On March 24, 2025, Hamid Noury, one of the perpetrators in the massacre of more than 30,000 Iranian political prisoners in the summer of 1988, undertook a despicable act by going to Behesht-e Zahra, Tehran’s main cemetery, and engaging in boasting and ranting in Section 92.
Section 92 of Behesht-e Zahra cemetery, which this ranting henchman chose for his display, is a place where some of the unnamed executed members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) and freedom fighters, including victims of the 1988 massacre, are buried. The choice of this location is not accidental. Noury and his accomplices in regime founder Ruhollah Khomeini’s “Death Commission” in 1988 hastily sent many of these heroes to the gallows. The presence of this henchman at that site and his insolence towards the massacred victims has only been made possible by the policy of appeasement from Western countries, which rewards criminals instead of delivering justice.
Hamid Noury, one of the perpetrators of the 1988 massacre of political prisoners in Iran, threatens dissidents and former political prisoners by visiting Behesht-e Zahra cemetery: "You should have all been here but you escaped and went abroad."
Credit: @HanifJazayeri… pic.twitter.com/C6Rgbe5JoP— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) March 30, 2025
He shamelessly called these unforgettable and proud heroes of Iran’s contemporary history “criminals!” and “terrorists.” This henchman, who was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for “crimes against humanity” by a court in Sweden but was handed over to the regime in a shameful deal, threatened the members of the PMOI/MEK, saying: “Your place was also right here, but you fled abroad.”
It should be recalled that this henchman, a fugitive from justice, was promoted from prison guard to assistant prosecutor due to his active participation in the harassment and torture of prisoners. His assignments were in Gohardasht and Evin prisons, where he worked under Mohammad Moghiseh (also known as Nasserian). During the massacre of prisoners in the summer of 1988, he was a collaborator with the Death Commission. He escorted prisoners—after death sentences were issued by Hossein Ali Nayeri, Mostafa Pourmohammadi, and Ebrahim Raisi (who later became the regime’s president)—towards the “Death Corridor” and from there to the execution site in the prison’s Hosseiniyeh (a hall used for religious ceremonies). He became an assistant prosecutor at Evin in 1989. According to testimonies from PMOI/MEK prisoners, he repeatedly taunted the Mojahedin members in the Death Corridor, saying: “It is the Mojahedin’s repeated Ashura, hurry up!”
Hamid Noury was sentenced to life imprisonment by a court in Sweden in July 2022. This verdict followed a lengthy two-and-a-half-year trial based on documented evidence and the testimonies of dozens of political prisoners. However, in June 2024, following a shameful exchange between the religious fascism ruling Iran and the Swedish government, he was released and returned to Iran. This action, the result of a policy of appeasement towards the criminal regime ruling Iran, sparked a wave of anger and protest among freedom-loving Iranians both inside and outside the country.
Noury’s release was a betrayal of justice and human rights, giving carte blanche to criminals involved in genocide and crimes against humanity, signaling that they can escape punishment through hostage-taking and extortion.
The plan of the Ministry of Intelligence (MOIS) from the very beginning of Noury’s arrest and trial was to secure his release through staged events involving its agents and mercenaries. However, the testimonies of steadfast former prisoners and PMOI/MEK members residing in Ashraf 3, along with over two years of continuous demonstrations by freedom-loving Iranians, justice-seeking families, and supporters of the Iranian Resistance outside the Stockholm courthouse, led to the continuation of the trial of this perpetrator of genocide and crimes against humanity.
After 90 trial sessions in the Stockholm court, he was sentenced to life imprisonment. According to the court’s ruling, after serving his sentence (effectively 25 years under Swedish law), he was also to be expelled from Sweden and permanently banned from returning. This verdict had been upheld by the appeals court.
The release of this henchman from the Swedish prison constituted a violation of Sweden’s international commitments, showed disrespect towards the Swedish courts, judges, and prosecutors, and disregarded the views of all honorable figures who demanded, and continue to demand, the prosecution and punishment of the masterminds and perpetrators of the 1988 massacre.
Although the countries engaging in deals and collusion with the mullahs’ regime are the ultimate losers, it must be emphasized that the cost of this pragmatic profiteering and hateful double-dealing is paid by the people and the Resistance of Iran with their lives and blood.
This henchman’s ranting over the graves of the heroes of the Iranian people is a dagger to the heart of human rights and to the grieving families who, since the summer 1988 massacre, still have no trace of the graves of their beloved children.
The deal and the release of the henchman involved in the massacre is a blatant and insulting mockery of all victims and massacred individuals throughout history. It sends the message that one can commit crimes against humanity and genocide and remain immune from punishment.
Amnesty International wrote, upon releasing the clip of henchman Hamid Noury:
“Amid a crisis of impunity in Iran, a shocking video of former Iranian prison official Hamid Nouri – sentenced to life imprisonment by a Swedish court for his role in the 1988 prison massacres – serves as another blow to survivors & victims’ relatives still awaiting justice.”
Amnesty International also wrote:
“This video is more evidence that the prisoner swap emboldens Iranian authorities to commit further crimes under international law without fear of consequences & undermines the right to justice, truth & reparation for survivors & victims’ families.”