Amnesty International: The Death of Raisi Should Not Hinder 'The Right of the People of Iran to Achieve Justice, Truth, and Compensation'

On Wednesday, June 2, Amnesty International announced that the death of Ebrahim Raisi should not hinder 'the right of the people of Iran to achieve justice, truth, and compensation' for 'numerous crimes committed under international law and human rights violations since the 1980s during his time in power.' Ebrahim Raisi and his companions were killed following the crash of the helicopter carrying him in the mountainous regions of East Azerbaijan province. In its statement, Amnesty International noted that Ebrahim Raisi was appointed as the Attorney General of Karaj at the age of 20 and quickly rose through various ranks, holding different judicial and executive positions. He has been directly involved in the enforced disappearance and unlawful executions of thousands of political dissidents in the 1980s, unlawful killings, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, and torture of thousands of protesters. The human rights organization added that the violent harassment and torture of women and girls who defy mandatory hijab have been among the serious human rights violations that Ebrahim Raisi has directly intervened in or overseen over the past 44 years. Diana Tahavi, head of the Middle East and North Africa section, stated in this statement that 'Ebrahim Raisi should have been criminally investigated while he was alive, including for committing murder, enforced disappearances, and torture, which are crimes against humanity.' Ms. Tahavi added that his death should not deprive victims and their families of the right to truth, and they have the right to see Raisi's accomplices held accountable for his crimes. She said that criminals who bear criminal responsibility have enjoyed systematic immunity in the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the international community must now take steps to create pathways for accountability for the victims of crimes under international law and other serious human rights violations committed by Ebrahim Raisi and other Iranian officials. Ebrahim Raisi had publicly defended the widespread executions in the years leading up to the late 1980s. The response of the security and judicial apparatus of the Islamic Republic to the people regarding Raisi's death continues, with threats and arrests of citizens following expressions of joy over Ebrahim Raisi's death.