Safi Asfia

Safi Asfia (Persian: محمدصفی اصفیاء; 1916–2008) was an Iranian mining engineer, technocrat and politician who held several cabinet posts during the reign of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. He was arrested in 1979 when an Islamic revolution took place in Iran and was imprisoned for five years. Following his release Asfia did not leave Iran and involved in computer programming.

Safi Asfia
Personal details
Born
Mohammad Ali Safi Asfia[1]

1916
Tehran, Qajar Iran
Died11 April 2008 (aged 91–92)
Tehran, Iran
Children3
Alma mater

Early life and education

Asfia was born in Tehran in 1916.[2] Following his graduation from high school he was sent by the state to France for higher education in 1932.[3] He attended Ecole Polytechnique of Paris in 1934 and Mines Paris - PSL in 1936.[2][3]

Career

Following his graduation Asfia joined the University of Tehran where he taught mathematics and geology.[4] At age 23 he was promoted to the professorship.[4] In 1955 he began to work as an adviser at the Planning Organization and became its director in 1961.[3] When he was in office he extensively dealt with the Iran's early nuclear program.[4] Asfia was appointed deputy prime minister in 1966.[3] He also served as the director of Planning Organization until 1969 when he was replaced by Mehdi Samii in the post.[5][6] Asfia continued to serve in different cabinet posts until 1979 when the Shah was removed from power.[3] He also served as a board member of the royal organization of social welfare headed by Ashraf Pahlavi.[7]

Later years

Asfia was arrested during the regime change in 1979 and was imprisoned for five years.[4] He began to deal with computer programming after he was freed and joined the Zirakzadeh Science Foundation as one of its board members.[8] The foundation was established by Ahmad Zirakzadeh, one of his polytechnic fellows,[3] and dealt with the creation of science centers for children and youngsters.[2] He developed a computer software used for the calculations of the astronomical objects which was designed for astronomers.[8]

Personal life and death

Asfia was married and had three daughters.[3] His wife died in October 2007.[3] Their eldest daughter died in 2001.[3] As of 2008 one of his daughters was living in Tehran and the other one in Paris.[3] He died in Tehran on 11 April 2008.[3]

Awards

Asfia was the recipient of the following French awards: Legion of Honour (rank of Commander) and of the Ordre national du Mérite (Grand Cross).[3]

References
  1. Elmira Jafari; Carola Hein (2021). "Revisiting the transnational building of a modern planning regime in Iran: the first Tehran master plan and the interplay between local and foreign planners". Planning Perspectives. 36 (3): 456. doi:10.1080/02665433.2020.1789500.
  2. Abbas Milani (2008). Eminent Persians: The Men and Women Who Made Modern Iran, 1941-1979. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press. pp. 92–94. ISBN 978-0-8156-0907-0.
  3. Jean-Marie Clément (April 2008). "Safi Asfia (1916-2008)". La Jaune et la Rouge, la revue de polytechnique alumni (in French) (638).
  4. Zack Rothbart (29 October 2018). "When the Head of Iran's Nuclear Program Turned to the Israelis for Help". NLI Newsletter. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  5. P. Amini (2002). "A Single Party State in Iran, 1975-78: The Rastakhiz Party - the Final Attempt by the Shah to Consolidate his Political Base". Middle Eastern Studies. 38 (1): 143. doi:10.1080/714004438.
  6. Ehsanee Ian Sadr (2013). To whisper in the king's ear: Economists in Pahlavi and Islamic Iran (PhD thesis). University of Maryland, College Park. p. 239. ISBN 978-1-303-30703-4. ProQuest 1432765052.
  7. "Ashraf Pahlavi". IICHS. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  8. "Safi Asfia". aliparsa.com. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
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