100 Political and Civil Activists: Raisi's Appointment is Rubbing Salt in the Wounds of the Survivors of the 1988 Massacre

More than 100 political and civil activists have described the appointment of Ebrahim Raisi as head of the judiciary as "rubbing salt in the wounds of the survivors of the 1988 massacre," "rewarding criminals," and "another clear example of the Supreme Leader's indifference and obstinacy" towards domestic and international public opinion. According to the Zeyton website, the statement declared that Raisi's appointment as head of the judiciary is "a reward for criminals and another clear example of the Supreme Leader's indifference and obstinacy towards domestic and international public opinion, prioritizing the aspirations of the ruling minority over the national interests of the country." The authors of this statement referred to Raisi's involvement in the decision-making committee regarding the mass execution of political prisoners in 1988, reminding that he is clearly described as a "criminal" by Ayatollah Montazeri. These political and civil activists considered Raisi's appointment as "defiance against public opinion, rubbing salt in the wounds of the victims' families, and the worst choice." Ebrahim Raisi, who was appointed by the Supreme Leader on March 6, is subject to human rights sanctions from the European Union and was a member of a four-person committee that decided on the execution of political prisoners in 1988. According to the authors of this statement, Raisi's emergence on the scene allows for the formation of a "jury as broad as the public opinion of all Iranians to uncover the truth and make the past a guiding light for the future," despite decades of efforts by the rulers, especially those involved in the crimes of the 1980s, to "forget," "deny," and then "justify and distort" that era. Among the signatories of this statement are Sohrab Razaghi, Ali Afshari, Mehdi Aminzadeh, Mohammad Barghai, Behrouz Bayat, Nira Touhidi, Mehdi Khanbaba Tehrani, Behrouz Khaligh, Morteza Sadeqi, Kazem Alamdari, Reza Alijani, Farakh Negahdar, Mehdi Nourbakhsh, Mohsen Yelfani, and Hassan Yousofi Ashkouri. Previously, Robert Palladino, the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, referred to Raisi's membership in the decision-making committee regarding the mass execution of political prisoners in 1988, calling his appointment as head of the judiciary "shameful." In contrast, 200 members of the Islamic Consultative Assembly from the Hope faction (reformists), conservatives, and independents welcomed Raisi's appointment in a letter to the Supreme Leader. Earlier, Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, congratulated Raisi on his appointment as head of the judiciary in a message, describing it as a sign of the "Leader's trust" and Raisi's "worthy management" in his previous responsibilities in that judiciary. This congratulation came despite Rouhani stating in one of his election campaign events in Hamadan that "people will not vote for those who have only known execution and imprisonment for 38 years." Meanwhile, some reformists have expressed hope for "positive changes" during Raisi's presidency. Ebrahim Raisi, 57 years old and born in Mashhad, began working as a deputy prosecutor in Karaj County at the age of 20 in 1980 and was later appointed as the prosecutor of that city. Other previous positions include Tehran prosecutor, head of the General Inspection Organization, and Deputy Chief of the Judiciary. He has also been appointed as the special prosecutor for the clergy since 2012 by the Supreme Leader. While holding judicial positions, Raisi has been a member of the conservative organization "Society of Combatant Clergy" since 1997.