Behzad Bahrami (Death Threats, Failed Attempt)
Behzad Bahrami was born in Hamedan in 1983. Both of his parents were employees of the University of Medical Sciences. He and his three brothers lost their father in 2004. After completing his education in environmental studies at Hamedan Azad University, he became involved in the campaign headquarters of Masouma Ebtekar, who was the head of Iran’s environmental protection organization, during the 2006 Tehran City Council elections. After his activities there, he was hired by the environmental protection organization. In less than three years, he rose to the position of consultant to the director in the inspection department of this organization.
The existence of nepotism and widespread corruption within the environmental protection organization, particularly concerning the improper allocation of hunting permits to government officials and their families, promoted close ties between Mr. Bahrami and certain Iranian government officials and their relatives who held an interest in hunting. Notable among these were the son of Ali Fallahian (Minister of Intelligence during Hashemi Rafsanjani's government) and Hashemi Rafsanjani's son. In 2011, he was invited to join Ali Fallahian's office, where he assumed the role of a public relations officer, leveraging his adept communication skills and the relationships he had cultivated with Fallahian's associates. Initially tasked with PR duties for one of Fallahian's affiliated newspapers, his responsibilities gradually expanded to encompass economic and financial matters. He would often appear alongside Ali Fallahian in numerous photographs capturing Fallahian's meetings and gatherings.
According to Behzad Bahrami, his name was often used as a mere formality in many business deals, contracts, or significant government loans. Subsequently, these assets were transferred to other individuals through powers of attorney obtained from him. This practice continued to the point where, unknown to him, a checkbook was issued in his name or his name was listed as a major debtor in bank loans, despite him not having personally received any such loans. Concerned about the ramifications of this situation, he raised the issue with Ali Fallahian himself, only to be swiftly dismissed.
On July 30, 2015, Bahrami discovered that without his knowledge, all his conversations and text messages had been obtained from the Mobile Communications Company of Iran (MCI). His subsequent investigation revealed that the judicial authority had authorized this action. Concerned about possible repercussions, he felt compelled to leave Iran immediately. Consequently, Mr. Bahrami fled Iran illegally in 2015 and sought refuge in Turkey. Before departing, he gathered numerous documents and financial contracts from Ali Fallahian's office, as well as from his son's personal computer, and took them with him to Turkey. He gave interviews to various media outlets, exposing the widespread corruption of this high-ranking official of the Islamic Republic and their families across multiple sectors. He also published documents detailing their substantial investments in various countries and their exploitation of governmental connections.
Behzad Bahrami asserts that the information and documents he possesses primarily pertain to corruption within the environmental organization and IRGC missile activities within environmentally protected areas. He has audio recordings featuring Fallahian's voice, serving as evidence of economic and sexual corruption, along with derogatory remarks against women. He holds documents indicating the acceptance of substantial bribes in exchange for releasing confiscated properties belonging to individuals associated with the previous regime or those of Bahá'í faith. Additionally, he has uncovered documents revealing the use of counterfeit identities and identification documents, including passports belonging to members of the Fallahian family under the surname "Hosseini." Furthermore, he possesses evidence of significant economic investments made by the Fallahian family and their relatives in Malaysia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia.
In late July or early August 2016, a woman named Neda Amin, identifying herself as a political refugee and a reporter for Israel Times, contacted Behzad Bahrami via Facebook, proposing an interview. She offered to collaborate with individuals described as "Israeli human rights activists" to facilitate Bahrami’s immediate resettlement to America. Following Bahrami’s acceptance of the offer, he was contacted via Skype by individuals requesting samples of his documents. They assured him of assistance for his swift relocation to America and asked for his residence address in Antalya city to send him documentation to expedite his asylum process. A few days later on 11 August 2016, while entering his friend's car after leaving his house, Bahrami noticed that his car was being pursued by two armed men. Despite being chased and shot at by the assailants, he managed to escape unharmed. During the Turkish Intelligence investigation, it was revealed that Bahrami had fallen into a trap, and that the calls and promises of assistance had originated from Tehran. He was placed under the protection of the Turkish Security Organization for four years, with the condition that he refrained from granting interviews and resided in a safe house. Bahrami describes his time in Turkey as the most challenging period, as he constantly felt hunted by individuals.
Ultimately, in 2020, Bahrami relocated to another country in Europe. During the initial months, while compiling an exposé on Fallahian's corruption, the local Security Organization advised him to refrain from publishing the exposé to safeguard his security.
ـ______________________
References:
- Abdorrahman Boroumand Center in person interview with Mr. Behzad Bahrami, August 8, 2023
- Iranshahr News Agency, Thursday, August 21, 2015
- Behzad Bahrami's statement regarding The trap of intelligence forces and Ms. Amin's team, YouTube, January 23, 2018
- Behzad Bahrami's article on the corruption of the Environmental Organization, Zamane Tribune, December 3, 2020