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Born in 1963 into a Jewish family, Ardeshir Babaknia was the son of Mahbubeh and Ruhollah. They initially lived in Nahavand, southwest of Hamadan province, Iran. His father was a well-known merchant in the Nahavand market. In 1953, Ardeshir’s father decided to move his family to Tehran, along with his wife and children. This move aimed to enhance the educational prospects of his children, leverage the improved opportunities in the capital, and further expand his business.
Ardeshir completed his primary education at “Alliance School” and his secondary at “Mir Afzali High School” in Tehran. He then pursued his studies at the University of Tehran, where he successfully obtained his medical doctorate in 1972. In 1974, Dr. Ardeshir Babaknia traveled to the United States to pursue a specialized course in women’s diseases at Johns Hopkins University, and completed a course in infertility at the University of California. The time for Ardershir to return home coincided with the revolution in Iran. The instability that ensued led him to reluctantly stay in the US until the situation stabilizes. He began practicing medicine and spent the next thirty years as a clinical and research member at the University of California from 1978 to 2008. He also held the position of a medical sciences professor at Chapman University in Irvine, California.
A bitter experience in Tehran inspired him to write a book titled “Winners of the Nobel Prize” — while in medical school, he was subject to the antisemitic behavior of a friend. The book was edited by Professor Solomon Haim and published in 1972 in Tehran in collaboration with the Tehran Jewish Committee of Tehran. The goal was to demonstrate the positive, influential, and worldwide presence of Jews in science and knowledge. Later, he also published several books in English, including “As Long as We Live, Let Us Live” and “Indifference of the World to Hitler’s Crimes”.
Ardeshir Babaknia has written numerous scientific articles and research papers based on his studies in physiology and medicine, published in scientific journals in America, Europe, and Israel. With over 60 papers in various fields in both Persian and English languages, Dr. Babaknia pioneered laser therapy for women’s infertility surgery in America. He has frequently appeared in multiple media outlets such as ABC, BBC, and CNN, discussing his research in this field. He also received the highest award in medical research in 1980 — the National Medical Research Award for Excellence in Medical Research from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
He was among the founders of the “Persian Heritage Foundation” in 1986 and the “Foundation for Jewish Heritage Research in Iran” in 1990. Furthermore, in 1989, he was honored with the title “Co-founder of Chabad Cultural Center in Orange County”.
Dr. Babaknia’s curiosity in understanding the causes of diseases and his exposure to people’s pain and suffering led him to focus more on the tragedy of the Holocaust and other genocides that reflect the widespread suffering of humanity. What kind of deficiency could lead a person, or society for that matter, to commit such crimes as the Holocaust? In 2012, he published a series of books on the Holocaust, culminating over fifteen years of research, study, and investigation of documents, records, and books from archives and libraries worldwide, mainly focusing on the Holocaust. His works delve into the response, or lack thereof, of world leaders and societies to the horrific crimes of the Holocaust, and he engages in dialogues with survivors, figures, and Holocaust researchers.
Without a doubt, the purpose of writing about the Holocaust was to increase awareness, promote understanding of human sensitivity and ethics, and acknowledge the pain and suffering resulting from human cruelty towards fellow humans. The first book in the series “The Holocaust: Man’s Inhumanity to Man” explores the history of Judaism in Germany and the persecution of European Jews. It delves into the Jewish settlement in the region since the 4th century AD, and their relationship with the German people during their 1600-year stay in the country. The period was marked with constant anti-semitism, making it a dangerous time for Jews.
The second book, “America’s Response to the Holocaust”, discusses the reaction and indifference of American leaders and other leaders in the Free World towards the initial persecution of Jews in Germany. The book also examines the lack of issuance of visas to save Jewish refugees from Germany. The author explores the response and behavior of the American people and government regarding the Nazi persecution of European Jews, considering the nation’s ethical, human, and democratic values. Moreover, the government’s commitment to help the Jews was quite unfair and minimal compared to what they could have done.
The third book, “Global Reactions to the Holocaust”, discusses the reactions of England, various European countries, the Pope, and the Vatican, shedding light on the responses of different nations and governments towards the Holocaust, with particular attention given to Hungarian Jews as the last group of Holocaust victims. Additionally, it examines the German people’s reaction to Nazi crimes.
In the fourth book, “The End of the Holocaust and the Liberation of Nazi Camps”, documents records, personalities, and events related to the Holocaust and other genocides of the past century.
In his book “The Holocaust”, the author raises the question, “How can a regime transform such systematic and inhumane massacres into a national duty in a short period? And how can the world and its inhabitants allow such horrors to occur?”
Dr. Babaknia firmly believes that the Holocaust, which involves the systematic and calculated mass killing of European Jews during World War II, is not merely a Jewish tragedy or issue. It represents the moral death of humanity, the moral collapse of democracy, and the product of calculated thoughts and actions by heartless politicians and bureaucrats.
The outcome of this series resulted in numerous interviews with media outlets, participation in international conferences, and invitations from universities, cultural institutions, and human rights organizations across various countries. Additionally, it garnered awards and recognition.
Continuing his literary and scholarly endeavors focused on the Holocaust, Dr. Babaknia harnessed the power of 300 sketches and drawings created by the Iranian cartoonist and designer Ardeshir Mohasses. These illustrations portrayed the thoughts and emotions of both Holocaust victims and perpetrators (crafted earlier at Dr. Babaknia’s request). In 2016, he compiled these visuals into a collection called “Humanity, NOT”. Each image eloquently conveys the profound tragedy of the Holocaust, complemented by recollections, historical documents, and viewpoints from Jews during the Second World War.
*Dr. Ardeshir Babaknia’s speech about the Holocaust – Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem 2017