Seyedali Bozorgvari (born 1957 in Tembi village, Charam District, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, Iran) is a Shia cleric, former member of Iran’s Parliament (Majlis), and a conservative political figure. He is also known for his military service and social activism.
Education and Religious Background
Bozorgvari was born into a religious family descended from the Sayyids of Imamzadeh Ali. He began his early education in local villages and continued his religious studies in seminaries in Behbahan, Khorramshahr, Shiraz, and Qom. He studied advanced Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh and usul) and was mentored by scholars such as Ayatollah Seyed Karamatollah Malek-Hosseini and Seyed Ali Asghar Hosseini.
Military Service
During the Iran-Iraq War, he served over 24 months on the front lines and participated in 17 major operations. After his term in Parliament, he joined the fight against ISIS in Syria as part of the “Defenders of the Shrine,” a term used for those protecting Shia holy sites.
Political Career
Bozorgvari served as the representative for Kohgiluyeh, Bahmaei, Charam, and Lendeh in the 8th and 9th terms of the Iranian Parliament. He was a key member and First Secretary of the Agriculture, Water, and Natural Resources Commission. Known for his fiery speeches, he gained media attention for his sharp criticisms during the confirmation hearings of President Rouhani’s cabinet in 2013.
Public Image and Social Work
He is admired in his home province for his modest lifestyle and close relationship with the local people. Bozorgvari has been involved in improving infrastructure and reducing poverty in underdeveloped areas of southwestern Iran.
