Abolhassan Banisadr

Abolhassan Banisadr (22 March 1933 – 9 October 2021) was an Iranian politician, writer, and political dissident who served as the first president of Iran following the Iranian Revolution, holding office from 1980 until his impeachment in 1981. Prior to his presidency, he was served as minister of foreign affairs in the Interim Government of Iran.

Following his impeachment, Banisadr fled Iran and was granted political asylum in France, where cofounded the National Council of Resistance of Iran with Mojahedin-e-Khalq leader Massoud Rajavi. He later focused on political writings about his revolutionary activities and his critiques of the Iranian government. He became a critic of Supreme LeaderAli Khamenei and of the country's handling of the 2009 elections.