Political Figures React to the Death of Raisi; Prince Reza Pahlavi: He Was Khamenei's and Khomeini's Executioner

Several political figures opposing the Islamic Republic reacted to the news of Ibrahim Raisi's death following a helicopter crash in the heights of East Azerbaijan, labeling him as "the executioner and agent of Khomeini and Khamenei" who, although he "escaped a fair trial," brought "great joy to the people" with his death. Prince Reza Pahlavi, in a message, referred to Ibrahim Raisi as "the executioner of Khomeini and Khamenei and their agent in repression, corruption, and murder," stating that "the regime's policies domestically and internationally will not change with his death," and that his replacement will emerge "from another electoral circus." In this message published on various social media platforms on Tuesday, May 31, he noted the happiness of "the Iranian nation and especially the families of political victims" at Raisi's death, saying, "Perhaps their only regret is that he did not witness the fall of the Islamic Republic and was not tried for his crimes." According to him, "Ibrahim Raisi was a criminal against humanity and one of the most ruthless and notorious leaders of the Islamic Republic regime," who "from the very first years of this regime's rise to power, was involved in death, executions, and crimes, with his hands stained with the blood of thousands of Iranians." Prince Reza Pahlavi also emphasized that "our nation will not be satisfied with anything less than the destruction of the Islamic Republic that has occupied Iran," adding that Iranians will "continue to fight with greater strength and solidarity against a regime whose weaknesses and divisions are becoming more apparent every day." He also honored the "memory and name of each victim of Ibrahim Raisi," stating: "We will double our efforts for freedom and reclaiming our homeland, as the world will be a better place to live without the Islamic Republic and its criminal leaders." Hamed Esmaeilioun, a member of the families seeking justice for flight PS752, considered the Iranian people, who are "victims of crimes against humanity," as "worthy of seeing justice," writing on social media: "It was deserved that Ibrahim Raisi (the judge of death, a member of the Supreme National Security Council at the time of the downing of flight PS752 and the crimes of the bloody November) and other criminals of the Islamic regime be tried in a fair court for committing crimes against humanity." He emphasized that the "opportunity for justice" regarding Raisi was "taken from the victims, but his name will remain in darkness and criminality in history." Masih Alinejad, a journalist and political activist opposing the Islamic Republic, also reacted to the death of the "butcher of Tehran" following the helicopter crash, stating: "Why should I hide my feelings when many young Iranians, especially women injured during the uprisings, share videos of dancing in joy at his death?" She added: "His regime sent assassins to New York to kill me, but I am alive and writing about his death. We Iranians will fight for our freedom, democracy, and dignity until the day we rid ourselves of it." Shirin Ebadi, a lawyer and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, stated that with Raisi's death, "the case of another criminal against humanity in the Islamic Republic" was closed without "trial in court and accountability for his crimes," calling him a president "emerging from a sham election" who, although he escaped a fair trial with his death, brought "great joy to the people." Shirin Ebadi said: "The international community must know that a people who celebrate the death of a president in this way will celebrate with even greater joy the fall of the regime!" She pointed out that Raisi's "crimes" in the 1980s and "his role in the death commission in the summer of 1988 will never be forgotten," referring to the reactions of the families seeking justice that were "a mix of regret and joy, calmness and anger" and "renewed hope for the realization of justice." The Iran Novin Party, in a message, called Ibrahim Raisi "undoubtedly one of the deadliest figures of the Islamic Republic" who "spent a significant part of his wasted life serving the regime's repressive apparatus and directly participated in the murder of thousands of Iranians." The National Union for Democracy (Nofdi) also referred to Raisi as a "major criminal" on its X account, emphasizing that "Iranians are not mourning his loss" and assured: "We assure you that there is no need to express condolences to the Iranian people." In this context, several European lawmakers criticized the expressions of "solidarity" from European officials regarding the deadly helicopter crash involving Ibrahim Raisi and his entourage. Reports of citizens celebrating, dancing, and distributing sweets and chocolates following Raisi's death have also been published. In response to the reactions and joy of Iranians at Raisi's death, Mohammad Reza Shafiei Kadkani, a prominent figure in Persian literature, reposted part of "The History of Bihaqi" on Instagram, writing: "This transient world is not a place of permanence, and we are in a caravanserai, moving after one another; no one will have a place here, so one must live in such a way that after death, good prayers are said for them." Additionally, former wrestling champions Rasoul Khadem and Amir Reza Khadem also shared this text on their Instagram stories. The government media of the Islamic Republic officially confirmed the news of the death of Ibrahim Raisi, Hossein Amirabdollahian, Mohammad Ali Alhashem, Malek Rahmati, and other passengers of the crashed helicopter in the early hours of Tuesday, May 31. Meanwhile, the United States emphasized its continued support for the Iranian people in response to the deadly helicopter crash involving Ibrahim Raisi and several other officials of the Islamic Republic.