Theologian and advocate for democracy Mehdi Khalaji was born in 1973 in the Iranian city of Qom. Indeed, the birth of Khalaji in a leading center for Shiite theology would prove to be symptomatic of the general direction of his life. Fascinated by religion at an early age, Khalaji would dedicate his life to understanding Islam. In the process, he would embrace views at great variance to those of the Islamic fundamentalists whose interpretation of Islam as violent and vengeful Khalaji would come to despise and ultimately challenge.

The studious Khalaji began his coursework in Islamic theology and jurisprudence in the seminaries of Qom. Studious is indeed the word: Khalaji’s education in Qom would ultimately take him 14 years to complete (1986 to 2000). Later, he transferred to Tarbiat Modarres University to study philosophy. In time, he completed his studies at the Sorbonne, earning a PhD in Shiite theology and exegesis. A true intellectual, Khalaji focused his studies primarily on modern intellectual and philosophical developments in Iran and the wider Islamic and Western worlds. Consequently, he can eclectically claim to be an expert in key fields, such as Iran, Islamic philosophy and culture, Shiite law and theology, and Western philosophy. He can also speak Persian, Arabic, French, and English – all fluently.

Following and during his educational achievements, Khalaji became active in the field of journalism in Qom and later Tehran. There, among other things, he served on the editorial board of a theological journal. Afterwards, in 1995, Khalaji joined the intellectual monthly Kyan and the daily Entekhab. The prominence of these Iranian publications put Khalaji in the forefront of Persian journalism. At Entekhab, Khalaji even rose to become a Senior Editor. (Entekhab is owned by Tara Hashemi, a close advisor to Ali Khamanei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, and a board member on the Islamic Propagation Office of the Islamic Seminary of Qom). During his journalistic career, the young Khalaji also became a prolific translator, translating the works of humanist Islamic scholars, such as Nasr Abu Zayd, Burhan Ghalioun, Muhammad Arkoun, and others besides, into Persian.

Eventually, in 2000, after his completing studies at Qom, Khalaji moved to Europe and joined the BBC Persian Service. However, by then, the young man had become increasingly doubtful of the Iranian regime, its theocratic authoritarianism, and its domestic, regional, and international intentions. As a result, Khalaji opted to become a broadcaster for the Prague-based Radio Farda (the Persian-language service of the U.S. government's Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) where he could join a propaganda effort against what the Persian democrat saw as an increasingly dangerous regime at variance with the ideals of liberty. At Radio Farda, channeling his ire towards Iranian tyranny and Arab autocracy in general, Khalaji produced news, features, and analysis on a range of Middle Eastern, Iranian, and Islamic issues. He also wrote similar pieces for the Daily Star and on his Persian weblog, Ketabcheh.

Currently, after years of research and writing, Khalaji became a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, an esteemed U.S.-based think tank. There, he has continued his work against Iranian autocracy. Indeed, Khalaji’s current field of research is the role of politics in contemporary Shiite clericalism in Iran and Iraq. Considering the strong political power of clerics in both countries, and the abilities of religious figures therein to pull the strings of the state, Khalaji’s work is both needy and relevant for policymakers everywhere.

In his work at the Washington Institute, Khalaji has shown himself to be a stark advocate for freedom and democracy in the Middle East. Generally, he believes in what many would describe as a “hawkish” outlook on Iran. To Khalaji, Iranian theocracy is a great regional danger to the Middle East and to the Persian people. He also believes that international pressure on Iran must be intense and united and that it must be targeted at the politico-religious authorities in the country. He also disputes heatedly any idea that the threat from Iran has diminished since the National Intelligence Estimate of 2008 portrayed Iranian nuclear intentions as tepid. For these views, many have dubbed Khalaji to be a “warmonger.” However, the interests of Khalaji have always been on strengthening human rights in his home country and in bringing liberty and democracy to a dark and isolated spot of the world. Without international pressure, without facing down the Iranian regime, without giving public aid and recognition to Iranian dissident groups in favor of democracy, Khalaji does not believe that the threat of Iranian Islamic terrorism will diminish.

Needless to say, Khalaji’s views have not endeared the intellectual to Iranian apologists. In November, 2007, Khalaji even filed a defamation lawsuit against Iranian blogger Hossein Derakhshan. Among other things, Derakhshan criticized Khalaji for his alleged "service to the enemies of his people and humanity.” The lawsuit was eventually dismissed and Derakhshan was not silenced. However, neither was Khalaji, who continues his prolific writing and lecturing in the name of freedom.

 

A list of Khalaji’s writings can be found at:

 

Videos, part one and two, of Khalaji at a conference on American foreign policy can be found at:

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