme Leader Khamenei as the head of the political and social department of his office in 2003.

On 24 August 2005, Pourmohammadi was appointed interior minister by Ahmadinejad. The Majlis approved him as minister with 153 votes in favor.{{cite news|title=Iran: 17 proposed ministers receive votes of confidence, 4 rejected|url=http://www.payvand.com/news/05/aug/1246.html|access-date=1 July 2013|work=Payvand|date=25 August 2005|archive-date=17 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117061729/http://www.payvand.com/news/05/aug/1246.html|url-status=dead}} In an effort to end the plight of refugees, Pourmohammadi attended a meeting of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees on 10 October 2006 in Geneva, Switzerland.[http://www.iranian.ws/iran_news/publish/article_18208.shtml Iran's murderous mullah to attend UN meeting] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211083910/http://www.iranian.ws/iran_news/publish/article_18208.shtml |date=11 December 2008 }} Persian Journal 10 October 2006 He was removed from office in a cabinet reshuffle in May 2008.{{Cite web |last=Khansari |first=Mohammad Sadat |date=2021-09-10 |title=Who Is Mostafa Pourmohammadi, Key Perpetrator of Iran's 1988 Massacre |url=https://www.ncr-iran.org/en/news/anews/who-is-who/iran-1988-massacre-who-is-mostafa-pourmohammadi/ |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=NCRI |language=en-US |archive-date=22 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240822023640/https://www.ncr-iran.org/en/news/anews/who-is-who/iran-1988-massacre-who-is-mostafa-pourmohammadi/ |url-status=live }} He was dismissed allegedly for informing Khamenei about electoral irregularities without the consent of Ahmedinejad.{{cite news|last=Berti|first=Benedetta|title=Ahmadinejad and the shifting political environment in Iran|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Ahmadi-nejad+and+the+shifting+political+environment+in+Iran.-a0184642841|access-date=19 June 2013|work=Iran Times International|date=29 August 2008}}

Then Pourmohammadi was appointed head of Iran's general inspectorate office.{{cite news|title=Official: Uprisings in Region Inspired by Islamic Revolution|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Official%3a+Uprisings+in+Region+Inspired+by+Islamic+Revolution.-a0248981538|access-date=19 June 2013|work=Fars News Agency|date=12 February 2011|archive-date=23 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240723002811/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Official%3A+Uprisings+in+Region+Inspired+by+Islamic+Revolution.-a0248981538|url-status=live}} He announced his candidacy for the 2013 presidential election in March 2013, but withdrew in favor of Manouchehr Mottaki.{{cite news|title=Iran's Inspectorate Chief to Run in Presidential Election|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Iran%27s+Inspectorate+Chief+to+Run+in+Presidential+Election.-a0322653759|access-date=19 June 2013|work=Fars News Agency|date=17 March 2013|archive-date=20 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520233919/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Iran%27s+Inspectorate+Chief+to+Run+in+Presidential+Election.-a0322653759|url-status=live}} On 4 August 2013, Pourmohammadi was nominated by newly elected President Hassan Rouhani as the Minister of Justice and was confirmed on 15 August by the Majlis.{{cite news|title=Iranian Parliament Gives Vote of Confidence to Majority of Rouhani's Proposed Ministers|url=http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13920524000980|access-date=15 August 2013|newspaper=Fars News|date=15 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001213217/http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13920524000980|archive-date=1 October 2015|url-status=dead}} On 2 August 2017, he was announced that he will not be part of Rouhani's second government.

=Allegations of human rights abuses=

During his tenure as deputy intelligence minister, Pourmohammadi was reportedly implicated in the 1988 Massacre of Iranian Prisoners, based on the orders of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and other key politicians. According to Grand Ayatollah Hossein-Ali Montazeri, he was "the representative of the Ministry of Information in charge of questioning prisoners in Evin Prison" during the massacre.{{cite journal|last=Kazemzadeh|first=Masoud|title=Ahmadinejad's Foreign Policy|journal=Comparative Studies of South Asia, Africa and the Middle East|year=2007|volume=27|issue=2|pages=423–449|url=http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/cst/summary/v027/27.2kazemzadeh.html|doi=10.1215/1089201x-2007-015|s2cid=144395765|access-date=12 February 2013|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304133034/http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/cst/summary/v027/27.2kazemzadeh.html|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}} Montazeri saw Pourmohammadi as being "a central figure" in the mass executions of prisoners in Tehran.[https://www.hrw.org/backgrounder/mena/iran1205/2.htm hrw.org. Pour-Mohammadi and the 1988 Prison Massacres] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240822023640/https://www.hrw.org/legacy/backgrounder/mena/iran1205/2.htm |date=22 August 2024 }} Human Rights Watch, December 2005 In 2016, Mohammadi said: "We are proud to have carried out God’s commandment concerning the People's Mujahedin of Iran… I am at peace and have not lost any sleep all these years because I acted in accordance with law and Islam".{{cite web |url=https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/MDE1394212018ENGLISH.PDF |title=Blood-soaked secrets with Iran's 1998 Prison Massacres are ongoing crimes against humanity |date=4 December 2018 |access-date=14 December 2018 |archive-date=15 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215065955/https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/MDE1394212018ENGLISH.PDF |url-status=live }}

