Khadijeh Saqafi

Khadijeh Saqafi
Born Khadijeh Saqafi
1913 (1913)
Tehran, Persia
Died 21 March 2009(2009-03-21) (aged 95–96)
Tehran, Iran
Resting place Mausoleum of Ruhollah Khomeini
Residence Tehran, Iran
Nationality Iranian
Known for Spouse of the Supreme Leader of Iran (1979–1989)
Spouse(s)
Ruhollah Khomeini
(m. 1929; d. 1989)
Children Mostafa
Zahra
Sadiqeh
Farideh
Ahmad

Khadijeh Saqafi (nicknamed Quds of Iran) (1913 – 21 March 2009) was the wife of Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

Early life

Saqafi was the daughter of Hajj Mirza Mohammad Saqafi Tehrani a respected cleric.[1] Haj Mirza Mohammad Saqafi was the grandson of Agha Mirza Abolghassem Kalantar, mayor of Tehran under the Qajars in the middle of the nineteenth century.

Marriage and later years

Saqafi married Ruhollah Khomeini in 1929, when she was 16.[2] She gave birth to seven children with Khomeini during her life, though only five survived childhood.[3] Her son, Mostafa, died in Iraq in 1977, while a second son, Ahmad, died of cardiac arrest in 1995 at the age of 50.[2]

Saqafi, who largely stayed out of the Iranian public's eye, has been described as a strong supporter of her husband's opposition to the Shah of Iran.[2] Former President of Iran Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, referred to Saqafi as the "closest and most patient" supporter for her husband."[2]

Death

Saqafi died on 21 March 2009, in Tehran after a long illness at the age of 96.[2] Thousands of people attended her funeral, including the Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei and then President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.[2] Saqafi was buried next to her husband at his Mausoleum in Behesht-e Zahra.[4] She was survived by her three daughters, Zahra, Sadiqeh, and Farideh.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Dabashi, H. (1993). Theology of discont (PDF). New York: New York University Press.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Khadijeh Saqafi, Khomeini's Wife, Is Dead at 93". Associated Press. New York Times. 23 March 2009. Retrieved 28 March 2009.
  3. ↑ "'Mother of Islamic Revolution' passes away". Press TV. 21 March 2009. Archived from the original on 22 March 2009. Retrieved 28 March 2009.
  4. ↑ "Iranians mourn Khomeini's widow". BBC News. 22 March 2009. Retrieved 28 March 2009.
Honorary titles
First
New title
 Spouse of Supreme Leader of Iran
1979–1989		 Succeeded by
Khojaste Bagherzadeh
as Wife of Ali Khamenei
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