Amnesty International: The 'Stunning' Release of Hamid Nouri is a 'Remarkable' Blow to the Survivors and Relatives of the Victims of the 1988 Massacre

Amnesty International, in a statement, described the 'stunning' release of Hamid Nouri, a former prosecutor at Gohardasht prison who was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Swedish Supreme Court for his involvement in the execution of thousands of political prisoners in Iran in 1988, as a 'remarkable blow' to the survivors and relatives of the victims. In this statement, published on Tuesday, June 18, the organization warned that the prisoner exchange between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Sweden exacerbates the 'crisis of impunity' in the Islamic Republic. According to this human rights organization, the decision of the Swedish government not only emboldens Islamic Republic officials to commit further crimes under international law, including 'kidnapping without fear of consequences,' but also undermines the 'right to access justice' and raises concerns about Sweden's commitment to international laws. Amnesty International emphasized that the conditions of Hamid Nouri's pardon by the Swedish government and his return to Iran are evidence of the organization's previous concerns that Islamic Republic officials are taking Swedish citizens hostage for exchange. Amnesty International also referred to the risk of execution for Ahmadreza Jalali, a Swedish-Iranian citizen who remains arbitrarily detained by the Islamic Republic, especially in light of the ongoing and alarming executions in Iran, and urged Swedish authorities to take immediate action for his release and return home. Ahmadreza Jalali traveled to Tehran in spring 2016 at the invitation of the University of Tehran for a lecture and was arrested. Iranian judicial authorities sentenced him to death on charges of 'espionage.' This Iranian-Swedish doctor, in an audio file shared with VOA, told the Swedish Prime Minister: 'You left me with a great risk of execution in Evin prison. You did not fight for [changing] my situation or for the cancellation of my death sentence.' In its statement, Amnesty International also called on Swedish authorities to investigate all suspected Islamic Republic officials responsible for human rights violations against Ahmadreza Jalali, including his torture. Amnesty International highlighted the ongoing crisis of 'systematic impunity' regarding the commission of crimes and serious human rights violations by Islamic Republic officials and the lack of criminal accountability according to international standards. According to this human rights organization, as a result of this crisis, not a single Islamic Republic official has been investigated in relation to the massacre of political prisoners in 1988, let alone prosecuted and punished. Amnesty International stated that Hamid Nouri's sentence in Sweden, which was issued after three decades of efforts by the survivors and relatives of the victims, was the first time an Islamic Republic official was held accountable in this regard. The organization added that those seeking justice and truth are now 'horrified' by the message that the prisoner exchange sends to Islamic Republic officials that their crimes will remain unpunished. Amnesty International further called on all governments to prosecute all former and current officials of the Islamic Republic involved in crimes against humanity and other crimes under international law. Hamid Nouri, a former prosecutor at Gohardasht prison, was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Swedish Supreme Court for his involvement in the execution of thousands of political prisoners in the 1980s, which is the highest penalty under the laws of this country. This sentence was issued after more than 90 court sessions with the presence of plaintiffs and witnesses. The release of Hamid Nouri and his return to Iran sparked a wave of public outrage among Iranians and widespread reactions from political and human rights figures. A gathering of a group of Iranians took place in front of the Swedish embassy in Hamburg to protest the release of Hamid Nouri. Ahmadreza Jalali told the Swedish Prime Minister after the exchange of Hamid Nouri: 'You left me with the risk of execution in Evin.' The Swedish diplomat who was exchanged for Hamid Nouri proposed to his boyfriend. Reactions to the exchange of Hamid Nouri: the release of a 'war criminal' is an insult to the rule of law, human rights, and dignity. Reactions from political and human rights figures to the release of Hamid Nouri: it strengthens the policy of 'kidnapping' and 'betrayal of the Iranian people.' Widespread criticism of Hamid Nouri's release: it is shameful and encourages the Islamic Republic to continue kidnapping.