Five Former MPs: No Lessons Learned from the 'Historical Catastrophe' of 1988 Executions

Five former members of the Iranian parliament expressed regret that no lessons have been learned from the 'historical catastrophe' of the execution of political prisoners in 1988, labeling the execution of several Sunni prisoners as a 'clear testimony to the continuation of the regrettable methods' of the judiciary and its failure to adhere to 'the rule of law and justice.' These former MPs also referred to the audio file of Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri and his 'benevolent' recommendations, stating that 'the only way to save the country from the current horrific abyss' is to adhere to 'the rule of law and justice,' 'uncompromising implementation of the Constitution,' and 'opening up a space for free discussion and dialogue in the public sphere to prepare for national understanding and reconciliation.' This statement, published on Tuesday, September 2, has been signed by Ahmad Salamatian, Ali Mazrouei, Hassan Youssefi Eshkouri, Fatemeh Haqiqatjou, and Ali Akbar Mousavi, representatives from various parliamentary terms in Iran. The five former MPs considered the 'wide' public reaction to the release of Ayatollah Montazeri's audio file as indicative of its significant importance in the public conscience. The authors of this statement condemned the disregard for 'the most basic legal standards' and the 'violation of religious and customary principles' in the 1988 executions as a 'stain of shame and pollution' on 'the Islamic Republic and its highest officials and institutions.' They emphasized that 'what makes the current situation more regrettable is that nearly thirty years later... no lessons have been learned from this historical catastrophe.' According to the authors, 'there are still temptations and contaminated tendencies among some officials of the regime and parts of its opposition who consider the interests of power and their presence in promoting the law of the jungle and blind hegemony and promoting war and violence, and avoid submitting to the rule of law and dialogue and national reconciliation and international de-escalation.' The release of the audio file of Ayatollah Montazeri's remarks to the decision-making body regarding the execution of political and ideological prisoners in 1988 has sparked widespread reactions. Close associates of the former leader of the Islamic Republic, including Ali Khamenei, grandson of Ayatollah Khomeini, Mohammad Ali Ansari, a member of Ayatollah Khomeini's office, and Mohammad Mousavi Bojnourdi, a member of the Supreme Judicial Council during the founder of the Islamic Republic, have protested the release of Ayatollah Montazeri's audio file regarding the executions of political prisoners in 1988. Some officials of the Islamic Republic have claimed that the reason for the execution of political prisoners in 1988 was their 'waging war,' but Mohsen Kadivar, a prominent cleric and student of Ayatollah Montazeri, has stated that even according to 'the jurisprudential principles' of Ayatollah Khomeini, these prisoners were not 'waging war.' Meanwhile, Ahmad Montazeri, the son of Ayatollah Montazeri, stated regarding the consequences of the release of this audio file that it might serve as a 'lesson for the judicial and security authorities of the country to pay more attention to the dignity of Islam, the revolution, and the system in their dealings and trials.' The execution of Sunni prisoners is a 'clear testimony to the continuation of the regrettable methods' of the past. In their statement, the five former MPs also condemned the execution of several Sunni prisoners in August, 'without adhering to fair and legal due process,' as a 'clear testimony to the continuation of the regrettable methods' of the judiciary and its failure to adhere to 'the rule of law and justice.' The authors of this statement pointed to ambiguities regarding the lack of access of these defendants to lawyers and the manner of their interrogation, stating that 'the prevailing assumption is the dishonesty of the issued verdicts and the claims of the officials.' The statement further emphasized: 'When the head of the judiciary, time and again, through his statements and positions, engages in accusations and threats of heavy sentences against ideological, political, and security defendants, without any proven crime, such speech leaves no room for trust in this institution.' Iranian judiciary officials announced on August 12 the execution of 20 individuals who are said to be members of the 'Tawhid and Jihad' group, accusing the executed individuals of carrying out 'terrorist actions' in three provinces of the country. These executions faced international protests as well as protests within Iran, and Molavi Abdolhamid, the Sunni Friday prayer leader of Zahedan, described this action as 'far from foresight and tolerance,' referring to the 'sensitive' conditions of the region. Meanwhile, these five former MPs pointed to issues such as 'mobilizing a significant part of the Arab world' against Iran following the attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran and the declaration of armed conflict by Kurdish groups against the Islamic Republic, adding: 'In this critical situation, what wisdom and experience dictates that a number of ideological political prisoners, especially in complete ambiguity, be sent to the gallows?' According to the authors of this statement, although the Supreme National Security Council should not interfere in judicial matters, it is obliged to 'intervene in macro feasibility studies based on winning hearts and preserving national interests and unity and, with recommendations, genuinely safeguard national security.' In conclusion, these five former MPs reminded that if in the past the recommendations of 'benevolent' figures like Ayatollah Montazeri had been heeded, and judicial, security, and political matters had flowed around the 'rule of law and justice,' 'today we would be facing a better situation.' The authors of this statement also warned all officials of the country that 'the only way to save the country from the current horrific abyss and the survival of the Islamic Republic' is to adhere to 'the rule of law and justice,' 'uncompromising implementation of the Constitution,' and 'opening up a space for free discussion and dialogue in the public sphere to prepare for national understanding and reconciliation.' These former MPs have previously published collective statements regarding the house arrest of the leaders of the Green Movement, the nuclear file, and other political issues in Iran.