Two Prominent Iranian Judges Killed in ‘Planned Assassination’ in Tehran
Two veteran Iranian judges, known for handling high-profile and politically sensitive cases, were shot and killed in Tehran in what authorities are calling a “planned assassination.” The assailant, who later took his own life, carried out the attack inside the court.
The Attack
According to the Iranian judiciary, the assailant targeted Judge Mohammad Moghiseh and Judge Ali Razini, two senior members of the Supreme Court, in a highly coordinated strike. The attacker, who reportedly had no pending legal cases, shot the judges before attempting to flee the scene and ultimately taking his own life. A guard was injured during the attack, but further details of the incident remain unclear.
The judiciary’s media office, as reported by state-affiliated media, described the killings as a “planned assassination.”
The Judges’ Legacy
Both Moghiseh and Razini were long-serving judges known for presiding over politically charged trials, particularly those involving protesters, activists, and artists.
- Judge Mohammad Moghiseh: Moghiseh, who headed courts dealing with cases of political dissent, was sanctioned by both the United States and the European Union for his role in overseeing “unfair trials” where charges were unsubstantiated, and evidence ignored. Notably, he sentenced eight Iranian Facebook users to a combined 127 years in prison for anti-regime activities. In 2019, he sentenced human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh to 33 years in prison and 148 lashes for her activism.
- Judge Ali Razini: Razini, who survived a bomb attack in 1999, has also faced controversy for his role in the “Death Commission” — a committee responsible for the execution of thousands of political prisoners in 1988. Razini, alongside former President Ebrahim Raisi, has been accused of overseeing these mass executions.
Impact and Uncertainty
The killings have raised significant concerns about the stability of Iran’s judiciary and political system, especially considering the high-profile nature of the victims. With both judges having long histories of involvement in controversial cases, their deaths have added fuel to ongoing debates about justice and human rights in Iran.
As investigations continue, the motives behind the attack remain unclear, and questions about the security of Iran’s judicial system persist.
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