Ali Eshraghi is the grandson of Ayatollah Khomeini, the religious leader who led the 1978 Iranian Revolution. Eshraghi tried to enter Iran's 2008 parliamentary elections, but was disqualified by the Guardian Council because of his reformist political platform. Soon after he was reinstated on February 13, 2008,International Herald Tribune: Iran Eases on Election.. (February 13, 2008) both Eshraghi and his family became the targets of an aggressive internet smear campaign. He voluntarily withdrew from the election on March 2, 2008.Associated Free Press: [http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5ijcHx_rywt3GwWI8AiN5cLqJ_t-g Khomeini's grandson quits Iran race after slurs (March 2, 2008)

"On the subject of interference by the military in political life, my grandfather had very clear ideas and without any hesitation he was against politicians in uniform."Adnkronos international Iran: Ayatollah Opposed Military Role in Politics... (February 15, 2008)