Hossein Taeb
Encyclopedia
Hossein Taeb is the head of the intelligence bureau of the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution (IRGC) of the Islamic Republic of Iran
, and a Hojjatoleslam Shia Muslim cleric. Prior to becoming head of the IRGC intelligence bureau in October 2009 he was commander of the Basij
militia. He became acting commander of the Basij sometime before October 29, 2007, and commander on July 14, 2008, and was replaced by Mohammad Reza Naqdi
on 4 October 2009.
According to a biography from the "pro-government" Iran Student Correspondents Association summarized in the website Iran Rises, Taeb was born in 1342 (1963/4). After his middle education, he went to seminary school and reached an advanced degree (kharej) in Islamic jurisprudence after studying in Tehran
, Mashhad
, and Qom
. He had studied with, among others, Supreme Leader
Ali Khamenei
. Taeb joined the Revolutionary Guards (which supervises the Basij) in 1361 (1982/3), beginning his work in Region 10 of Tehran and continued on to Qom and Mashhad. He was "for some time the Revolutionary Guards’ coordinator with the Leader
as well as the cultural commander of Imam Hossein College
." He lost a brother in the Kerbala V operation during the Iran-Iraq War
and is married with three children.
Under Taeb's command, the Basij have been very active in suppressing protest
over the controversial 2009 Iranian presidential elections
. The suppression has seen the death of at least dozens of protesters on the streets or in prison.
In public statements Taeb has cautioned Iranians that the United States
was "hiring agents and mercenaries in an effort to continue its plots for a soft overthrow
of the Islamic Republic," according to the Iranian Fars news agency. Taeb has also stated that the post-election "anti-government riots"
"killed eight members of the Basij and wounded 300 others."
benause forces under his command participated in mass beatings, murders, detentions and tortures of peaceful protestors.
History of the Islamic Republic of Iran
One of the most dramatic changes in government in Iran's history was seen with the 1979 Iranian Revolution where Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was overthrown and replaced by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini...
, and a Hojjatoleslam Shia Muslim cleric. Prior to becoming head of the IRGC intelligence bureau in October 2009 he was commander of the Basij
Basij
The Basij is a paramilitary volunteer militia established in 1979 by order of the Islamic Revolution's leader Ayatollah Khomeini. The force consists of young Iranians who have volunteered, often in exchange for official benefits...
militia. He became acting commander of the Basij sometime before October 29, 2007, and commander on July 14, 2008, and was replaced by Mohammad Reza Naqdi
Mohammad Reza Naqdi
Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Naqdi, , is the commander of the Basij paramilitary force of the Islamic Republic of Iran. He was appointed by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in October 2009, replacing Hossein Taeb...
on 4 October 2009.
According to a biography from the "pro-government" Iran Student Correspondents Association summarized in the website Iran Rises, Taeb was born in 1342 (1963/4). After his middle education, he went to seminary school and reached an advanced degree (kharej) in Islamic jurisprudence after studying in Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
, Mashhad
Mashhad
Mashhad , is the second largest city in Iran and one of the holiest cities in the Shia Muslim world. It is also the only major Iranian city with an Arabic name. It is located east of Tehran, at the center of the Razavi Khorasan Province close to the borders of Afghanistan and Turkmenistan. Its...
, and Qom
Qom
Qom is a city in Iran. It lies by road southwest of Tehran and is the capital of Qom Province. At the 2006 census, its population was 957,496, in 241,827 families. It is situated on the banks of the Qom River....
. He had studied with, among others, Supreme Leader
Supreme leader
A supreme leader typically refers to a figure in the highest leadership position of an entity, group, organization, or state, who exercises strong or all-powerful authority over it. In religion, the supreme leader or supreme leaders is God or Gods...
Ali Khamenei
Ali Khamenei
Ayatollah Seyed Ali Hoseyni Khāmene’i is the Supreme Leader of Iran and the figurative head of the Muslim conservative establishment in Iran and Twelver Shi'a marja...
. Taeb joined the Revolutionary Guards (which supervises the Basij) in 1361 (1982/3), beginning his work in Region 10 of Tehran and continued on to Qom and Mashhad. He was "for some time the Revolutionary Guards’ coordinator with the Leader
Supreme leader
A supreme leader typically refers to a figure in the highest leadership position of an entity, group, organization, or state, who exercises strong or all-powerful authority over it. In religion, the supreme leader or supreme leaders is God or Gods...
as well as the cultural commander of Imam Hossein College
Imam Hossein University
The Imam Hossein University is a public university of engineering, science, and military in Iran.The university was opened in1986. The university is one of the top ranking industrial universities in Iran. It is located in Tehran, Shahid Babaei Highway near Tehran Pars Fourth Square, and Hakimiyeh...
." He lost a brother in the Kerbala V operation during the Iran-Iraq War
Iran-Iraq War
The Iran–Iraq War was an armed conflict between the armed forces of Iraq and Iran, lasting from September 1980 to August 1988, making it the longest conventional war of the twentieth century...
and is married with three children.
Under Taeb's command, the Basij have been very active in suppressing protest
2009 Iranian election protests
Protests following the 2009 Iranian presidential election against the disputed victory of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and in support of opposition candidates Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi occurred in major cities in Iran and around the world starting June 13, 2009...
over the controversial 2009 Iranian presidential elections
Iranian presidential election, 2009
Iran's tenth presidential election was held on 12 June 2009, with incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad running against three challengers. The next morning the Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran's official news agency, announced that with two-thirds of the votes counted, Ahmadinejad had won the election...
. The suppression has seen the death of at least dozens of protesters on the streets or in prison.
In public statements Taeb has cautioned Iranians that the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
was "hiring agents and mercenaries in an effort to continue its plots for a soft overthrow
Velvet Revolution
The Velvet Revolution or Gentle Revolution was a non-violent revolution in Czechoslovakia that took place from November 17 – December 29, 1989...
of the Islamic Republic," according to the Iranian Fars news agency. Taeb has also stated that the post-election "anti-government riots"
2009 Iranian election protests
Protests following the 2009 Iranian presidential election against the disputed victory of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and in support of opposition candidates Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi occurred in major cities in Iran and around the world starting June 13, 2009...
"killed eight members of the Basij and wounded 300 others."
European Sanctions
Private property of Hossein Taeb is frozen by the European Community and he is not allowed to enter Europebenause forces under his command participated in mass beatings, murders, detentions and tortures of peaceful protestors.