Name Shaban Jafari | ||
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Other names Shaban Bimokh ("Brainless"), Sha’aban Jafari Occupation Strongman, professional political strong arm Martial art Pahlevani and zoorkhaneh rituals | ||
Shaban Jafari (Persian: شعبان جعفری) (born 1921 in Tehran – died 2006 in Santa Monica, California) often known as Shaban Bimokh (Persian: شعبان بیمخ, "Shaban the Brainless") was an Iranian ruffian and practitioner of varzesh-e bastani. A controversial figure in politics, he was instrumental in overthrowing Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh's government in 1953 Iranian coup d'état.
Biography
Shaban Jafari, often known as Shaban Bimokh, was an infamous street thug in Tehran. He was also a practitioner of Iranian Traditional sport (varzesh-e bastani) and was a frequent at Zoorkhaneh. During the 1953 Iranian coup d'état, he was often regarded as a leader of street fights for the Shah and against the popular Mohammad Mossadegh. His opponents claimed that he received money from the British and American intelligence agencies. He himself maintained that he was in prison during the coup and could not have participated in it. After the Islamic Revolution, he moved to United States because he was amongst those wanted by the new revolutionary government for his attachments to the Shah's regime. His later life was relatively calm and he died in Santa Monica in 2006. A book of his memoirs was published in the United States by the Iranian-American journalist Homa Sarshar which became very popular inside Iran.
