Mohammad Khatami facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sayyid Amir Hujjat al-Islam Muhammad Khatami
محمد خاتمی
Khatami in 2007
5th President of Iran
In office 3 August 1997 – 3 August 2005
Supreme Leader	Ali Khamenei
Vice President	Hassan Habibi Mohammad Reza Aref
Preceded by	Akbar Rafsanjani
Succeeded by	Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance
In office 9 November 1982 – 24 May 1992
President	Ali Khamenei Akbar Rafsanjani
Prime Minister	Mir-Hossein Mousavi
Preceded by	Mir-Hossein Mousavi (acting)
Succeeded by	Ali Larijani
Member of the Parliament of Iran
In office 28 May 1980 – 24 August 1982
Preceded by	Manouchehr Yazdi
Succeeded by	Mohammad Hosseininejad
Constituency	Yazd, Ardakan district
Majority	40,112 (82.1%)
Personal details
Born	(1943-10-14) 14 October 1943 (age 81) Ardakan, Yazd Province, Pahlavi Iran
Political party	Association of Combatant Clerics
Spouse	Zohreh Sadeghi ​ (m. 1974)​
Children	3
Parent	Ruhollah Khatami (father)
Relatives	Mohammad-Reza Khatami (brother) Ali Khatami (brother) Mohammad Reza Tabesh (nephew)
Alma mater	University of Isfahan University of Tehran
Signature
Website	Official website: http://www.Khatami.ir/
Military service
Branch/service	Iranian Imperial Army
Years of service	1969–1971
Rank	Second lieutenant; Financial specialist
Unit	Tehran region 3 sustainment

Mohammad Khatami (born 14 October 1943) is an Iranian politician who worked to bring about changes and improvements in Iran. He was the fifth President of Iran from 1997 to 2005. Before becoming president, he also served as Iran's Minister of Culture from 1982 to 1992.

Khatami became well-known when he was first elected president, winning almost 70% of the votes. He promised to make Iran more open and to bring reforms. During his election campaign, he suggested the idea of a "Dialogue Among Civilizations". This idea was a way to encourage different cultures to understand each other, instead of clashing. The United Nations later made the year 2001 the Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations because of his suggestion.

During his time as president, Khatami supported freedom of expression and tolerance. He also worked to build good relationships with other countries, especially in Asia and the European Union. His economic plans aimed to support a free market and attract money from other countries.

In 2009, Khatami planned to run for president again but later decided not to. Instead, he supported his friend, Mir-Hossein Mousavi. Today, Iranian media are not allowed to show pictures of Khatami or quote him because he supported the candidates who lost in the 2009 election.

Early Life and Education

Khatami was born on 14 October 1943, in a small town called Ardakan in Yazd Province. He comes from a religious family. In 1974, he married Zohreh Sadeghi. They have two daughters, Laila and Narges, and one son, Emad.

Mohammad Khatami in military service uniform, 1970

Khatami's father, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khatami, was an important religious leader in the city of Yazd. His brother, Mohammad-Reza Khatami, was a member of parliament and a leader in a major reformist political party. Mohammad-Reza is married to Zahra Eshraghi, who is a human rights activist and the granddaughter of Ruhollah Khomeini, who founded the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Another brother, Ali Khatami, worked as the President's Chief of Staff during Mohammad Khatami's second term. His oldest sister, Fatemeh Khatami, was the first woman elected to the city council in Ardakan.

Mohammad Khatami in 1985

Mohammad Khatami studied Western philosophy at Isfahan University. He later studied Islamic sciences in Qom for seven years. From 1978 to 1980, he led the Islamic Centre Hamburg in Germany.

Before becoming president, Khatami was a member of the Parliament of Iran from 1980 to 1982. He also served as the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance from 1982 to 1986, and again from 1989 to 1992. He was also the head of the National Library of Iran from 1992 to 1997. Besides his native Persian, he speaks Arabic, English, and German.

His Time as President (1997–2005)

Khatami speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, 2004

Khatami was elected president on 23 May 1997, with a focus on making reforms. Many people were excited about this election, and almost 80% of voters participated. Even though he had limited TV time, Khatami won 70% of the votes. He was re-elected on 8 June 2001 for a second term. He finished his presidency on 3 August 2005, after serving the maximum two terms allowed by Iran's constitution.

