Despite Requests for Investigation in 1988 Massacre, Iran Regime is Determined to Ignore It
The 1988 massacre of thousands of political prisoners in Iran is a stain on the regime’s theocractic rule over Iran. According to Ahmad Montazeri, who released the audio tape where his father Hossein-Ali Montazeri can be heard telling a meeting of the members of the “Death Committee” that they are carrying out a crime against humanity, out of respect for the people of Iran, Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi should not be part of President Rouhani’s administration.
Pour-Mohammadi was a member of this “Death Committee”, deciding on the fate of life or death for those political prisoners. Additionally, he has had a long career with the regime, being part of the Interior Ministry and serving as the Minister of Justice during President Rouhani’s first term.
Ahmad Montazeri
“In the presidential election, choosing was between two people and between two mindsets. Mr. Raisi wanted to take control of the whole Cabinet and Mr. Pour-Mohammadi constitutes a unit and a percentage of the Cabinet. But the message of the people about issues related to Rouhani’s rival was very clear and Rouhani himself stood with the people and during the elections several times criticized pressure methods and exclusions and executions, so I think Rouhani will not introduce Mr. Pour-Mohammadi in this round,” said Montazeri.
During the election campaign, Rouhani did attack Raisi, noting that the people didn’t want someone who knew only prison and execution. If he doesn’t follow through with his promises, then the people will be disappointed and according to Montazeri, “a great national damage will be done.”
In spite of this plea and the evidence against these men that has already been released, the regime seems focused on erasing any physical evidence of the massacre. According to reports, the clerical regime has planned to demolish and destroy a mass grave in Ahvaz, which is located in the southwest. The plan was revealed by the Iranian Resistance Satellite TV. The plan is to remove all signs of the mass grave in this area by expanding a residential plan that has been started next to this location. Amnesty International confirmed the news and details of the report on June 1, 2017.
“In this report, which includes documented images…that show bulldozers are at work on a construction project site right next to mass graves in Ahvaz, and pails of construction materials and construction waste in the area of the mass grave could be observed. Construction workers have found out that the regime plans to level the concrete blocks of the graveyard, and construct a building in its place,” said Amnesty International.
According to Amnesty International, this cemetery contains the remains of at least 44 people, who have been field executed, and this construction project will eliminate all forensic signs, vital evidence of the massacred political prisoners and opportunities to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Clearly, despite calls for Iran to acknowledge and investigate this massacre, the individuals associated with it continue to serve in high posts within the regime and the evidence of the massacre continues to disappear.
