Mohammad Sarafraz Explained

Mohammad Sarafraz
Office:Head of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting
Term Start:8 November 2014
Term End:11 May 2016
Appointer:Ali Khamenei
Predecessor:Ezzatollah Zarghami
Successor:Abdulali Ali-Asgari
Birth Place:Tehran, Iran
Alma Mater:Imam Sadiq University
Saint Joseph University
Branch:Revolutionary Guards
Serviceyears:1983-1987
Battles:Iran–Iraq War

Mohammad Sarafraz (Persian: محمد سرافراز) is an Iranian media executive who was head of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) from 2014 until his resignation in 2016.

He was the 6th director-general of the IRIB and succeeded Ezatollah Zarghami on November 10, 2014.[1] He holds a Ph.D. in political sciences from Saint Joseph University of Beirut and MA from Imam Sadiq University . He is active in IRIB since 1993 in different posts and played a crucial role in launching Press TV, Hispan TV, al-Alam and iFilm television channels.

Careers in IRIB

Sarafraz was active in the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) from 1993 and holds the position of deputy director-general in foreign affairs since 1995, being appointed by then director-general Mohammad Hashemi Rafsanjani. He played a crucial role in launching Press TV, HispanTV, al-Alam and iFilm television channels.

On 1 November 2014, Sarafraz became new director-general of IRIB, succeeding Ezzatollah Zarghami. He officially takes office on 10 November. On 11 May 2016, he resigned from his post due to illness.

Controversy

In 2013, the European Union adopted restrictive measures against Sarafraz and recognized him as being associated with violating human rights and working with the Iranian security services and prosecutors to broadcast forced confessions of detainees.[2] [3]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.radiofarda.com/content/f15-iran-tv-sarafraz/26673469.html Sarafraz will taking as IRIB head on 10 November 2014
  2. Web site: COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) No 206/2013 . EUR-Lex . 11 March 2013 . 8 November 2014 .
  3. Web site: Iran: New broadcast boss Sarafraz is on European human rights blacklist . euronews . 2014-11-08 . 2014-11-12 .