Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i
Iranian politician and Islamic jurist (born 1956)
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Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i (Persian: غلام حسین محسنی اژهای, romanized: Ğolām-Hoseyn Mohseni Eže'i, Persian pronunciation: [ɢolɒːmhoˈsejn mohseˈniː eʒeˈjiː] ⓘ; born 29 September 1956) is an Iranian politician and Islamic jurist who has served as the 8th chief justice of Iran since 2021. he also has previously headed the Iranian minister of intelligence from 2005 to July 2009, when he was abruptly dismissed. He also held a number of other governmental posts since 1984.
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Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i | |
|---|---|
غلام حسین محسنی اژهای | |
Mohseni-Eje'i in 2023 | |
| 8th Chief Justice of Iran | |
| Assumed office 1 July 2021 | |
| Appointed by | Ali Khamenei |
| Preceded by | Ebrahim Raisi |
| Member of the Interim Leadership Council | |
| In office 1 March 2026 – 8 March 2026 | |
| Preceded by | Ali Khamenei (as Supreme Leader) |
| Succeeded by | Mojtaba Khamenei (as Supreme Leader) |
| First Deputy to the Chief Justice of Iran | |
| In office 23 August 2014 – 1 July 2021 | |
| Appointed by | Sadeq Larijani |
| Preceded by | Ebrahim Raisi |
| Succeeded by | Mohammad Mosaddegh Kahnamouei |
| Spokesman of Judicial system of the Islamic Republic of Iran | |
| In office 16 September 2010[3] – 8 April 2019 | |
| Appointed by | Sadeq Larijani |
| Preceded by | Alireza Jamshidi |
| Succeeded by | Gholam-Hossein Esmaeili |
| Prosecutor-General of Iran | |
| In office 24 August 2009 – 23 August 2014 | |
| Appointed by | Sadeq Larijani |
| Preceded by | Ghorbanali Dorri-Najafabadi |
| Succeeded by | Ebrahim Raisi |
| 6th Minister of Intelligence | |
| In office 24 August 2005 – 23 July 2009 | |
| President | Mahmoud Ahmadinejad |
| Preceded by | Ali Younesi |
| Succeeded by | Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (Acting)[4] |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 29 September 1956 Ezhiyeh, Isfahan province, Iran |
| Alma mater | Haghani Seminary |
As judiciary chief, Mohseni-Eje'i played a central role in suppressing the 2025–2026 protests in Iran, directing prosecutors to show "no leniency" toward demonstrators, leading to swift executions, widespread use of capital punishment, and the denial of due process, legal counsel, and fair trials for many, particularly young adults.[5]
Following the assassination of Ali Khamenei, Mohseni-Eje'i served on the Interim Leadership Council alongside President Masoud Pezeshkian and Alireza Arafi.[6] He was sanctioned by the U.S. State Department and the European Union in 2011 for his role in repressing the 2009 post-election protests, with the E.U. accusing him of overseeing "the detention and torture of, and the extraction of false confessions under pressure from, hundreds of activists, journalists, dissidents and reformist politicians".[7][8]
Early life and education
Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i (ⓘ) was born in Ezhiyeh, Isfahan province, Imperial State of Iran, in 1956.[9] He is a graduate of the Haqqani school in Qom[10] and one of his teachers was Mesbah Yazdi.[11][12] He also received a master's degree in international law from the Haqqani school.[13]
Career
From 1984 to 1985, Mohseni-Eje'i served as head of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence's Select Committee. From 1986 to 1988, he was the Representative of the Iranian Head of Judiciary to the Ministry of Intelligence. From 1989 to 1990, he served as head of the Prosecutor's Office for economic affairs.
