Draft:Hossein Sheikh-ol-Eslam

Hossein Sheikh-ol-Eslam (born 8 Azar 1331 in Isfahan – died 15 Esfand 1398 in Tehran) was a member of the Islamic Consultative Assembly in the 7th term of the Islamic Consultative Assembly from the electoral district of Tehran, Rey, Shemiranat and Islamshahr and was from the members of Muslim Student Followers of the Imam's Line. He was also one of the activists of the Capture of the US Espionage Den (13 Aban 1358) and played an active role in the formation of Hezbollah Lebanon. He was previously Iran's Ambassador to Syria, also Advisor to Ali Larijani (Speaker of the Parliament) and Director General of International Affairs of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, and on 3 Mordad 1395, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian replaced him and Sheikh-ol-Eslam was also appointed by Mohammad Javad Zarif as Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. In Khordad 1397, he was appointed to the Deputy for International Affairs of World Assembly for Approximation of Islamic Sects by a decree.

Birth

Hossein Sheikh-ol-Eslam was born in 1331 Solar Hijri in Isfahan.

In his autobiography, he says: I grew up in a religious family and we lived on Iran Street. I studied at Naser Khosrow School located in Ruhi Alley, which is now Shahid Fayazbakhsh. Many great figures such as: martyrs Fayazbakhsh, Beheshti, Motahhari, Vahid Dastjerdi, etc. were in this neighborhood. Every religious fighter who wanted to get a house came to this neighborhood. At that time, Iran Street was a religious Muslim neighborhood. In the year 42, when the 15 Khordad incident happened, we were very affected. All the residents of the neighborhood were bazaar merchants and the sound of guns filled the neighborhood.

I remember they closed our school. After this incident, the sound of guns affected my spirit but I had no political activity. I went to America with the intention of becoming a scientific figure and being able to serve my country. I knew the Imam since 1342 Solar Hijri. This question arose for us: what are these noises for? What are these words? Then it became clear that there is a Mr. Khomeini who is against the Shah. Having contact with him and mentioning his name was dangerous, my father was also very conservative and we were afraid of going out. Fear of SAVAK dominated my father's and family's mindset. Perhaps one of the reasons he wanted me to go abroad was to be away from this atmosphere. Excerpt from the article about Hossein Sheikh-ol-Eslam

Executive-Social Activities

He was from the members of Muslim Student Followers of the Imam's Line who along with other students captured the US Espionage Den on 13 Aban 1358 Solar Hijri and also was the representative of the electoral district of Tehran, Rey, Shemiranat and Islamshahr in the 7th term of the Islamic Consultative Assembly and Iran's Ambassador to Syria from 1377 to 1382 Solar Hijri during the presidency of Seyyed Mohammad Khatami.

His political party was counted as the Islamic Society of Engineers which is a principalist party and is considered one of the subsets of the Front of Followers of the Line of the Imam and the Leader.

Hossein Sheikh-ol-Eslam has responsibilities such as Deputy for International Affairs of the World Assembly for Approximation of Islamic Sects and International Deputy of Islamic Azad University, Deputy of the Organization of Culture and Islamic Relations, Secretary General of the Secretariat of the International Conference in Support of the Palestinian Intifada, Political Deputy and Arab and African Deputy, Middle East and Commonwealth Deputy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and for a short period Deputy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in his work record.

He was also for a while Advisor to Ali Larijani Speaker of the Parliament and Director General of International Affairs of the Islamic Consultative Assembly. On 3 Mordad 1395 Solar Hijri Hossein Amir-Abdollahian replaced him and Sheikh-ol-Eslam was also appointed by Mohammad Javad Zarif as Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Sheikh-ol-Eslam and the Indispensable Role in the Formation and Support of Hezbollah Lebanon

Hossein Sheikh-ol-Eslam despite political and executive activities in various positions of the system and more than anything has been prominent in the field of foreign policy. Hezbollah Lebanon was established in the early 1980s AD when Hossein Sheikh-ol-Eslam was responsible for Iran's Middle East policy. The growth and development of Hezbollah as a nascent political group in the 1980s AD and its consolidation as a serious actor in the field of developments in Lebanon and the Middle East in the 1990s AD occurred during Hossein Sheikh-ol-Eslam's deputyship in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He was for 16 years and for 2 decades (1360 to 1376) Political Deputy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, meaning the most important position of this ministry after the minister. Exactly during the period when Ali Akbar Velayati was the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran. In fact, Hossein Sheikh-ol-Eslam during this period was counted as the senior official of Iran's Middle East policy in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was considered one of the most effective diplomats of the system in the Middle East region.

