Hadi Khorsandi

Who is Hadi Khorsandi?

Hadi Khorsandi is a contemporary Iranian poet and satirist. Since 1979, he has been the editor and writer of the Persian-language satirical journal Asghar Agha.

Khorsandi is particularly renowned for his examination of Persian socio-political matters, particularly his open criticism of all forms of dictatorship and religious fundamentalism. He has lived in exile in London since the 1979 Iranian Revolution, following criticism of the new regime. He was also the subject of death threats during the 1980s.

Khorsandi was the recipient of the Hellman-Hammett Award in 1995. In 2009 he signed an open letter of apology posted to Iranian.com, along with 266 other Iranian academics, writers, artists and journalists, about the persecution of Bahá'ís.

He is the father of Shappi Khorsandi, an Iranian-born British comedian.