Majid Sharif-Vaghefi (Persian: مجید شریف واقفی, 1949–1975) was a leading member of the People's Mujahedin of Iran (MEK) who was murdered in an internal purge staged by the MEK Marxist faction.[1] One of the three members of the MEK's central committee from 1972 to 1975,[3] he was considered the leader of the group's Muslim faction that refused to accept Marxism.[2]
He came from a "highly devout middle-class family" and was raised in Isfahan and Tehran. He studied electrical engineering at Aryamehr University of Technology, and became a member of the MEK while he was studying on a scholarship in Abadan's technical college.[4]
Murderedit
Remnants of Sharif-Vaghefi's corpse
By the spring of 1975, when the majority of the MEK turned to Marxism, he was given an ultimatum by the other two members of the central committee who became Marxists, Taghi Shahram and Bahram Aram, to accept the new ideology.[2] In order to "raise his political consciousness", he was given the chance to choose between a move to the MEK cell in Mashhad, leaving the country or to work in factories for a while.[2]
Sharif-Vaghefi pretended that he wanted to go to Mashhad, but instead moved some of the MEK arms and equipment to a new hiding place and tried to organize the part of the MEK that resisted the ideology change. His wife, part of the Marxist faction, provided Shahram and Aram with information on his activities.[2] Mainly on Shahram's initiative, Sharif-Vaghefi was killed and his body was immolated and dumped outside the city. SAVAK managed to find the remnants of the body.[1]
^ abcMaziar, Behrooz (2000). Rebels With A Cause: The Failure of the Left in Iran. I.B.Tauris. p. 71. ISBN1860646301.
^ abcdeErvand Abrahamian (1989), Radical Islam: the Iranian Mojahedin, Society and culture in the modern Middle East, vol. 3, I.B.Tauris, p. 162, ISBN9781850430773
^Vahabzadeh, Peyman (2010). Guerrilla Odyssey: Modernization, Secularism, Democracy, and the Fadai Period of National Liberation In Iran, 1971–1979. Syracuse University Press. p. 168. The loss of several leaders in a matter of two years allowed the promotion of (covert) Marxist members to the CC. After August 1971, the CC of OIPM included Reza Rezai, Kazem Zolanvar, and Bahram Aram. Zolanvar's arrest in 1972 brought Majid Sharif Vaqefi to the CC, and Rezai's death in 1973 brought in Taqi Shahram
^Ervand Abrahamian (1989), Radical Islam: the Iranian Mojahedin, Society and culture in the modern Middle East, vol. 3, I.B.Tauris, pp. 136–137, ISBN9781850430773
^Ervand Abrahamian (1989), Radical Islam: the Iranian Mojahedin, Society and culture in the modern Middle East, vol. 3, I.B.Tauris, p. 188, ISBN9781850430773
^Mohsen Kazemi, ed. (30 October 2013). "Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (54)". Oral History Weekly (137). Translated by Mohammad Karimi. Soureh Mehr Publishing Company (Original Text in Persian, 2000)
majid, sharif, vaghefi, confused, with, majid, sharif, persian, مجید, شریف, واقفی, 1949, 1975, leading, member, people, mujahedin, iran, murdered, internal, purge, staged, marxist, faction, three, members, central, committee, from, 1972, 1975, considered, lead. Not to be confused with Majid Sharif Majid Sharif Vaghefi Persian مجید شریف واقفی 1949 1975 was a leading member of the People s Mujahedin of Iran MEK who was murdered in an internal purge staged by the MEK Marxist faction 1 One of the three members of the MEK s central committee from 1972 to 1975 3 he was considered the leader of the group s Muslim faction that refused to accept Marxism 2 Majid Sharif VaghefiBorn1949 1 DiedMay 1975 1975 05 00 aged 25 26 Cause of deathMurderBody discovered31 July 1975 MesgarabadAlma materAryamehr University of TechnologyOrganizationPeople s Mujahedin of IranSpouseLeila Zomorrodian 2 Contents 1 Early life and background 2 Murder 3 Legacy 4 ReferencesEarly life and background editHe came from a highly devout middle class family and was raised in Isfahan and Tehran He studied electrical engineering at Aryamehr University of Technology and became a member of the MEK while he was studying on a scholarship in Abadan s technical college 4 Murder edit nbsp Remnants of Sharif Vaghefi s corpse By the spring of 1975 when the majority of the MEK turned to Marxism he was given an ultimatum by the other two members of the central committee who became Marxists Taghi Shahram and Bahram Aram to accept the new ideology 2 In order to raise his political consciousness he was given the chance to choose between a move to the MEK cell in Mashhad leaving the country or to work in factories for a while 2 Sharif Vaghefi pretended that he wanted to go to Mashhad but instead moved some of the MEK arms and equipment to a new hiding place and tried to organize the part of the MEK that resisted the ideology change His wife part of the Marxist faction provided Shahram and Aram with information on his activities 2 Mainly on Shahram s initiative Sharif Vaghefi was killed and his body was immolated and dumped outside the city SAVAK managed to find the remnants of the body 1 Legacy edit nbsp Sharif University of Technology Calligraphy Following the Iranian Revolution the place he studied was renamed to Sharif University of Technology in his honour 5 He is still celebrated as a martyr by the Iranian government 6 References edit a b c Maziar Behrooz 2000 Rebels With A Cause The Failure of the Left in Iran I B Tauris p 71 ISBN 1860646301 a b c d e Ervand Abrahamian 1989 Radical Islam the Iranian Mojahedin Society and culture in the modern Middle East vol 3 I B Tauris p 162 ISBN 9781850430773 Vahabzadeh Peyman 2010 Guerrilla Odyssey Modernization Secularism Democracy and the Fadai Period of National Liberation In Iran 1971 1979 Syracuse University Press p 168 The loss of several leaders in a matter of two years allowed the promotion of covert Marxist members to the CC After August 1971 the CC of OIPM included Reza Rezai Kazem Zolanvar and Bahram Aram Zolanvar s arrest in 1972 brought Majid Sharif Vaqefi to the CC and Rezai s death in 1973 brought in Taqi Shahram Ervand Abrahamian 1989 Radical Islam the Iranian Mojahedin Society and culture in the modern Middle East vol 3 I B Tauris pp 136 137 ISBN 9781850430773 Ervand Abrahamian 1989 Radical Islam the Iranian Mojahedin Society and culture in the modern Middle East vol 3 I B Tauris p 188 ISBN 9781850430773 Mohsen Kazemi ed 30 October 2013 Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs 54 Oral History Weekly 137 Translated by Mohammad Karimi Soureh Mehr Publishing Company Original Text in Persian 2000 Party political offices Preceded byKazem Zolanvar Member of the Central Committee of the People s Mojahedin Organization of Iran1972 1975 Served alongside Reza Rezaei 1972 73 Taghi Shahram 1973 75 and Bahram Aram 1972 75 Vacant Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Majid Sharif Vaghefi amp oldid 1211390475, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
