Badri Hosseini Khamenei (Persian: بدری حسینی خامنه‌ای) is an estranged sister of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

In 1985, in the middle of the Iraq-Iran war, she left Iran with her children and fled to Iraq. She did so to join her husband, Sheik Ali Tehrani, after a one-year separation.[1] She admitted later that 20 of her friends were arrested and executed by the regime.[2]

In 1995, she returned to Iran, but remains alienated from Ali Khamenei.

In December 2022, amid Mahsa Amini protests, she criticized her brother's rule and his "despotic caliphate". In an open letter, she also hoped to see him overthrown. "The regime of the Islamic Republic of Khomeini and Ali Khamenei has brought nothing but suffering and oppression to Iran and Iranians," she wrote.[3]

Family

Badri Khamenei's husband was Ali Tehrani (1926–2022), an Iranian Shia Islamic theologian and writer. He fled to Iraq in 1984. After returning to Iran, he spent 10 years in prison.

Her daughter, Farideh Moradkhani, the supreme leader’s niece, was arrested in November 2022 after going to a prosecutor’s office following a summons.

Her son Mahmoud Moradkhani is based in France and was the one shared both his sister's video criticizing the regime[4] and their mother's criticism of the regime in December 2022.[5]

References

  1. ^ "Iran President's Sister Flees to Iraq". Los Angeles Times. 2 May 1985. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  2. ^ Javedanfar, Meir. "The future of Iran after Khamenei". Al Jazeera America. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  3. ^ "Sister Of Iran's Supreme Leader Pens Open Letter Hoping For End To 'Tyranny' Of Brother's Rule". Radiofreeeurope/Radioliberty. RFE/RL's Radio Farda. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  4. ^ "Niece of Iran's supreme leader calls on other countries to cut ties with regime". The Guardian. 27 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  5. ^ "Sister of Iran's leader condemns his rule, urges Guards to disarm - letter". Reuters. 7 December 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
Categories