Eissa Hashemi, the 43-year-old son of an Iranian regime leader, resides in Los Angeles and is reportedly a college psychology instructor at the Chicago School.
He is the son of Masoumeh Ebtekar, infamously dubbed “Screaming Mary” during her time as the spokesperson for the extremists involved in the U.S. embassy seizure in Tehran back in 1979. This was reported by a news outlet recently.
Calls for his deportation have emerged through a Change.org petition, which references the Chicago School website.
“While the mother has no regrets about her role during the U.S. embassy occupation, many Iranians are affected by her actions, as seen in her son’s life in the U.S. We want Eissa Hashemi and his wife Maryam Tahmasebi to be expelled immediately,” said one petition.
Hashemi has also faced criticism for not condemning his mother’s past actions during the prolonged hostage situation involving 52 Americans.
A report from 2015 noted Hashemi was studying for his doctorate at the Los Angeles campus of the Chicago School of Professional Psychology.
The article highlighted that during the hostage crisis, his mother frequently appeared on American television and openly expressed her disdain for the U.S., despite having grown up in Philadelphia.
Eissa Hashemi isn’t the only one; many children of Iranian officials are reportedly opting for education in Western nations like the United States.
This has raised eyebrows, questioning how his parents could permit him to study in a country they have historically criticized. After all, hostility towards the U.S. has long been a foundational element of the regime they helped establish.
Reports from earlier this year indicated Ebtekar became the first woman vice president in the Islamic Republic of Iran following the hostage crisis.
Footage from 1979 captures her declaring, “The United States is an imperialist power” during an interview.
Recently, news emerged regarding the niece of Iranian figure Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani—who has vehemently criticized the U.S. while showcasing her luxurious lifestyle in Los Angeles—being arrested and set to be expelled without a chance of return. It was also reported that her daughter faced similar legal troubles.
