THE NATION’S SERVANT: AYATOLLAH SAYYID IBRAHIM RAISI (December 14, 1960 to May 19,2024)
WORK ALONGSIDE STUDIES
Sayyid Ebrahim was not yet five years old when his father passed away, leaving behind only a humble house as his inheritance. His family lived in two of the rooms, while the other two rooms were rented out. This rental income was their only means to make ends meet. However, his father had been one of the renowned preachers of the Khorasan province and had raised his children to tolerate hardships; they were not raised with a silver spoon in their mouths. In the summers, Sayyid Ebrahim had various jobs, from selling items on the streets leading to the holy shrine of Imam Reza (a) to working on poultry farms. Later on, he chose to study at the Islamic
seminary, but he continued to work throughout the summers to help run the household and earn money to buy
his textbooks. In those days, it was difficult to live on only five tomans a day. Occasionally, he could afford better food
for his mother and sisters. When he made good money, he bought some meat and rice for the home. Reflecting on
those days, he later said, “We experienced poverty in the true meaning of the word.”
RULES APPLY TO EVERYONE EQUALLY
Twenty-year-old Sayyid Ebrahim, the prosecutor of Karaj, picked up the phone. The head of the Presidential Office was on the other line: “Have you arrested [so-and-so]? The president is ordering you to release him as soon as possible.” He thought for a moment and remembered that the arrested man, a close friend of the president,
had committed serious crimes. After deliberating, he said, “Convey my greetings to President Bani-Sadr and tell him that this is the decision of the prosecutor and judge, and no one has the right to revoke the judge’s ruling.” Growing angry, the head of the Presidential Office snapped, “What are you talking about? This is
the president’s order!” With a calm tone, Sayyid Ebrahim replied, “This request of the president is an interference in prosecution, which is not allowed by law.” Enraged by his decisiveness, the head of the office hung up without saying goodbye, and Bani-Sadr never followed up on that person’s release again
DEFENDING THE OPPRESSED
In an open meeting with the people, Sayyid Ebrahim was informed
that an official from the Ministry of Education had been laid off
without cause due to an inaccurate report by an inspector from
the General Inspection Office. Sayyid Ebrahim assessed the case
thoroughly and found that the laid-off official was dealt with
unjustly. Consequently, he removed the inspector from office and
reinstated the official to his position. In every post he held, whether
as the head of the General Inspection Office, the prosecutor-general
of Iran, or the first deputy of the Judiciary, Sayyid Ebrahim Raisi
maintained this approach, restoring rights to those to whom they belonged
TAKING CARE OF THE FAMILY OF PRISONERS
Before he was appointed chief justice, he was so attentive to the
prisoners and cared for them so much that some saw him as a
fatherly figure. He issued circulars to ensure that prisoners without
outside support could seek help from judiciary officials to resolve
their problems. He even looked after the families of the prisoners,
ensuring they didn’t face hardships while their breadwinners served
their sentence.
During his term as chief justice, we were informed that Mr. Raisi was planning to visit our prison. The prison warden told me that I was to welcome him and, if permitted, I could discuss my problems with him. I couldn’t believe that the chief justice would take the time to speak to me, a mere prisoner. When he arrived, I greeted him, and as he was about to leave, I mustered the courage
to say, “I have an issue.”
His response, “Go on,” was so kind that I felt at ease and spoke freely. Following our conversation, his office consistently followed
up on my legal case until it was resolved, to the point that the judge
thought he must be a close relative of mine.
A STRONG VOICE FOR GAZA
Following Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, President Raisi consistently spoke out about Gaza. During his trips to Pakistan and Sri Lanka, he ensured that Gaza was mentioned in each of his speeches. He held several meetings with the heads of Islamic countries to address Israel’s crimes. I wish we had recorded these meetings, some of which were confidential, so that everyone could witness the anger, passion, and zeal with which the president of Iran addressed the leaders of Muslim countries. In one instance, he spoke to a leader with such strong reproach that the other party left the meeting
feeling humbled. At the BRICS summit, President Raisi took the initiative and demanded that all countries that were present issue a definitive statement regarding the situation in Gaza. When he noticed that all the presidents were discussing the painful events following October 7, he emphasized that the people of Palestine
have been suffering oppression and usurpation for over seventy-five years, not just since October 7, 2023. His words were so influential that the meeting’s statement was ordered according to his speech.
Excepts from the Book: THE NATION’S SERVANT