Abbas Abdi (; fa, عباس عبدی; born 1 October 1956) is one of Iran's most influential reformists, journalist, self-taught sociologist and social activist.
Biography
Abdi was born in 1956.
He studied polymer engineering at
Tehran Polytechnic. He worked briefly in the foreign intelligence department of the prime minister's office of research and information, and served as the cultural deputy in the
Center for Strategic Research under the president's office. He was a member of editorial board of the daily ''
Salam''. Abdi was a member of central council of
Iran Participation Front, and is currently the chairman of the
Association of Iranian Journalists
The Association of Iranian Journalists ( fa, انجمن صنفی روزنامهنگاران ایران) is a professional organization in Iran that serves to "protect and safeguard the legal and professional rights of Iranian journalists." The ...
.
He was the first person to storm the United States embassy in Tehran, along with other students, during the early years of the
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution ( fa, انقلاب ایران, Enqelâb-e Irân, ), also known as the Islamic Revolution ( fa, انقلاب اسلامی, Enqelâb-e Eslâmī), was a series of events that culminated in the overthrow of the Pahlavi dyna ...
in 1979.
In the following years, he became a critic of the political establishment of Iran. In 1993, he was imprisoned for eight months due to his critical writings in the reformist daily, ''
Salam''.
He was a supporter of President
Mohammad Khatami's reform plans, and one of the most influential figures in the reformist camp after 1997. He ran into legal trouble after the
Iran student protests, July 1999
The Iranian student protests of July 1999 (also known as 18th of Tir and Kuye Daneshgah Disaster ( fa, فاجعه کوی دانشگاه) in Iran) (7–13 July) following the invasion of Tehran University dormitories, in which the police attacked the dormitory of the university because of student protests following Abdi's article in ''Salam''.
Abdi became the director of the
Ayandeh public opinion firm and participated in a poll asking Iranians if they supported resuming government dialogue with the United States. On 22 September 2002 the official news agency
IRNA
The Islamic Republic News Agency ( fa, خبرگزاری جمهوری اسلامی, ''Xebergâzari-ye Jimhuri-ye Eslâmi-ye''), or IRNA, is the official news agency of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Founded on 13 November 1934 as Pars News Agency ...
published an Ayandeh poll indicating that 74.4% of Iranians favoured a resumption of ties with the United States. Abdi was arrested at his home on 4 November 2002, accused of "having received money from either the US polling firm Gallup or a foreign embassy".
Alert. Journalist Abdollah Nouri released but another journalist arrested
/ref> Abdi spent several years in prison as a result. In the 2009 presidential election he was one of the key advisors to Mehdi Karoubi.
See also
* Human rights in Islamic Republic of Iran
Humans (''Homo sapiens'') are the most abundant and widespread species of primate, characterized by bipedalism and exceptional cognitive skills due to a large and complex brain. This has enabled the development of advanced tools, culture, an ...
* 2nd of Khordad Movement
The Reformists ( fa, اصلاحطلبان, Eslâh-Talabân) are a political faction in Iran. Iran's "reform era" is sometimes said to have lasted from 1997 to 2005—the length of President Mohammad Khatami's two terms in office. The C ...
References
External links
BBC News: Leading Iranian Reformist Arrested
BBC News story. Reference to Abbas Abdi's Role in 1979 U.S. Embassy takeover in Tehran
{{DEFAULTSORT:Abdi, Abbas
1956 births
Living people
Islamic Iran Participation Front politicians
Iranian journalists
20th-century Iranian engineers
Muslim Student Followers of the Imam's Line
Office for Strengthening Unity members
Members of the National Council for Peace