Majid Sharif Vaghefi
Majid Sharif Vaghefi (Persian: مجید شریف واقفی) was one of the Mujahedin e Khalgh group's leaders who was killed by his friends because of his insistence on keeping Islamic ideology while his friends decided to accept Marxism.
Early Life
He was born in Isfahan, 1949, in a religious family. He was one of the best students in high school. Following advises from his teachers he continued his studies in Electrical Engineering at Aryamehr University, which changed its name to Sharif University as a memorial after the Islamic revolution.
Political Activities
After graduating he began work in a local office, while he became a member of a secret group called Mujahedin e Khalgh (People's Mujahedin of Iran).
In 1971, while trying to obtain some guns to be used in fighting the Shah, SAVAK was informed about the group and many members were arrested. Majid was one of those who weren't arrested and so secretly tried to gather others to organize again. The Shah's regime killed many of the leaders, but the group, now called the organization, successfully reorganized. About a year later, when Majid was one of leaders, others in the group decided to change the group's ideology from Islam to Marxism. Majid refused and was thus removed from the Central Group of leaders. In 1975, the groups leaders, informed by his Marxist and spy wife, Leyla Zomorrodian, learned that he was trying to establish a new branch (Islamic Branch) and to collect members who remained loyal to Islamic ideology. They called him one day for an appointment and killed him in an alley in Tehran, then burned his body, so no one could identify him. However, SAVAK had been informed and arrested some of those who engaged in his murder. After the revolution, police arrested the man who ordered his murder Taghi Shahram, who was one of Mujahedin's leaders and killed many for their beliefs after Majid. Shahram was executed in 1981.