Two ruthless Iranian judges allegedly responsible for the mass execution of political dissidents in 1988 have been killed in a shooting at the Supereme Court building in Tehran.
Ali Razini and Mohammad Moghisseh were shot Saturday morning after a gunman opened fire in the Supreme Court in a ‘planned assassination’, according to the judiciary’s website.
The shooter is said to have then killed himself following the attack.
State news agency IRNA also reported that one other person was injured in the attack.
The two slain judges are said to have worked on cases ‘fighting crimes against national security, espionage and terrorism’.
The motive behind their killing was not immediately clear, but according to the judiciary, the assailant was not involved in any cases before the Supreme Court.
It did not provide further details on the attacker’s identity.
An investigation into the incident has been launched, according to authorities.
Two top Iranian judges have been killed in a shooting at the Supereme Court building in Tehran. Pictured: Judge Ali Razini
Mohammad Moghisseh, 68, had been sanctioned by the US in 2019
Members of the police stand in front of the judiciary building after the assassination of the Supreme Court Judges Mohammad Moghiseh and Ali Razini in Tehran, Iran, January 18, 2025
President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed his condolences over the deaths, calling on the authorities to act swiftly.
‘I strongly urge the security and law enforcement forces to take the necessary measures as soon as possible by examining the dimensions and angles of this reprehensible act and to identify its perpetrators,’ he said.
Veteran judge Moghisseh, 68, was sanctioned in 2019 by the United States for having ‘overseen countless unfair trails, during which charges went unsubstantiated and evidence was disregarded’, according to the US Department of the Treasury.
Razini, 71, held several important positions in Iran’s judiciary and was previously targeted in a 1998 assassination attempt by assailants ‘who planted a magnetic bomb in his vehicle’, according to Mizan.
Though attacks targeting judges are rare, Iran has seen a number of shootings targeting high-profile figures over the past years.
In October, a Shiite Muslim preacher was shot dead in the southern city of Kazeroun after leading Friday prayers.
The motive behind their killing was not immediately clear
Attacks targeting judges are rare, but Iran has seen a number of shootings targeting high-profile figures over the past years
In April 2023, a powerful cleric identified as Abbas Ali Soleimani was also shot dead at a bank in the northern province of Mazandaran.
And in August 2005, renowned Iranian judge Hassan Moghaddas was murdered by two gunmen who climbed into his car in the middle of a busy business district in Tehran.
Two men convicted over his killing were publicly executed by hanging two years later.
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