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20 Years After the Chain Murders; Interview with Mohammad Mokhtari's Son

Jan 25, 2026 January 25, 2026 2 min read 📰 Radio Farda
📋 Key Takeaway

Sohrab Mokhtari, son of a victim of the chain murders, highlights the ongoing suppression of public remembrance by the Iranian government 20 years after the events. He criticizes the lack of accountability for high-ranking officials involved in the murders and emphasizes the families' demand for justice. This situation illustrates the broader repression of dissent in Iran.

🔍 Quick Context Guide
💡 Bottom Line: The ongoing fight for justice by victims' families illustrates the deep-rooted issues of repression and accountability in Iran.

👥 Key Players

Sohrab Mokhtari MENTIONED
Son of Mohammad Mokhtari and advocate for victims' families
"Represents the voices of victims' families seeking justice and accountability in Iran."
Mohammad Mokhtari MENTIONED
Victim of the chain murders
"His abduction and murder symbolize the repression of dissenting voices in Iran."
Saeed Emami MENTIONED
Former head of the Ministry of Intelligence
"Allegedly involved in orchestrating the chain murders, representing state-sponsored repression."
Ghorbanali Najafabadi MENTIONED
Former Minister of Intelligence
"Accused of complicity in the chain murders, highlighting the lack of accountability for high-ranking officials."

📰 What Happened

Sohrab Mokhtari speaks out about the ongoing suppression of public remembrance for victims of the chain murders, 20 years after the events. He criticizes the government's lack of accountability for those involved in the murders.

  • The chain murders involved the abduction and killing of intellectuals and dissenters in Iran.
  • Sohrab Mokhtari claims that the trial of the accused was a sham and did not investigate higher officials implicated in the crimes.

💡 Why It Matters

🇮🇷 For Iran: This situation highlights the ongoing struggle for justice and the suppression of dissent in Iran, affecting public trust in the government.
🌍 Regional: The repression of dissent in Iran can influence regional stability and the dynamics of civil society across the Middle East.
🌐 International: Internationally, this case underscores the human rights violations in Iran, potentially affecting diplomatic relations and foreign policy.

📚 Background

The chain murders were a series of politically motivated killings in the late 1990s targeting intellectuals and dissidents in Iran, reflecting the regime's intolerance for dissent.

Human rights in Iran Political repression in authoritarian regimes
📡 Source: OPPOSITION
📊 Confidence: 70%
Radio Farda is known for its critical stance towards the Iranian government, providing a perspective that emphasizes human rights issues.

Sohrab Mokhtari, the son of Mohammad Mokhtari, told Radio Farda that 20 years after the chain murders, the government still prevents holding a public ceremony for the victims. Sohrab Mokhtari stated that on the Fridays coinciding with the chain murders, members of the Writers' Association and families gather at Imamzadeh Taher in Karaj to commemorate the victims, and a ceremony will also be held next Friday at this cemetery. Mohammad Mokhtari, a member of the Writers' Association, was abducted by the Ministry of Intelligence forces led by Saeed Emami on the street 20 years ago, and shortly after, his body was abandoned in the street. Sohrab Mokhtari claims that the trial of the accused in the chain murders was a sham, primarily to cover for other officials of the Ministry of Intelligence mentioned by the defendants. He said that in the chain murders case, the defendants claimed that the Minister of Intelligence (Ghorbanali Najafabadi) and several officials of the Ministry of Intelligence were involved in these murders, but these allegations were never investigated. He noted that before Mohammad Mokhtari's murder, his father had been abducted and interrogated several times in the same manner, which was never addressed. The demand for truth and justice is something that, according to Sohrab Mokhtari, the families of the victims of the chain murders will not give up. He described the chain murders as indicative of the fact that dissenters and intellectuals have been suppressed in Iran over the years.

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Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →

Translation confidence: 85%

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