The release of Hamid Noury, one of the executioners of the 1988 massacre, from a Swedish prison is as reprehensible and contrary to recognized human rights and international humanitarian principles as it is indefensible with any excuse or legal cover. It is akin to the Nuremberg Trials freeing Holocaust criminals or operators of Hitler’s crematoriums with praise, returning them to normal life, and even sending them to places where their accomplices would welcome them with flowers.
A Reminder
Hamid Noury, also known as “Hamid Abbasi,” is an executioner who was promoted from guard to assistant prosecutor due to his active participation in the abuse and torture of prisoners. This criminal operated in Gohardasht and Evin prisons, working under the criminal prosecutor Mohammad Moghiseh (Nasserian). During the 1988 massacre of prisoners, Noury transferred prisoners to the “death corridor” after their death sentences were issued by the Death Commission members, Hossein-Ali Nayyeri, Mostafa Pourmohammadi, and Ebrahim Raisi. The death corridor was where prisoners were kept blindfolded for hours until Noury took them for group hangings. Since 1989, he was an assistant prosecutor in Evin prison. According to testimonies of PMOI members who survived the 1988 massacre, he repeatedly recited taunts against the PMOI in the death corridor and insulted them before taking them for execution.
Since Noury’s arrest and trial, the plan of the Iranian regime’s Ministry of Intelligence was to free him from imprisonment through staged actions by its agents and mercenaries. However, the testimony of steadfast prisoners and PMOI members in Ashraf 3, along with over two years of continuous protests by free Iranians, justice-seeking families, and supporters of the Iranian Resistance outside the doors of the Stockholm court, ensured the continuation of the trial of this perpetrator of genocide and crimes against humanity.
Noury was sentenced to life imprisonment and compensation to the families of the massacre victims after 90 trial sessions in the Stockholm court. According to the court ruling, after serving his prison term (25 years), he was to be expelled from Sweden and never allowed to return. This sentence was upheld in the appellate court.
Feeding the Dirty Hostage-Taking Industry
This double standard of defending the Universal Declaration of Human Rights publicly while engaging in dirty deals with human rights violators secretly will primarily lead to the hostage-taking of violating countries by the religious fascism. Undoubtedly, the repercussions will eventually catch up with those who have betrayed these values.
Yes, it must be emphasized that the exchange of this notorious executioner for two Swedish hostages will not stop the religious fascism’s hostage-taking industry; on the contrary, it will strengthen it.
Years ago, IRGC commander Mohsen Rezaei said: “Americans must know that they cannot take any military action against Iran… If Americans have any ill intentions towards Iran or think of a military attack, they should be sure that we will take a thousand Americans hostage in the first week, and then they will have to pay billions of dollars to free each one of them… We recommend they abandon this thought.”
Rezaei’s admission indicates that advancing the cycle of hostage-taking and exchanging them for terrorists and murderers is a lucrative industry for the ruling fascists in Iran. Feeding this dirty industry will only make it flourish.
A Dagger to the Heart of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Laws
The release of this executioner from a Swedish prison violates this country’s international commitments, disrespects Swedish courts, judges, and prosecutors, and disregards the verdict and views of all honorable personalities who demand the prosecution and punishment of the perpetrators of the 1988 massacre. As stated in the June 8 statement of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) – Judicial Commission: “In 2023, 31 parliamentary majorities, and so far in 2024, 22 parliamentary majorities, have condemned the execution of 30,000 political prisoners in 1988 by order of Ruhollah Khomeini in global statements supporting the resistance of the Iranian people and have called for accountability for those responsible for this major crime.”
Although the losers of dealing and colluding with fascism are the negotiating countries, it must be emphasized that the cost of these pragmatic and hateful dealings is paid by the Iranian people and their resistance movement with their lives and blood.
The release of this executioner is a dagger to the heart of human rights and the grieving families who have no sign of their beloved children’s graves from the summer 1988 massacre; it is an explicit and offensive affront to all victims and those massacred throughout history; it conveys the message that crimes against humanity and genocide can be committed with impunity.
It is obvious that the Iranian Resistance will never remain silent in the face of this. The manipulation of sacred and universal concepts such as “human rights” and “international humanitarian laws” must end. Protesting against this disgraceful deal is part of the campaign for Iran’s freedom from the clutches of decrepit religious fascism.
As Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) said, “All prisoners, torture victims, plaintiffs, families of massacre victims, and the entire Iranian nation vehemently condemn the disgraceful release of Hamid Noury. They neither forgive nor forget.”