Ebrahim Raisi’s legacy of atrocity and repression

Ebrahim Raisi, the president of Iran and one of the most reviled figures in the country’s modern history, has died in a helicopter crash. His death brings to a close a career marked by widespread human rights abuses, particularly his notorious role in the 1988 massacre of political prisoners. As the nation processes this news, it’s worth reflecting on the dark legacy that Raisi leaves behind, and the implications for Iran’s future.

Raisi’s ascent to power was marked by brutality and repression. Raisi was thrust into the spotlight when Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, orchestrated his rise to the presidency in 2021. But Raisi’s infamy dates back much further. At the age of 28, Raisi was a pivotal figure in the “Death Commissions” during the 1988 massacre of political prisoners, a chapter in Iranian history that continues to haunt the nation.

In the summer of 1988, following a fatwa issued by Supreme Leader Ruhollah Khomeini, the Iranian regime launched a systematic campaign to execute political prisoners across the country. These prisoners were primarily members and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran, the main opposition group. The “Death Commissions,” comprised of judges, intelligence officials and prosecutors, were set up in more than 70 cities to implement Khomeini’s deadly decree. Over the course of just a few months, between 5,000 and 30,000 political prisoners were executed, according to Amnesty International.

Raisi, then deputy prosecutor of Tehran, was a key player in these death commissions. Survivors of the massacre recall seeing him in the corridors and torture chambers of the prisons, dressed in civilian clothes, overseeing the grisly process of determining who would live and who would die. His cold efficiency in executing these orders earned him a reputation for brutality that would define his career.

Khomeini’s direct endorsement of Raisi’s ruthlessness came in January 1989. Convinced of Raisi’s dedication to the regime’s oppressive goals, Khomeini appointed him to a two-member delegation tasked with meting out death sentences and severe punishments, including amputations, to suppress dissent. This endorsement underscores the extent to which Raisi was trusted to carry out the regime’s most brutal policies without hesitation.

Despite his dark past, Raisi’s rise to the presidency in 2021 was a strategic move by Khamenei. Facing increasing internal dissent and international pressure, Khamenei saw in Raisi a reliable enforcer who could maintain the regime’s grip on power through fear and repression. Raisi’s presidency was marked by continued human rights abuses, economic mismanagement and a hardline stance against both domestic opposition and global diplomacy.

Raisi’s death in a helicopter crash is a moment of profound significance for Iran. For many, it is a symbolic end to a chapter of unrelenting state violence and repression. Yet his demise does not erase the suffering endured by the victims of the 1988 massacre or the countless others who have faced persecution under his rule. The international community must recognize this moment as an opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to human rights and justice for the Iranian people.

The silence of the international community on Raisi’s crimes has been deafening. His role in the 1988 massacre and subsequent human rights abuses has been well-documented by survivors and human rights organizations. Yet he was welcome by the United Nations, the very body that is entrusted with the task of upholding human rights. This failure of justice has only emboldened the regime’s oppressive tactics.

As Iran stands at this crossroads, the international community has a moral obligation to act. It is imperative to support the Iranian people’s quest for justice and hold the regime accountable for its crimes. Raisi’s death should not be the end of the story but rather a catalyst for renewed efforts to confront the Iranian regime’s human rights abuses and support those fighting for a free and just Iran.

Ebrahim Raisi’s legacy is one of violence, repression and systemic human rights abuses. His death in a helicopter crash closes a grim chapter in Iran’s history, but it also offers a moment of reflection and potential change. The international community must seize this opportunity to stand with the Iranian people, demand accountability for past atrocities and support the ongoing struggle for justice and human rights in Iran.

Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a Harvard-educated political scientist and scholar, and is the president of the International American Council. Follow him @Dr_Rafizadeh.