Ḵursandī, Hādī

Hadi Khorsandi is a contemporary Iranian poet and satirist. Since 1979, he has been the editor and writer of the satirical journal Asghar Agha. Khorsandi is particularly renowned for his examination of Iranian socio-political matters, particularly his open criticism of all forms of dictatorship and religious fundamentalism. He has lived in exile in London, England since the 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, journalists about the Persecution of Bahá'ís. He is the father of Shappi and Payvand Khorsandi, UK-based Iranian comediens.