born 1928, Qom, Iran
disappeared Aug. 31, 1978, Libya?
Iranian-born Lebanese Sh 012B; 02BD; ite cleric.
The son of an ayatollah, he received a traditional Islamic education in Qom and in Al-Najaf, Iraq, and also briefly studied political economy and law at Tehr 0101; n University. In 1960 he moved to Lebanon, where he became involved in social work among the country's largely disfranchised Sh 012B; 02BD; ite community. In 196869 he formed the Higher Sh 012B; 02BD; ite Islamic Council to promote the community's interests, and in 1975 he formed a militia, Amal, to defend the Sh 012B; 02BD; ite community in the Lebanese Civil War . He and a small entourage disappeared while on an official trip in Libya. The Libyan government disavowed any knowledge of what became of the cleric and his companions; his disappearance has remained a highly controversial mystery.