Two senior judges from Iran's supreme court were fatally shot during a shocking attack inside a Tehran courthouse, according to reports from state media. Ali Razini and Mohammad Moghiseh were killed on Saturday morning when an armed assailant entered the court premises. The attacker subsequently took their own life while attempting to escape, leaving a bodyguard injured in the process.
Judges Assassinated in Tehran Supreme Court Attack
Judges Assassinated in Tehran Supreme Court Attack
Two judges killed in a targeted shooting within Iran's judiciary system raise concerns over political violence.
The judiciary's official news agency, Mizan, indicated that the motive behind the shooting remains unclear. However, both judges have previously been implicated in the crackdown on political dissent, especially during the tumultuous decades of the 1980s and 1990s. Following the incident, the judiciary described the event as a "premeditated assassination."
Initial investigations revealed that the assailant had no prior involvement with cases tried by the supreme court, prompting authorities to launch a broader inquiry to identify any potential accomplices. Judiciary spokesman Asghar Jahangir shared details with Iranian state television, explaining that the gunman entered the court armed with a handgun before initiating the attack.
Mohammad Moghiseh, one of the slain judges, was previously sanctioned by the US in 2019 for allegedly presiding over numerous unjust trials that disregarded fundamental legal protocols. He was appointed to the supreme court in 2020 after serving as a judge in the Tehran Revolutionary Court. In 2023, Canada also implemented sanctions against Moghiseh and six other Iranian judges for their roles in significant human rights violations.
As the news develops, the implications of this assassination on Iran's judiciary and political landscape remain to be seen.
Initial investigations revealed that the assailant had no prior involvement with cases tried by the supreme court, prompting authorities to launch a broader inquiry to identify any potential accomplices. Judiciary spokesman Asghar Jahangir shared details with Iranian state television, explaining that the gunman entered the court armed with a handgun before initiating the attack.
Mohammad Moghiseh, one of the slain judges, was previously sanctioned by the US in 2019 for allegedly presiding over numerous unjust trials that disregarded fundamental legal protocols. He was appointed to the supreme court in 2020 after serving as a judge in the Tehran Revolutionary Court. In 2023, Canada also implemented sanctions against Moghiseh and six other Iranian judges for their roles in significant human rights violations.
As the news develops, the implications of this assassination on Iran's judiciary and political landscape remain to be seen.
