Ahmad Masjed-Jamei

Ahmad Masjed-Jamei (Persian: احمد مسجدجامعی) is an Iranian reformist politician and academic who was chairman of City Council of Tehran from 3 September 2013 until 3 September 2014. He served as Culture Minister under President Mohammad Khatami from 2000 to 2005. He was elected a Tehran City Councillor in 2006 and was reelected in 2013.

Ahmad Masjed-Jamei
Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance
In office
14 January 2001 – 24 August 2005
Acting: 14 December 2000 – 14 January 2001
PresidentMohammad Khatami
Preceded byAta'ollah Mohajerani
Succeeded byHossein Saffar Harandi
Chairman of the City Council of Tehran
In office
3 September 2013 – 3 September 2014
DeputyMorteza Talaie
Preceded byMehdi Chamran
Succeeded byMehdi Chamran
Member of City Council of Tehran
In office
11 January 2007 – 4 August 2021
Majority1,397,741
Personal details
Born (1956-10-23) 23 October 1956
Mashhad, Razavi Khorasan province, Imperial State of Iran
Alma materUniversity of Tehran

Career

Culture Minister

Jamei became culture minister when Khatami's first minister, Ata'ollah Mohajerani, was forced to resign following criticism by conservatives for "eroding moral standards".[1] Jamei previously served as deputy culture minister.

As culture minister he promoted freedom of the press, saying it helps to prevent the accumulation of "negative anxieties" in society.[2] However his efforts were undermined by the judiciary which was controlled by the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, which ordered the closure of over 100 newspapers during Jamei's tenure as culture minister[3] Jamei protested against the closure of newspapers and arrest of journalists without effect.[4]

Dialogue among civilizations

Following the election Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as president in the Iranian presidential election of 2005, Jamei was appointed managing director of the International Center for Dialogue Among Civilizations, an organization founded by Khatami.[5]

Election as City Council chairman

After 2013 local election, he was nominated as chairman of City Council of Tehran by Reformists. Mohsen Hashemi Rafsanjani was also Reformists' nominee for Mayor of Tehran. On 3 September 2013, Masjed-Jamei was elected as chairman by 16 out of 31 votes and succeeded Mehdi Chamran in the post.[6]

References
  1. Senior reformer quits in Iran, BBC, 14 December 2000.
  2. Iranian Culture minister calls for freedom of press, Payvand, 5 April 2003
  3. Press Freedom Table, Freedom House
  4. Iran minister protests questioning of journalists, Dawn, 17 February 2002
  5. Fresh Appeal for Civilizational Dialogue, Iran Daily, 7 January 2006
  6. مسجد جامعی رئیس شورای شهر تهران شد Khabar Online.
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