Ebrahim Raisi

Ebrahim Raisi served as the eighth president of Iran from 2021 until his death in a helicopter crash in May 2024. A career jurist and cleric, he navigated the complex judicial and political hierarchies of Iran for over four decades, rising from provincial prosecutor roles to the highest executive office within the nation.

Early Development and Education

Born in 1960 in the Noghan district of Mashhad, Raisi lost his father, Seyed Haji, at age five. He began his formal religious studies at the Hawza ‘Ilmiyya Khorasan at fifteen, moving to Qom in 1975 to attend the Ayatollah Boroujerdi School. His mentors included Ali Khamenei and Morteza Motahhari. He later claimed a doctorate in private law from Shahid Motahari University, though his academic credentials remained a subject of public dispute throughout his career.

THE FREE TEST

How high is yours?

Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.

Take the IQ test →

Judicial Rise and the 1988 Commissions

Following the 1979 revolution, Raisi entered the judiciary, serving as prosecutor in Karaj and Hamadan. By 1985, he moved to Tehran as deputy prosecutor. In 1988, he sat on a commission tasked with reviewing the status of political prisoners. This committee oversaw the execution of thousands of detainees, including members of the People's Mujahedin and various leftist factions. Human rights organizations accused him of involvement in crimes against humanity during this period, leading to his enduring reputation as a hardliner.

Executive and Legal Appointments

Raisi occupied numerous high-level positions, including Attorney-General of Iran from 2014 to 2016 and Chief Justice from 2019 to 2021. He also served as the Custodian of Astan Quds Razavi between 2016 and 2019. Elected to the Assembly of Experts in 2006, he remained a member until his death. His career was marked by his alignment with the principles of the Guardianship of the Islamic Jurists and his close association with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Presidency and Foreign Policy

After a failed 2017 presidential bid against Hassan Rouhani, Raisi secured the presidency in 2021 with 63 percent of the vote. His administration faced significant challenges, including a stalemate in negotiations regarding the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and widespread civil unrest following the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022.

Fast facts

Born: 1960, Mashhad
Died: 19 May 2024, Bakrabad Rural District
President of Iran: 2021–2024
Chief Justice of Iran: 2019–2021
Attorney-General of Iran: 2014–2016
Education: Hawza ‘Ilmiyya Khorasan, Shahid Motahari University
Awards: Order of Islamic Revolution (2021)
Burial Site: Imam Reza Shrine

Questions readers ask

What was Raisi's role in the 1988 executions?

He served as a member of the Tehran 'death commission,' which was responsible for the mass extrajudicial execution of political prisoners across the country.