On Thursday, 14 Farvardin 1404 (3 April 2025), the Judiciary of the Islamic Regime of Iran announced the death of Hossein-Ali Nayeri. Nayeri was one of the perpetrators of the massacre of political prisoners in the summer of 1988 and a member of the “Death Commission” at Gohardasht and Evin prisons. He issued execution orders for hundreds of political prisoners. The Judiciary did not specify the time or what has caused his death. It appears that during the shooting at the Justice Palace — which led to the deaths of Mohammad Moghiseh (Naserian) and Ali Razini, two other infamous and “death judges”— Nayeri was also targeted. There is a possibility that he did not survive his injuries. Prior to the death of these two, Ebrahim Raisi, the Islamic Regime’s president, another member of Tehran’s “Death Commission”, had been killed in a helicopter crash.
The serial deaths of these members of the Death Commissions of Gohardasht, Evin, and Mashhad prisons will never erase the reality of the massacre of political prisoners in the summer of 1988. Thus, the elimination of these criminals cannot stop families of the executed political prisoners to seeking truth, justice, and accountability.
The Islamic Regime of Iran cannot absolve itself of this horrific crime with any tricks or eliminations. As stated in Article 169 of the Iran Tribunal’s verdict:
“These violations were designed, encouraged, and carried out (or caused to be carried out) by a central authority. Khomeini’s fatwa clearly shows that the decision to annihilate political prisoners was made at the highest levels of the Islamic Republic of Iran and was implemented with their full knowledge and participation.”
Thus, the families’ quest for justice is not limited to members of the Death Commissions alone; the entire Islamic Republic of Iran must be held accountable for these crimes.
Moreover, as stated in Article 165 of the Iran Tribunal’s verdict:
“The Islamic Republic of Iran’s control over the agents, prosecutors, judges, prison officials, interrogators, and other individuals involved in committing these crimes is undeniable. Therefore, the Tribunal holds that, under international law, the Islamic Republic of Iran can be held responsible for crimes against humanity, committed at the direction of government officials and within the framework of state institutions and prisons.”
Iran Tribunal Foundation
Saturday, 5 April 2025 / 16 Farvardin 1404
