Implicit Defense by Iran's Judiciary Chief of the Executions of Summer 67

The head of Iran's judiciary, in response to the publication of criticisms by Ayatollah Montazeri regarding the mass executions of Summer 67, implicitly defended the execution process and warned that the judiciary would "decisively confront" those attempting to distort the history of the revolution. In remarks at a meeting of senior judicial officials on Tuesday, August 15, Sadegh Larijani referred to the publication of Ayatollah Montazeri's views on the 67 executions as "disturbing public opinion on security matters" and promised that this issue would lead to legal action. He also added that "what has been carried out according to judicial rulings based on religious principles and laws is not open to question, and the judgment against the warring groups is completely clear." Larijani threatened that "the judiciary will also firmly stand against those who, while trying to distort the history of the Islamic Revolution, seek to create security vacuums and division, tearing apart the revolutionary and religious society of Iran." Recently, the release of an audio file of a meeting between Ayatollah Montazeri, the former deputy leader of the Islamic Republic, and the committee that decided on the 67 executions, which contains his sharp criticisms and opposition to the decision-making and execution processes, has received widespread attention on social media and messaging platforms. This audio file was removed from Ayatollah Montazeri's website just 24 hours after its release "at the request of the Ministry of Intelligence," and it sparked various reactions, especially among close associates of Ayatollah Khomeini. However, the judiciary chief is the first official in the Islamic Republic to respond to its release. Larijani's statements, which were reflected in the judiciary's news agency, Mizan, did not directly address the issue of the audio file or the 67 executions, but his attacks on the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization and his implicit references to Ayatollah Montazeri indicate that these remarks are a reaction to the recent audio file's release. The head of the judiciary of Iran also stated that "the foresight of Imam Khomeini, alongside his divine nature, led to the swift removal of those who thought they would later become the Supreme Leader, and if it weren't for that foresight, the Islamic Republic of Iran would have taken a different path today." Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, who was one of the founders of the Islamic Republic and a key theorist of the velayat-e faqih, was appointed as the deputy leader in 1985 by the Assembly of Experts, but his disagreements with Ayatollah Khomeini, particularly regarding the mass executions of 67, led to his removal from office just months before the death of the former leader of the Islamic Republic. Sadegh Larijani opposed the idea of apologizing to the survivors of the 67 executions during the high-ranking judicial officials' meeting on Tuesday. He stated that "unfortunately, some are going astray and are now saying strange things and claiming to apologize to those whose children have killed the honorable people of this country over the years." The head of the judiciary added that "the hypocrites terrorized the respected people of this nation with the worst and most violent methods for years, and in their crimes, they did not spare even ordinary people in the streets; however, now, in a mischievous and mysterious move, Western media, along with some factions and individuals inside the country, are trying to whitewash these crimes and revive their names." These remarks are a reference to statements made by Mostafa Tajzadeh, a prominent reformist figure who recently called for the government to apologize for the 67 executions, and were also welcomed by Ahmad Montazeri. The Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization, one of the main opposition groups to the Islamic Republic, has been engaged in armed struggle since before the 1979 revolution, and in addition to figures that the Islamic Republic attributes their assassination to the organization, it is also responsible for the murder of several American citizens before the establishment of the Islamic Republic. Islamic Republic officials refer to this organization as "hypocrites" and claim that it is responsible for the deaths of 17,000 Iranian citizens, having collaborated during the eight-year war with Iraq. The actual number of those executed in the summer of 67, which included many supporters of the Mojahedin and leftist groups opposed to the Islamic Republic, is unclear, but various sources have reported the number of executions to be in the thousands. In this context, Ahmad Montazeri stated: "There are still many unpublished documents." The defense of the 67 executions continues in response to the audio file of Montazeri. Alam al-Huda called for decisive action against Ahmad Montazeri due to the release of the audio file. The Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization reacted following the release of Ayatollah Montazeri's audio file. Ahmad Montazeri stated: "The audio file is a document of Ayatollah Montazeri's opposition to the 67 executions."