Professor Javaid Rehman, the former UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran until July 2024, recently referred to the mass executions in Iran in the early 1980s and the infamous 1988 massacre as genocide. Speaking at a conference in Paris, hosted by the Iranian opposition, Rehman condemned the horrific legacy of the Islamic Republic’s systematic use of capital punishment as a political weapon. His remarks have intensified the ongoing international debate about accountability for these past atrocities and the current human rights crisis in Iran.
The rising number of executions in Iran today continues to alarm the global community. Since the election of the so-called “reformist” president, the regime has executed approximately 160 people, including 10 women. Additionally, four women activists currently face the threat of imminent execution. This continuation of state-sanctioned executions reflects Iran’s historical use of the death penalty to silence dissent.
The roots of this grim reality can be traced to the early years of the Islamic Republic, particularly in the 1980s. Among the regime’s darkest acts is the 1988 massacre, when an estimated 30,000 political prisoners were executed based on a fatwa issued by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini. These victims, subjected to sham trials lasting mere minutes, were executed in a brutal campaign to eliminate political opposition.
Despite the scale of this atrocity, no one has been held accountable for the 1988 massacre, creating a culture of impunity. In his final report as Special Rapporteur, Professor Rehman highlighted how the regime’s ability to avoid punishment for these past crimes has contributed to its ongoing violations of human rights. Rehman’s call for an international investigation into the massacre underscores the importance of holding the regime responsible. His recommendation for an international mechanism to prosecute Iranian officials involved in the 1980s atrocities is seen as a vital step toward justice.
The resurgence of executions has ignited widespread outrage both within Iran and among the Iranian diaspora. Many have rallied behind the “Call for Justice” campaign, which seeks to hold the perpetrators of the 1988 massacre accountable. This campaign is seen as integral to the broader fight for justice and human rights in Iran.
The international community bears a moral responsibility to support the Iranian people’s struggle for justice. Both the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU) must take decisive action, including establishing an international tribunal to prosecute regime officials for genocide and crimes against humanity. As a crucial step, Professor Rehman recommended blacklisting the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), the regime’s main tool of repression, to signal firm opposition to Iran’s ongoing human rights abuses. Supporting the Iranian people’s right to self-defense and justice will be key to their pursuit of freedom and democracy.