Shaban Jafari
Shaban Jafari (Persian: شعبان جعفری) (born 1921 in Tehran – died 2006 in Santa Monica, California) often known as Shaban Bimokh (Persian: شعبان بیمخ, "Shaban the Brainless") was an Iranian political figure and practitioner of varzesh-e bastani. A controversial figure in politics, he was instrumental in overthrowing Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh's government in 1953 Iranian coup d'état.[1][2]
Shaban Jafari شعبان جعفری | |
---|---|
Shaban Jafari during political campaigns | |
Born | March 21, 1921 |
Died | August 19, 2006 85) Santa Monica, California, United States | (aged
Other names | Shaban Bimokh ("Shaban the Brainless") Babyface Shaban |
Occupation | criminal, strongman, professional political strong arm |
Biography
Shaban Jafari, often known as Shaban Bimokh, was an infamous street thug in Tehran. He was also a practitioner of Iranian Traditional sport (varzesh-e bastani) and was a frequent at Zoorkhaneh. During the 1953 Iranian coup d'état, he was often regarded as a leader of street fights for the Shah and against the popular Mohammad Mossadegh. His opponents claimed that he received money from the British and American intelligence agencies. He himself maintained that he was in prison during the coup and could not have participated in it.[3] After the Islamic Revolution, he moved to United States because he was amongst those wanted by the new revolutionary government for his attachments to the Shah's regime. His later life was relatively calm and he died in Santa Monica in 2006. A book of his memoirs was published in the United States by the Iranian-American journalist Homa Sarshar which became very popular inside Iran.[4][5]
References
- Gölz, "The Dangerous Classes and the 1953 Coup in Iran. On the Decline of ‘lutigari’ Masculinities." In Crime, Poverty and Survival in the Middle East. Edited by Stephanie Cronin, 177–90. London: I.B. Tauris, 2019.
- "BBCPersian.com". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2019-07-04.
- Gölz, "The Dangerous Classes and the 1953 Coup in Iran. On the Decline of ‘lutigari’ Masculinities." In Crime, Poverty and Survival in the Middle East. Edited by Stephanie Cronin, 177–90. London: I.B. Tauris, 2019, p. 183.
- "Shaban "Beemokh"; Jafari, Homa Sarshar". The Iranian. 2002-04-12. Retrieved 2019-07-04.