Background
Habibi was born on 29 January 1937.
Habibi was born on 29 January 1937.
He studied sociology in France. He held a Doctor of Philosophy in law and sociology.
Habibi was the first vice president of the Islamic Republic of Iran. When he was a university student he visited Khomeini while the latter was in exile. Habibi was tasked by Ayatollah Khomenei to draft the prospective constitution of Iran when the latter was in exile in Paris.
His version was heavily modified due to criticisms and the final text was approved by the election in November 1979.
Following the Iranian revolution, Habibi was named public spokesman for the revolutionary council. He was among the main architects of the first draft of Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which was later passed for more discussion to an elected Assembly of Experts for Constitution.
The assembly made significant changes in the original draft, e.g. by introducing the new position of "leader of the Islamic Republic" based on Khomeini"s concept of Guardianship of the Islamic Jurists, which gave almost unlimited power to the clergy. The modified version was approved in a popular referendum in 1979.
In the 1980 presidential election, Habibi run for office, but received only ten percent of the vote against Banisadr"s seventy percent.
Habibi was backed by Mohammad Beheshti in the election process. Habibi served as the minister of justice under Prime Minister Mousavi. He was first vice president of Iran from 1989 to 2001, eight years under President Rafsanjani and then four years under President Khatami.
He was replaced by Mohammad Reza Aref in the post in Khatami"s second term.
Habibi died on 31 January 2013. He was buried at the mausoleum of Imam Khomeini in Tehran on 1 February.
The funeral service was attended by leading Iranian political figures, including former President Ahmedinejad.
He was also a member of the High Council of Cultural Revolution. He was also head of the Academy of Persian Language and Literature and a member of the Expediency Council.