Iran Focus
London, 12 November – Alsharq Al-Awsat Newspaper published a report on November 5, 2016, exhibiting the results of a new research carried out by Khalij-e-Fars (Persian Gulf) regarding the massacre of the political prisoners in Iran in 1988.
What they found is this: “The researchers did a research on the statistics and numbers as well as the events related to the systematic executions of Iran in 1988 when Khomeini took office.” The Report continues, “The dictatorial regime that rules in Iran is established on the gallows that Khomeini founded. This regime tried to follow suppression and execution as a way to get rid of rivals who are the fan of thoughts and progress in the political sovereignty.”
The executions continue today, 37 years later.
The research focused on the three charges of “waging war against Islam”, “acting against the national security” and “rooting corruption in the society”. These charges are still used to eliminate political dissidents.
The researchers also wrote about the the consequences of the recent release of an audiotape of the Ayatollah Montazeri. The 40-minute tape is a recorded conversation of Ayatollah Montazeri with the 4 members of Khomeini’s committee, known in media as the death committee. The tape proves that the former and current leaders of the Iranian regime played a significant role in this crime against humanity, and that Khomeini himself signed the orders of executions.
The fatwa ordered by Khomeini in 1988 legalized the execution of the PMOI (MEK) as well as other who wouldn’t pledge allegiance to the regime. It began a massive mobilization against anyone who supported the PMOI (MEK), sentencing them to the death penalty. The Judiciary of Iran passed sentence and executed 30,000 people, as estimated by the PMOI (MEK).
People who were previously sentenced to imprisonment or had already served or been serving their time in prison, as well as those who had been released but imprisoned again with Khomeini’s order, were executed, many of them only because they had family connections with the members and supporters of PMOI (MEK).
The current Supreme Leader, Khamenei was the president during those years, and was one of the main perpetrators of such decisions.
Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the current chairman of the Expediency Discernment Council, was the head of Parliament in those years, and consulted Khomeini for his important decisions.
The reports examines the future. If Hassan Rouhani takes the office for the second time, it is likely that the number of executions will continue to increase, since the Iranian regime has continued its trend of increasing numbers of executions. The regime views its political opponents as threats to its survival and continuity.
