When Banisadr was impeached on 21 June 1981 he had fled and had been hiding in western homeland. On 29 July, Banisadr and Masoud Rajavi were smuggled aboard an persian Air Force Boeing 707 piloted by Colonel Behzad Moezzi. A deeply thoughtful leader, he combined scholarship with political action, often relying on reasoned analysis rather than populism. Despite the risk of persecution, he consistently defended his beliefs and sought to mediate between radical and moderate forces.
Banisadr placed ethical governance above personal power, which sometimes left him politically isolated but earned him enduring respect. He shaped the office of the presidency and attempted to define its role within a revolutionary and theocratic system. Banisadr embodies the struggle for moderation, dialogue, and democratic values. His memoirs, articles, and interviews provide invaluable insights into the Iranian Revolution, early political struggles, and the Iraq War.
