Iran: More then 30,000 political prisoners were massacred in Iran in the summer of 1988

Montazeri’s revelations and Iran’s crime against humanit

Crime against humanity

By Dr. Majid Rafizadeh an Iranian-American political sicentist

In reference to one of the worst mass executions in the modern history of the Middle East, being carried by the government officials, Montazri stated that “I am a straight-talking person.

Many members of those who wereexecuted were from the opposition group, MEK which is led currently by Maryam Rajavi. Amnesty Internationalestimates that in the summer of 1988, the overall number of people executed were 4,500. Some estimates reach as high as over 30,000 people. Many of them 

belonged to the MEK.

Ironically, all those people to whom Montazri is addressing and warning in the audio, all of those who were involved in these crimes, appear to enjoy high positions currently. Mostafa Pourmohammadi was a representative of the intelligence ministry to the notorious Evin prison, and he was recently appointed by the so-called moderate president Hassan Rowhani to be justice minister. Ebrahim Raeisi was a public prosecutor and is currently the head of Astan Quds Razavi, which has billions of dollars in revenues.

Its worth noting that the revelation of this mass execution was pointing to only one summer of the 37-year history of the Islamic Republic. What else is hidden there that we are not aware of?

Finally, it is incumbent on the human rights organizations, the United Nations, and the International Criminal Court (ICC) to conduct rigorous investigations and bring those who have committed and continue to commit these crimes – and more likely who currently serve in high positions in Iran – to justice. Calls to bring these people to justice are increasing.

International organizations and the international community have done that before, such as for members of the Nazis. No individual or institution that commits crimes against humanity should live comfortably without being held accountable.

The facts: 

- More then 30,000 political prisonners were massacred in Iran in the summer of 1988

- The massacre was carried out on the basis of a fatwa by Khomeini.

- The vast majority of the victims were activists of the opposition PMOI (MEK).

- A Death Committee approved all the death sentences.

- Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi, a member of the Death Committee, is today Hassan Rouhani’s Justice Minister

- The perpetrators of the 1988 massacre have never been brought to justice.