In a shocking incident that has sent ripples through Iran’s legal and political community, two prominent judges from the Islamic Republic’s supreme court were gunned down. According to reports by state media, the judges, identified as Ali Razini and Mohammad Moghiseh, were assassinated within the confines of the supreme court in Tehran on a Saturday morning. This brazen act of violence took place when an armed individual infiltrated the court premises, leading to a deadly confrontation.
The aftermath of the shooting saw the assailant, reportedly a lone gunman, turn the weapon on himself as he attempted to escape, thus leading to his death. Additionally, a bodyguard assigned to the judges sustained injuries during the incident, further highlighting the chaotic nature of the attack. While the authorities have not definitively established a motive, both judges have been linked to the prosecution and execution of opponents of the Iranian regime during the tumultuous decades of the 1980s and 1990s, which raises questions about whether their past actions provoked this violent reprisal.
Following the attack, the judiciary’s news outlet, Mizan, characterized the event as a “premeditated assassination.” In a subsequent communication, the media office of the judiciary clarified that preliminary investigations indicated the assailant had no prior involvement with any case the supreme court had handled. This revelation suggests a more intricate backdrop to the incident, prompting law enforcement to pursue leads aimed at uncovering any additional accomplices involved in the conspiracy.
The judiciary’s spokesperson, Asghar Jahangir, provided further insights into the violent episode during an interview with Iranian state television. He disclosed that the perpetrator entered the court brandishing a handgun and immediately opened fire upon the judges. This alarming level of aggression underscores concerns about security at critical government institutions. Previously, Judge Razini had escaped an assassination attempt in 1998, possibly indicating a history of antagonism against him.
Judge Moghiseh’s track record is equally contentious. In 2019, he faced sanctions from the United States, which accused him of presiding over numerous unfair trials that had seen charges presented without substantiated evidence. At that juncture, Moghiseh served as a judge at the Tehran Revolutionary Court. Following his elevation to the supreme court in 2020, he continued to be a controversial figure, representing a judicial system often criticized for its human rights violations.
Adding to his notoriety, Moghiseh was included in a list of seven Iranian judges sanctioned by Canada in 2023. The Canadian government cited his involvement in “gross and systematic human rights violations,” positioning him within a broader narrative of international criticism directed at Iran’s judiciary. These sanctions reflect increasing global scrutiny of Iran’s judicial practices, particularly those perceived as unjust and politically motivated.
The shocking nature of this attack, combined with the historical context of the judges’ careers, raises several critical questions about the future of Iran’s judicial system and the safety of its officials amid a climate of growing dissent and unrest. With immediate concerns for security heightening, authorities face the complex task of addressing both the violent outbursts targeting judicial figures and the underlying issues that have rendered these individuals targets. It remains clear that the ramifications of this incident will reverberate throughout Iran’s legal and political spheres, prompting debates about governance, justice, and human rights in the Islamic Republic.
