Full Name:
Hassan Rouhani
Biography:
Hassan Rouhani was born in Sorkheh, Semnan Province on 11 November 1948. He was educated in a seminary.
Positions:
- Member of the Parliament from 1980 to 2000
- Member of the Supervisory Board of IRIB from 1980 to 1983
- Member of the Supreme Defense Council from 1982 to 1988
- Member and Head of Executive Committee of the High Council for Supporting War from 1986 to 1988
- Deputy Commander of the war from 1983 to 1985
- Commander of the Khatam-ol-Anbiya Operation Center from 1985 to 1987
- Commander of the Iran Air Defence Force from 1985 to 1991
- Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces from 1988 to 1989
- Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council from 1989 to 2005
- Representative of the Supreme Leader in the Supreme National Security Council from 1989 to 2005
- Member of the Expediency Discernment Council from 1991 until present
- Member of the Assembly of Experts from 2000 until present
- Head of the Political and Social Committee of the Assembly of Experts from 2001 to 2006, and from 2013 until present
- President of Islamic Republic of Iran from July 2013 until present
Human Rights Violations (in chronological order):
During his tenures in various high-profile positions of authority, Hassan Rouhani perpetrated serious human rights violations.
- Oppressing Servicewomen
Before the hijab became an enforced part of the Islamic dress code for all women in the Islamic Republic, Hassan Rouhani mandated the compulsory veiling of all women serving in the armed forces, in March 1979.[1]
- Suppressing University Students
As Secretary-General of the National Security Council, Rouhani played a significant role in violently suppressing the July 1999 student protests in Tehran, in an series of brutal attacks known as the Kuye Daneshgah Disaster. The protests began on July 9, in response to the closure of Salam, a pro-reform newspaper. During the national Friday Prayer on July 14, Rouhani announced that a decree had been issued the previous day, calling for the harsh suppression of the protesters.[2]
At least 300 individuals were arrested during the protest and human rights organizations reported that seven were killed.
- Suppressing Protests
As the President, Rouhani is responsible for the arbitrary arrests and deaths of protesters during the December 2017-January 2018 protests. Rouhani stated that the unrest was brought on by foreign influences and promised to punish protesters.[3] Ministry of Intelligence and other forces arrested about 4000 students, protesters, and people distributing media with images of the protests. Dozens were killed during the protests by intelligence and Basij forces.[4]
- Oppressing Religious Minorities
During Rouhani’s presidency, government authorities have arrested Gonabadi Dervishes[5] and Baha’is on the basis of their religious beliefs. In less than one month, 17 Baha’i citizens were arbitrarily arrested in the cities of Baharestan, Shiraz, and Karaj.[6]
- Suppressing a Workers’ Strike
Under Hassan Rouhani’s administration, the Ministry of Intelligence has been arresting[7] and torturing[8] striking workers of the Haft Tapeh sugarcane company. Spokesman for the workers Esmail Bakhshi, was hospitalized during his detention to receive treatment for injuries he says were inflicted during torture.
[1]https://justice4iran.org/persian/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Rouhani-000.mp4 ; https://justice4iran.org/persian/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Rohani-2.pdf [2]https://justice4iran.org/persian/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Rouhani-2.mp4 [3] https://justice4iran.org/persian/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Rouhani-6.pdf [4] https://justice4iran.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/ALAVI-1.pdf [5] https://justice4iran.org/persian/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Rouhani-Daravish.pdf [6] https://justice4iran.org/persian/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Rouhani-7.pdf [7] https://justice4iran.org/persian/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Rouhani-8.pdf [8] https://justice4iran.org/persian/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Rouhani-9.pdf
