11 Human Rights Organizations Demand Removal of PourMohammadi from Cabinet

In an open letter, 11 human rights organizations highlighted Mustafa PourMohammadi's role in the execution of political prisoners in 1988 and urged Hassan Rouhani not to introduce him as Minister of Justice in his new cabinet. These organizations also requested that Rouhani conduct a 'transparent' investigation into the allegations against PourMohammadi. The authors of the letter emphasized that reintroducing PourMohammadi as Minister of Justice does not reflect Rouhani's 'promises' and 'voter trust.' They called for the appointment of someone to the position who has 'proven their commitment to human rights principles.' Among the signatories are Sarah Leah Whitson, director of the Middle East and North Africa division of Human Rights Watch, Mehrangiz Kar, head of the Siamak Pourzand Foundation, Roya Boroumand, executive director of the Abdorrahman Boroumand Foundation, and Mahmoud Enayat, director of Small Media. In a recently released audio file of Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, PourMohammadi is mentioned as a representative of the Ministry of Intelligence in the decision-making committee for the execution of political prisoners in 1988, who were serving their sentences at the time of execution. Ebrahim Raisi, a candidate in the recent presidential election, was also a member of the decision-making committee as the deputy prosecutor at that time. During the election, Hassan Rouhani stated, 'The people of Iran declare that they do not accept those who have only known executions and imprisonment for 38 years.' In 2013, Human Rights Watch, Reporters Without Borders, and the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran issued a statement emphasizing the 'violation of human rights' by PourMohammadi and urged Rouhani to withdraw his nomination as Minister of Justice. However, these demands were ignored. PourMohammadi has held various positions, including Deputy Minister of Intelligence and Revolutionary Prosecutor in Khuzestan, Hormozgan, and Khorasan provinces from 1979 to 1986. He has also served as Minister of Interior in the ninth government and head of the General Inspection Organization. In this context, PourMohammadi's explicit remarks about the 1988 executions include, 'I take pride in executing God's order,' and he has stated, 'I am currently facing the most attacks, and they do not let up.' The commander of the Basij in Iran has called the 1988 executions 'completely correct' and based on Khomeini's fatwa. There have been calls for the UN to recognize the 1988 executions as a crime against humanity. Ahmad Montazeri has demanded the delivery of documents and files related to his father. Makarem Shirazi stated that the release of Montazeri's audio file was a retaliatory act that should be taken seriously. Reformists have urged Rouhani for serious changes in the government.