1988 executions of Iranian political prisoners

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In July 1988, the supreme leader of Iran, Ruhollah Khomeini, ordered the execution of thousands of political prisoners. These executions took place in at least 32 cities across Iran and lasted about five months. Trials were not concerned with establishing guilt or innocence, and the executions were carried out without any legal authority. Many prisoners were also tortured. Great care was taken to conceal the executions. Estimates, including those found in reports by human rights organizations Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, indicate that between 2,800 and 5,000 men, women and children were killed. Other sources, including the People's Mujahedin of Iran (MeK), whose members and supporters featured prominently in the killings, says that 30,000 political prisoners were massacred. Reportedly, most of those killed were supporters of the MeK. Members of other leftist factions, such as the Fedaian and the Tudeh Party of Iran (Communist Party), were also killed. Various motives have...

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