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From the 1979 Islamic Revolution to the 2009 Green Movement to the 2022 “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests, Alireza Beheshti Shirazi – currently imprisoned in Evin – has consistently remained a leading voice for change throughout modern Iranian history.
Born on December 11, 1960, in Tehran’s Narmak neighborhood, Alireza Beheshti Shirazi is an Iranian translator, writer, publisher, journalist, and political activist with the adopted pseudonym of “Shirazi.” His father, a businessman, was an avid supporter of Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh during the nationalization of Iran’s oil industry.
As the fifth of seven children, Beheshti Shirazi’s life was significantly influenced by his older brother, Mohammad Beheshti, who introduced him to Mir-Hossein Mousavi – a reformist and the former prime minister of Iran – from a young age. In the 1970s, Mousavi involved young Alireza in the cultural and religious activities of Hosseiniyeh Ershad, a group inspired by Dr. Ali Shariati’s sociological approach to religion.
In 1978, still a student, Beheshti Shirazi moved to the U.S. where he earned his high school diploma and began studying anthropology. However, driven by revolutionary fervor, he returned home to contribute to the new government in the spring of 1979 following the Islamic Revolution. He joined the Islamic Republic Party and began working at the “Jomhouri Eslami” newspaper, where his writing quickly gained recognition.
In 1981, after Mousavi was elected Prime Minister, Beheshti Shirazi joined the Prime Minister’s Office, eventually becoming Mousavi’s public relations manager and cabinet advisor. He frequently visited the frontlines during the Iran-Iraq War, often reporting anonymously from the battlefield.
Although initially aligned with the Islamic Republic amidst the revolution, he later became a staunch supporter of reformist leaders Mohammad Khatami and Mostafa Tajzadeh, building on his lifelong support for Mir-Hossein Mousavi.
Following the 1989 constitutional revision that eliminated the position of Prime Minister, Mousavi withdrew from politics. Beheshti Shirazi followed suit, shifting focus to cultural pursuits. He began working at the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance and later founded the “Rozaneh” publishing house in 1996, which has since published over 1,000 titles.
In 2009, when Mousavi re-entered politics as a presidential candidate, Beheshti Shirazi once again became one of his closest advisors. He edited Mousavi’s statements and managed the “Kalameh Sabz” newspaper, which was shut down shortly after the disputed election results. Beheshti Shirazi was arrested multiple times during the post-election protests, spending several months in solitary confinement in Evin Prison.
Despite his imprisonment, Beheshti Shirazi continued writing and translating. His works include translations of Thoreau’s “Walden” and Acemoglu and Robinson’s “The Narrow Corridor.” His translation efforts have earned him recognition, including an award for his translation of “Principles of Economics.”
Most recently, during the nationwide “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests of 2022, Mousavi had notably called for the drafting of a new constitution as a potential path towards democracy and change for protesting Iranians. Beheshti Shirazi participated in the “Save Iran” conference, a virtual dialogue held in April 2023 which convened over 40 political, social, and human rights advocates from both inside and outside Iran. Beheshti Shirazi delivered a speech titled “Change in Iran is Inevitable” which ultimately led to his arrest in May 2023, resulting in a one-year prison sentence for propaganda against the state.
In April 2024, at the age of 64, Beheshti Shirazi was once again summoned to serve his sentence in Evin Prison, where he remains incarcerated today.
The National Iranian American Council (NIAC) affirms that no one should be imprisoned for peaceful political activity or expressing their opinions. We condemn the continued detention of Mr. Beheshti Shirazi and all other political prisoners, and reiterate that the Islamic Republic is obligated by international human rights accords to which it is party to release these individuals and ensure that all Iranians can exercise their fundamental rights without fear of imprisonment for their political activities or opinions.
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