Who is İbrahim Reisi? His actions between 1980 and 1990 divide Iranians into two groups.

On May 19, as a result of an accident in East Azerbaijan, there were no survivors in the helicopter carrying 9 people, including Iranian President Reisi and Foreign Minister Hüseyin Emir Abdullahiyan. Shaken by the news of Reisi's death, Iran will go to the polls on June 28 for the presidential election.



With the accident that made headlines around the world, Reisi's life was also scrutinized. Some people in the country celebrated by setting off fireworks despite the 5-day national mourning declared. Women oppositionists, reminding the death of Mahsa Amini, who died during her detention by the Moral Police in Iran, shared celebration videos on social media with their hair uncovered.



So who is Ibrahim Reisi? Here is the answer:



- Known as a legal scholar and religious figure, President Ibrahim Reisi was born on December 14, 1960, in Mashhad, Iran.

- Reisi started his career as a prosecutor in 1981 after the revolution in 1979. He quickly rose in his position and became the Deputy Chief Prosecutor of Tehran at the age of 25.

- In 1988, he was a member of the 4-person committee that decided the execution of regime opponents in prison under the order of Iran's revolutionary leader Khomeini.

- After Khomeini's death, Reisi rapidly climbed the ranks in the state institutions during Ali Khamenei's era. He served as the Chief Prosecutor of Tehran from 1989 to 1994.

- In 1994, he was appointed as the Head of the State Inspectorate Organization and held this position for 10 years.

- In 2004, he was appointed as the First Deputy Chief of the Judiciary.

- In 2014, he was appointed as the Attorney General of Iran. In 2016, he was appointed as the President of the Imam Reza Shrine and Foundation in Mashhad by Khamenei.

- In the presidential elections held on May 19, 2017, Reisi ran as a candidate but lost to the incumbent President Hassan Rouhani.

- After Ayatollah Amoli Larijani, the former Chief of the Judiciary, was removed from his position and appointed as the Chairman of the Expediency Discernment Council by Khamenei, Reisi was appointed as the Chief of the Judiciary in March 2019.

- In the election held on June 18, 2021, Reisi won with a clear majority, receiving 62% of the votes, and became the 8th President of Iran. During Reisi's presidency, priority was given to relations with neighboring countries in foreign policy. During this period, relations with Saudi Arabia were reestablished after a 7-year hiatus.

- Reisi was included in the US sanctions list in November 2019 due to his alleged role in the execution of political prisoners and suppressing social unrest in 2009.

- Ibrahim Reisi's name was among the possible candidates to assume the country's leadership position after Khamenei.