Interview with Former Iranian Vice President Mohammad Ali Abtahi

Lynne Odendaal, IRLA correspondent

Born in Mashhad, Iran, only two decades before the Iranian Islamic Revolution, Mohammad Ali Abtahi found himself in a country ruled by a monarchy. Interested in cross-cultural correspondence at an early age of 18, he communicated with many cultural and educational institutions within his country. He was summoned twice by the SAVAC - the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence, much like America’s CIA. During the second encounter, Abtahi was arrested and detained at Avin political prison. This took place in 1979, the year of the Revolution. “I was very young”, says Mr. Abtahi. He then trails off: “I played my own role in the Revolution…”

Abtahi emphasizes that “the Shah was inconsiderate toward people and the Religion [Islam]”. Not only was it necessary, he states, to remove the man, but the entire governmental system had to be replaced.

Mr. Abtahi became involved with the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting agency (IRIB) and, by 1983, had been appointed Programming Director General. On the eve of 1989, at the close of the Iran-Iraq War, he was assigned as Deputy Minister of International Affairs. His superior: Mohammad Khatami, future President of Iran.

Rapport between the two gentlemen led to great mutual respect, and when Khatami resigned his position in 1992, Abtahi followed suit. They resumed their working relationship in 1996, when Khatami was elected President of Iran. He chose Mr. Abtahi to be his Chief Secretary and later his Vice President.

During the Rafsanjani Presidency, a number of Iranian converts fled the country, were tortured, executed or simply disappeared. Among those condemned to death were four Christian leaders: Pastor Soodmand Hossein, Bishop Tateos Michaelian, Reverend Mehi Dibaj and Armenian-born evangelist Haik Hovsepian Mehr. Mr. Abtahi maintains that many Iranians emigrated “to find a better life”. Regarding the deaths of converters, he contends that national security was chaotic during these years. “The President [Khatami] revealed that the Ministry of Intelligence was involved. This was very brave of him.” Mr. Abtahi is hesitant to elaborate.

During the time-lapse between his two government employments, Abtahi returned to his career at IRIB. Today, he continues to function in the political arena. He has written many articles and conducted interviews with both foreign and domestic media. It is this attraction to cultural dialogue that influenced Mohammad Ali Abtahi to participate as a guest speaker at the IRLA 2007 Congress in Cape Town.

Mr. Abtahi disagrees with a fellow speaker’s comments on why religion and state ought to be separated. He feels that “religious leaders are more moral” and that “they use ethics in society”. Although he acknowledges the potential dangers that go hand-in-hand with such a totalitarian government, he believes that religious leaders could use such power to good advantage.

Mr. Abtahi has created his own website, to which he regularly contributes blogs. For further information, visit www.webneveshteha.com and click on the “English” link.