Habib Elghanian | |
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Habib Elghanian
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Born | 5 April 1912 Tehran, Iran |
Died | 9 May 1979 Tehran, Iran |
(aged 67)
Nationality | Iranian |
Occupation | Businessman |
Known for | Owner of PlascoKar Com. |
Habib (Habibollah) Elghanian (Persian: حبیب (حبیبالله) القانیان, 5 April 1912 – 9 May 1979) was a prominent Iranian Jewish businessman and philanthropist who served as the president of the Tehran Jewish Society and acted as the symbolic head of the Iranian Jewish community in the 1970s.
He was arrested and sentenced to death by an Islamic revolutionary tribunal shortly after the Islamic revolution for charges including corruption, contacts with Israel and Zionism, and "friendship with the enemies of God", and was executed. He was the first Jew and businessman to be executed by the Islamic government.
Elghanian has six brothers, Aghadjan, Davoud, Nourollah (father of Henry Elghanayan), Sion, Ataollah and Nedjatollah. In 1959, Elghanian established Plasco, a plastics manufacturing factory in Tehran which later became the largest and most technologically advanced plastics manufacturer in Iran. He played a significant role in bringing Western technology to Iran in the 1960s and 1970s. A self made multi-millionaire, Elghanian was known for his entrepreneurial accomplishments in Iran and Israel. In addition, he served as the leader of the society in the 1960s and 1970s.
Shortly after the Islamic revolution, the new government of Iran arrested Elghanian and charged him with spying. The charges included corruption, contacts with Israel and Zionism, and "economic imperialism". He was tried by an Islamic revolutionary tribunal and sentenced to death. A report by Time magazine states:
Elghanian, who was convicted of spying for Israel, was said to have made huge investments in Israel and to have solicited funds for the Israeli army, which the prosecution claimed made him an accomplice "in murderous air raids against innocent Palestinians."
Elghanian stated that he was not a supporter of Zionism, though his Plasco Building was built by Israeli engineers during the Shah Era when Iran had close relations with Israel, and he had made investments in Israel.
On 9 May 1979, Elghanian was executed by firing squad in Tehran. He was the first Jewish citizen and one of the first civilians of Iran to be executed by the new Islamic government.