Khatami's supporters included many different groups, like traditional leftists, business leaders who wanted a more open economy, and younger voters. His election brought new hope to Iranian society. The day he was elected, 2 Khordad in the Iranian calendar, is seen as the start of "reforms" in Iran. His supporters are often called the "2nd of Khordad Movement".

Khatami is known as Iran's first reformist president. His main goals were to strengthen the rule of law, increase democracy, and include all Iranians in political decisions. However, his reform ideas often led to disagreements with conservative groups in the Iranian government. These groups control powerful organizations like the Guardian Council, whose members are chosen by the Supreme Leader.

As president, Khatami was not in charge of all parts of the government, such as the armed forces, police, or state media. These were under the control of the Supreme Leader of Iran. Khatami tried to pass laws that would change election rules and define the president's power more clearly. These laws were approved by the parliament but were stopped by the Guardian Council.

Promoting Dialogue and Openness

Khatami believed in ideas like press freedom, strong communities, women's rights, and religious tolerance. He faced challenges from strict religious leaders who disagreed with his ideas. He tried to improve Iran's relationships with Western countries, visiting many countries in Europe. He often gave speeches at important events, sharing his vision for Iran.

Economic Changes During His Presidency

Khatami continued the economic plans of the previous government, focusing on making Iran's industries stronger. He aimed to help the private sector grow and encouraged foreign investment. He said that his government helped the economy grow by 6%. He also set aside a lot of money to help private businesses.

When he first became president, Khatami admitted that Iran's economy had problems. He said it needed big changes to get better. His government worked on a five-year plan to rebuild the economy and improve society. This plan included selling off some major industries to private companies and creating many new jobs each year.

During his time, Iran's economy grew, and unemployment went down. Investments in energy and building also increased. The country's debt to other nations was reduced. For the first time since 1979, the government allowed private banks and insurance companies to open.

Foreign Policy and International Relations

Khatami with Javier Solana in 2002

Khatami's foreign policy aimed to move Iran from conflict to cooperation. He believed in a "Dialogue Among Civilizations" instead of a "clash of civilizations." While relations with the US remained difficult, Iran tried to play a bigger role in the Persian Gulf area.

As president, Khatami met with many important world leaders, including Pope John Paul II and Vladimir Putin. In 1998, when the Taliban attacked Iranian diplomats in Afghanistan, Khatami chose to seek help from the UN and negotiate, rather than going to war. This helped prevent a major conflict.

Vladimir Putin, Russian President, meeting Khatami in Sa'dabad Palace, 2002

After a big earthquake in Bam, Iran in 2003, Iran did not accept help from Israel. However, at the funeral of Pope John Paul II in 2005, Khatami sat near Israeli President Moshe Katsav due to seating arrangements. They shook hands and spoke briefly. This was the first known official contact between Iran and Israel since 1979. However, Khatami later faced criticism in Iran for this interaction.

In 2006, after his presidency, Khatami became the highest-ranking Iranian politician to visit the United States. He gave speeches at several universities, promoting dialogue between the US and Iran.

Khatami at the Opening World Wrestling Championships, 2002

Cultural Impact

Khatami's moderate policies were very different from those who wanted stricter Islamic rules. He brought hope for change while still keeping Iran's Islamic system. During his first years as president, there was more freedom for the press. For the first time in a long time, some opposition groups could publish articles criticizing government officials.

The Association of Iranian Journalists was created during his presidency. The National Library and Archive of Iran was also completed with his support. Books that were once banned, like Kelidar, were allowed to be printed. Famous filmmakers like Bahram Beyzai and Abbas Kiarostami were able to create more open films, often focusing on social issues. The Iran Music House and Music Festival of Iran's regions were also founded during this time. Iran's National Orchestra was started in 1998.

Khatami and the 2004 Parliamentary Election

Khatami supported his science minister, Mostafa Moein in the 2005 presidential election

In February 2004, during the parliamentary elections, the Guardian Council prevented thousands of candidates from running. This included many reformist members of parliament. This led to conservatives winning most of the seats. About 60% of people who could vote participated.

Khatami strongly disagreed with holding an election that he felt was unfair. He said that the Guardian Council did not keep its promises, and his government had to choose between holding the election or risking major unrest. Despite his concerns, the election went ahead.