When Mohammad Khatami became President in 1376 Solar Hijri, Sheikh-ol-Eslam was for another 6 years as Iran's Ambassador to Syria in the center of developments related to Iran's Middle East policy and continuing support for Hezbollah. In other words, Hossein Sheikh-ol-Eslam played a serious role in guiding Iran's supportive policy towards Hezbollah until 1376 Solar Hijri and even after this time he was always one of the serious advisors to Qasem Soleimani commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Death

Sheikh Islam bade farewell to the world on 15 Esfand 1398 at Masih Daneshvari Hospital.

Reactions to Sheikh Islam's Death

Hojjat al-Islam Hamid Shahriri

حجت‌الاسلام و المسلمین حمید شهریاری Secretary-General of the مجمع جهانی تقریب مذاهب also conveyed his condolences in a message regarding the death of Hossein Sheikh Islam, Deputy of International Affairs at the World Assembly of Approximation of Islamic Sects. In this message, he emphasized that this devout scholar spent his life promoting and consolidating the Islamic Revolution, and his brilliant record of service in the Islamic Consultative Assembly, the Embassy of the Islamic Republic, and in the realm of Islamic Ummah unity and approximation between sects is part of his honors that will shine forever on the pinnacle of history.

Lebanese Islamic Resistance Movement (Hezbollah)

The Lebanese Islamic Resistance Movement (Hezbollah), in a statement condoling the death of Hossein Sheikh Islam, wrote: "We have lost a great brother who was alongside and in step with the resistance from the beginning of its establishment." The statement read: "We received the news of the death of our dear brother Hossein Sheikh al-Islam with utmost sorrow, and with his passing, we have lost a great and dear brother.

We have known him since the beginning of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, and he was in step and alongside the resistance since the establishment of the Lebanese Islamic Resistance, and was a good supporter and helper for the resistance in all its stages." At the end of this statement, Hezbollah Lebanon condoled the death of Hossein Sheikh al-Islam to His Eminence Ayatollah Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, his honorable family, and his dear children.

Lebanon Amal Movement

The Lebanese Amal Movement stated: He dedicated his life to serving Islam and untiring effort in achieving unity and approximation between Islamic sects, as well as emphasizing the path of resistance for the liberation of Palestine and all occupied Arab and Islamic lands. Sheikh Islam had a long and brilliant history of supporting the Palestine issue and Islamic unity as a fundamental principle for the return of honor, dignity, and sovereignty to the Islamic Ummah.

Ali Akbar Velayati

Ali Akbar Velayati, Advisor to the Supreme Leader in International Affairs and Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Founder of Islamic Azad University, condoled the death of Hossein Sheikh Islam in a message as follows: Dr. Hossein Sheikh Islam, as one of our country's prominent diplomats, always played a valuable and pivotal role in advancing the goals of the System and the Revolution in various responsibilities, including Deputy of Arab and African Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during my tenure, Embassy of Iran in Syria, Representation in the Islamic Consultative Assembly, Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deputy of International Affairs at Islamic Azad University, and ..., and rendered important services to the country that will always keep his name and memory kindly in minds. I have had the privilege of close cooperation with Dr. Sheikh Islam since the time of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs until now, who was a valuable, ethical, committed, specialized, and sincere personality.

Mohammad Javad Zarif

Mohammad Javad Zarif, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran, condoled the death of Hossein Sheikh Islam, Deputy of International Affairs at Islamic Azad University and one of our country's experienced diplomats, in a message. Mohammad Javad Zarif's message is as follows: The news of the death of an old friend, sincere and compassionate brother, and valuable and veteran colleague, the late Hossein Sheikh Islam, caused great sorrow for me and all his friends and colleagues at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The name of Hossein Sheikh Islam has always been associated with piety, honesty, frankness, and friendship for me. The struggles and sincere services of dear Hossein will never be forgotten.

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Special Assistant to the Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, also condoled the death of Hossein Sheikh al-Islam and stated in a post: Dear Sheikh Islam was the "loud voice of the Islamic Revolution" in the field of diplomacy and foreign policy. Truly, he should be called the "Commander of Resistance Diplomacy"; Martyr Ghazanfar Roknabadi is considered one of the fruits of association and cooperation with this understanding, thoughtful, loyal, dignified, thinker, professional, and revolutionary diplomat of Islamic Iran. Dear Sheikh Islam, until the last days of his blessed life, thought about the continuation of resistance against the Zionist occupiers of Al-Quds Al-Sharif (the First Qibla of Muslims), and until the last moments of his life, designed and ideated for the liberation of Quds and support of the Resistance Axis.

Ali Akbar Salehi

Ali Akbar Salehi, Vice President and Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, also condoled the death of Hossein Sheikh Islam in a message; Throughout his sincere and honest activities in the international arena and foreign policy, with revolutionary, compassionate, and unparalleled jihadist services in establishing the Resistance Axis flow, he played an effective and unique role in advancing the goals and ideals of the Islamic Revolution, services that this faithful servant in the climate of politics will remain with a good memory in the minds of the honorable people of Islamic Iran.