Hossein-Ali Nayyeri

Position at the time of 1988 massacre:

Head of Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Courts; head of the Death Commission in Tehran

Present post and occupation:

Head of the Supreme Disciplinary Court for Judges and deputy head of the national Supreme Court

He was appointed as the Head of the Death Commission in Tehran upon Khomeini’s order. The order, which was issued on 28 July 1988 according to Iran’s former deputy supreme leader Hossein-Ali Montazeri, states:

“Those who are in prisons throughout the country and remain steadfast in their support for the Monafeqin [Mojahedin], are waging war on God and are condemned to execution.”

“The task of implementing the decree in Tehran is entrusted to Hojjatol-Islam Nayyeri, the religious judge, Mr. Eshraqi, the Tehran prosecutor, and a representative of the Intelligence Ministry.”

The Death Commission started its work in Tehran’s Evin prison on 28 July 1988. The commission operated in both Evin and Gohardasht prisons. It is reported that they used helicopters to commute rapidly between Evin and Gohardasht to issue death sentences.