Cultural and Political Ideas

Dialogue Among Civilizations

Khatami introduced the idea of "Dialogue Among Civilizations" in 1997 during his presidential campaign. This was his answer to the idea of a "Clash of Civilizations," which suggested that different cultures would always conflict. He presented his idea at the United Nations in 1998.

Because of Khatami's suggestion, the UN declared 2001 the Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations. He believed that culture, good values, and art should be more important than just politics.

Khatami as a Scholar

Khatami as culture minister in 1985, with prime minister Mir-Hossein Mousavi

Khatami's main area of study is political philosophy. He taught this subject at Tarbiat Modarres University and published a book on it in 1999. His work explores how ancient Greek political ideas were adapted in Islamic thought and how political philosophy changed over time in Muslim history.

In his "Letter for Tomorrow," he wrote that his government was proud to show that power could be questioned and criticized by the people. He believed that power, once seen as a gift from God, should now be seen as an earthly power that people can evaluate.

After His Presidency

Khatami at the World Economic Forum in 2007

After his presidency, Khatami started two non-governmental organizations (NGOs):

• International Institute for Dialogue among Cultures & Civilizations: This group works on promoting understanding between different cultures around the world.
• Baran Foundation: This group focuses on freedom, growth, and development within Iran.

Khatami with Klaus Schwab at the World Economic Forum in 2007

Some notable events after his presidency include:

• In 2005, the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan asked Khatami to join the Alliance of Civilizations.
• In 2006, he officially opened the European office of his Institute for Dialogue among Civilizations in Geneva.
• In 2006, during a visit to Washington, D.C., he called for talks between the United States and Iran.
• In 2007, he attended the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he met many world leaders.
• In 2009, he was named a joint winner of the Global Dialogue Prize for his work on "dialogue among cultures and civilizations." However, he later declined the award.

The Man with the Chocolate Robe

In December 2005, a few months after Khatami's presidency ended, a magazine and young Iranian artists held a special event in his honor. The event was called "A Night with The Man with the Chocolate Robe" and was very popular with teenagers and young adults. Many people said the atmosphere was like a concert, and that Khatami was treated like a pop star.

2009 Presidential Election

Khatami considered running in the 2009 Iranian presidential election. Many people asked him to run against the current president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. On 8 February 2009, he announced he would run.

However, on 16 March 2009, Khatami officially decided not to run. He chose to support Mir-Hossein Mousavi, another reformist candidate, believing Mousavi had a better chance to bring change.

2013 Presidential Election

Before the presidential election in June 2013, several reformist groups asked Khatami to run. They even wrote to the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, about Khatami's possible participation.

Khatami said he was waiting for positive changes in the country before making his decision. On 11 June 2013, Khatami and other reformists supported the moderate candidate Hassan Rouhani. Khatami advised Mohammad Reza Aref to leave the race, which he did, to help Rouhani win.

Electoral History

Year	Election	Votes	%	Rank	Notes
1980	Parliament	32,942	82.1	1st	Won
1992	Parliament	N/A			Disqualified
1997	President	20,078,187	69.6	1st	Won
2001	President	21,659,053	77.1	1st	Won

Publications

Khatami holds Quran in his hands

Khatami has written many books in Persian, Arabic, and English. Some of his books include:

• Fear of the Wave
• Dialogue Among Civilizations
• A Letter for Tomorrow
• Islam, Liberty and Development

Awards and Honors

Khatami received Nishan-e-Pakistan by Pervez Musharraf, 2002

Khatami has received many awards and honorary degrees from universities and countries around the world, including:

• Gold medal from University of Athens
• The special medal of Spain's Congress of Deputies and Senate, Key to Madrid
• Honorary PhD from Moscow State Institute of International Relations
• Honorary doctorate in Philosophy from University of Moscow
• Honorary PhD degree from Tokyo Institute of Technology
• Honorary doctorate degree by the Delhi University
• Honorary doctorate from National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan
• Degree of honor in political sciences from Lebanese University
• Pakistan's highest civilian honor
• Honorary doctorate of Law from University of St Andrews
• Venezuela's Order of the Liberator

Images for kids

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  Mohammad Khatami's signature

See also

In Spanish: Mohammad Jatamí para niños

• 2nd of Khordad Movement
• 1997 Iranian presidential election
• 2001 Iranian presidential election
• 2009 Iranian presidential election
• 2013 Iranian presidential election
• Liberal movements within Islam
• Modern Islamic philosophy