The Iranian presidential candidate accused of executing thousands

Al-Arabia – Iranian presidential candidate Ebrahim Raisi approved executing thousands of prisoners in 1988 when he was member of the commission of death that was tasked with eliminating political prisoners who opposed the regime.

According to the Iranian opposition, the authorities executed between 3,500 and 15,000 political prisoners in 1988. The majority of those killed were members of the People’s Mujahedin of Iran.

Raisi, 56, has strong relations with the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, security apparatuses and judicial authority and he also enjoys the support of the Iranian supreme guide. However, his popularity among the Iranian public is low mainly due to his affiliation with the commission of death.

He is currently a member of the Assembly of Experts, general deputy at the Special Clerical Court and Custodian of Astan Quds Razavi, an autonomous charitable foundation in Mashhad.

The website of a campaign to defend human rights in Iran slammed approving Raisi to run for the presidency and accused him of committing crimes against humanity.

“Raisi should be tried to for committing these hideous crimes so how can he aspire to become president?” Hadi Qaimi, the campaign’s chief, asked.