Sadegh Zibakalam
Sadegh Zibakalam Mofrad is an Iranian academic, author and pundit described as reformist and neo-liberal.
A graduate of the University of Bradford, he is a professor at University of Tehran and appears frequently on international news outlets including the BBC News and Al Jazeera.
His books "How Did We Become What We Are?" and "An Introduction to Islamic Revolution" are among bestsellers and prominent books on Iranian contemporary politics.
Zibakalam has become a familiar face in Iran for his passionate and daring debates with hardliners in which he publicly challenges the state line on many sensitive topics.While teaching at Islamic Azad University of Zanjan, Zibakalam registered as a candidate for the 2000 Iranian legislative election from Zanjan, but he was disqualified by the Guardian council.Views
In January 2014, he wrote an open letter to Hassan Rouhani and criticized him for not focusing on his campaign promises including freeing political prisoners and ending house arrest of the 2009 presidential candidates. This was in reaction to a recent Rouhani's speech in praise of pro-government protests against Green Movement protests on Ashura of 2009.
Zibakalam has questioned the achievements of the nuclear program of Iran and for this he has been charged with "weakening the system".
In February 2014, Zibakalam publicly stated that he recognized the State of Israel because the United Nations recognises it as a state.Accolades
