Habib-ollah Asgharoladi Mossalman

Soheila Ein-ollahzadeh

 

Habib-ollah Asgharoladi Mossalman was born in a religious family of Damavand in Tehran, 1932. Due to hard times of earthquake and the Second World War he could not continue his education, and alternatively lived in Damavand and Tehran. Later, he entered the bazaar of Tehran and was engaged in retail trade of rice. He lived at his elder brother’s in Tehran, and participated in the religious programs of the nearby mosque, Amin-oddowleh. He became acquainted with Sheikh Hossein Zahed and attended his religious classes in Jaame Mosque.

 

He was not more than thirteen when he was arrested for participating in demonstrations called by Ayatollah Kashani in support of the Palestinians, 1948. When released he continued his cooperation with the religious leaders until 19th August 1953. He became related to the Fadaian e Islam society and formed a group called Moayyed.

 

At the onset of the Islamic revolution led by Imam Khomeini, he had the responsibility to gather the religious funds of Tehran bazaar. The relations of his group with Imam’s circle led to the coalition of some mosque groups and the Isfahani bazaris of Tehran and the formation of the Islamic coalition groups (heiathaye motalefe islami).

 

Following the assassination of HassanAli Mansur by the coalition groups, Asgharoladi was arrested on the charge of holding arms and was condemned to life prison, 1964. He was forgiven in 1957 and was released from prison. After the Islamic revolution he became a member of Majlis and founded Imam Khomeini Relief Committee. He was under an unsuccessful assassination attempt, 1981. When the Jamiate Motalefeye Islami was formed in 1990; he was elected as its general secretary.