His nomination as Minister of Justice in August 2013 was criticized by three international organizations, namely Reporters Without Borders, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, and Human Rights Watch. These organizations requested the withdrawal of his nomination for the post of Minister due to his controversial past.{{cite news|title=Iran: Withdraw Cabinet Nominee Implicated in Abuses|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2013/08/08/iran-withdraw-cabinet-nominee-implicated-abuses|access-date=8 August 2013|work=Human Rights Watch|date=8 August 2013|archive-date=25 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240225000327/https://www.hrw.org/news/2013/08/08/iran-withdraw-cabinet-nominee-implicated-abuses|url-status=live}}

COVID-19 outbreak

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran, there were unconfirmed reports about he having been taken to hospital for coronavirus symptoms, and later testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.{{cite news |date=1 March 2020 |title=More Iranian officials infected with coronavirus |url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2020/03/01/More-Iranian-officials-infected-with-coronavirus-.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200302151213/http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2020/03/01/More-Iranian-officials-infected-with-coronavirus-.html |archive-date=2 March 2020 |access-date=4 March 2020 |website=Al Arabiya English}}{{cite news |date=29 February 2020 |title=More Members of Iran's Political Elite Fall Victim To Coronavirus |url=https://en.radiofarda.com/a/more-members-of-iran-s-political-elite-fall-victim-to-coronavirus/30461625.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200317230413/https://en.radiofarda.com/a/more-members-of-iran-s-political-elite-fall-victim-to-coronavirus/30461625.html |archive-date=17 March 2020 |access-date=5 March 2020 |website=Radio Farda}} He was later discharged from hospital.{{cite news |date=10 March 2020 |title=Iranian regime figures infected and killed by coronavirus |url=https://english.alarabiya.net/en/features/2020/03/09/Iranian-regime-figures-infected-and-killed-by-coronavirus.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200311124130/http://english.alarabiya.net/en/features/2020/03/09/Iranian-regime-figures-infected-and-killed-by-coronavirus.html |archive-date=11 March 2020 |access-date=11 March 2020 |website=Al Arabiya English}}

2024 Iranian presidential election

Pourmohammadi declared himself a candidate for the 2024 Iranian presidential election. During his efforts to be accepted as a candidate, he worked to distance himself from his past{{Cite web |title=Iranian Presidential Candidate Downplays Role in 1988 Mass Executions |url=https://www.iranintl.com/en/202406267872 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240716123815/https://www.iranintl.com/en/202406267872 |archive-date=16 July 2024 |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=Iran International |date=26 June 2024 |language=en}} and established himself as a moderate conservative.{{Cite web |title=Meet the cleric dubbed 'the phenomenon' of Iran's presidential race |url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/meet-cleric-labelled-phenomenon-iran-presidential-race |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240716222019/https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/meet-cleric-labelled-phenomenon-iran-presidential-race |archive-date=16 July 2024 |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=Middle East Eye |language=en}} He also was openly critical of the decision to continue to aid Russia in their invasion of Ukraine.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-25 |title=Parliament speaker. The Tehran mayor. A heart surgeon. The race is on for Iran's next president |url=https://apnews.com/article/iran-president-election-candidates-a4261e72a90f7c7436499c0c6b3f66aa |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=AP News |language=en}} However, he lost in the first round with less than a percent of the vote.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-29 |title=Reformist to face ultraconservative in Iran presidency runoff |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240629-reformist-ultraconservative-lead-iran-presidential-vote-1 |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=France 24 |language=en}}

Personal life

Pourmohammadi is married and has four children.{{cite news|title=Iran's newly elected president nominates cabinet|url=http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1015770|access-date=29 August 2013|work=CNN|date=5 August 2013|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053745/http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1015770|url-status=live}}

References

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