Ahmad Nafisi

Nafisi was born in 1919.^[1] He graduated from the University of Tehran and then from American University in Washington, D.C.^[2]

On 22 May 1962 Nafisi was appointed by Prime Minister Ali Amini as the mayor of Tehran.^[2] During his term French President Charles de Gaulle visited Tehran and awarded Nafisi with the Legion of Honour medal.^[3] The French magazine Paris Match featured President de Gaulle and Nafisi following the visit.^[3] Nafisi organized and hosted the opening meeting of the newly established association, Congress of Free Man and Women, on 27 August 1963.^[2]

Nafisi was arrested in November 1963 and jailed for his alleged involvement in activities against the rule of the Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi^[1][4] and for corruption claims.^[3] It was also claimed that Nafisi had relations with the rebellious clergy.^[5] He was found not guilty and was released from prison in 1967.^[3][6] Michael Axworthy argued that his imprisonment was a result of the Prime Minister Hassan Ali Mansur's jealousy of Nafisi.^[5]

Nafisi married Nezhat Nafisi, and they had a daughter, Azar.^[7] He died in 2004.^[8]