From 1991 to 1994, he held the post of Representative of the Head of Judiciary to the Ministry of Intelligence. From 1995 to 1997, he was the Prosecutor of the Special Clerical Court. He was appointed Iranian Minister of Intelligence on 24 August 2005 after securing 217 votes in his favor at the Majlis of Iran.[14]
He was in office until 26 July 2009, when he was abruptly dismissed.[11] No reason was given for his dismissal.[15] It was thought by some to be connected to his opposition to the appointment of Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei as first vice-president.[11]
As a spokesman for the judiciary, he has also been a spokesman to the media and journalists.[16]
Mohseni-Eje'i is expected to serve on the interim Leadership Council, along with President Masoud Pezeshkian and Alireza Arafi, following the Assassination of Ali Khamenei.[6]
Prosecutor general
Shortly after his dismissal, on 24 August 2009, he was appointed Prosecutor-General of Iran by the Head of Judiciary, Ayatollah Sadeq Larijani,[17][18] replacing Ghorbanali Dorri-Najafabadi.[18]
Special Clerical Court
In 1998, with the ruling of Seyyed Ali Khamenei, [19] he succeeded Mohammad Reyshahri, who held the position of Attorney General of the Special Clerical Court. He has also been the Special Prosecutor for the Clergy for two years.
One notable incident during his tenure at Special Clergy court was him having a fight with Isa Saharkhiz, and biting him.[20]
Teaching
Mohseni Ejei has taught in the Baqer al-Uloom College of the Ministry of Intelligence, in the educational department of the Islamic Revolutionary Court, as well as the Faculty of Judicial Sciences.[21]
Interim Leadership Council
On 1 March 2026, Mohseni Ejei was appointed as a member of the Interim Leadership Council which would take over Khamenei's responsibiliteis, in addition to his position in Assembly of Experts, who will appoint the successor to Khamenei,[22] and his candidacy to be that successor.[23]
Activities and views
In 2000, Eje'i was named by journalist Akbar Ganji as having personally ordered the killing of Pirouz Davani, one of the 80+ Iranian intellectuals murdered in the Chain murders of Iran.[24]
On 15 July 2009, Mohseni-Eje'i told reporters that his ministry might publicize confessions made by people held for weeks without access to their lawyers. He said, "The confessions obtained from those arrested could be made public, should the Judiciary decide to air their remarks." Human rights activists raised concerns that "these so-called confessions are obtained under duress."[25]
After his dismissal, president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad praised Mohsen-Eje'i as a good human being, but said his removal was necessary as the ministry needed huge changes to cope with the situation. He further said if the ministry had done its job properly, there would not have been post-election bloody riots in which some people died, but he stopped short of criticizing Mohseni-Eje'i as responsible for them.[26]
According to Stratfor, Mohseni-Eje'i is a principlist affiliated with hardline cleric Mohammad Yazdi.[27]
Mohsen-Eje'i has indicated he would welcome alternative punishments to the death penalty for some drug traffickers, if these alternatives proposed by teachers were more effective punishments than the death penalty. However, he stated that, so far, critics of the death penalty in Iran have not offered alternatives that would deal effectively with Iran's drug gangs.[28]
Ejei, while supporting the election of Mojtaba Khamenei as the new leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, added: "I congratulate this blessed election to the proud and martyr-raising nation of Iran, all Muslims around the world, and lovers of justice and freedom."[29]
Role in the Suppression of Iranian Protests (2025–2026)
Mohseni-Eje'i played a key role in suppressing the 2025–2026 protests in Iran. As judiciary chief, he directed prosecutors to show "no leniency" toward demonstrators, resulting in the swift execution of dozens of protesters. Under his leadership, Iran became one of the top nations in capital punishment, with many death sentences handed down within days of arrest on charges like "moharebeh" (waging war against God) and "corruption on earth." Many of those executed were young adults, often denied due process and legal counsel, with confessions extracted under duress.[5][30]
Sanctions
Mohseni-Eje'i is known for his harsh sentencing and has been sanctioned by Canada, the U.S., Switzerland, the European Union and others for human rights abuses.[31] He was among several Iranian officials who were sanctioned in 2011 by the United States Department of State and the European Union for his role in suppressing the 2009 Iranian presidential election protests.[32] The EU stated that "while he was Intelligence Minister during the 2009 elections, intelligence agents under his command were responsible for the detention and torture of, and the extraction of false confessions under pressure from, hundreds of activists, journalists, dissidents and reformist politicians. In addition, political figures were coerced into making false confessions under unbearable interrogation, which included torture, abuse, blackmail and the threatening of family members".[7][8]
