Human Rights Watch Reacts to Ibrahim Raisi’s Appointment, Citing His Role in 1988 Mass Executions

Human Rights Watch responded to Ibrahim Raisi’s appointment as head of Iran’s judiciary by referencing his involvement in a judicial committee overseeing mass executions of political prisoners in 1988, describing the appointment as reflective of deteriorating human rights conditions in Iran.

Sarah Wilson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement published Thursday, March 7 on the human rights organization’s website: “It is deeply disturbing and frankly terrifying that Ibrahim Raisi will oversee justice and accountability in Iran.” She added, “Raisi should be prosecuted for serious crimes, not investigating them.”

The statement also referenced an audio file of remarks by Ayatollah Montazeri addressing members of the executions judicial committee, known as the “death committee,” in which Montazeri told Raisi and three other members that history would remember them as “criminals.”

Source: Voice of America