The death of those who have committed injustice and their hands are stained with the blood of the people, without going through the process of justice, not only brings comfort to the oppressors but also deprives them of the opportunity to hear the truth of their atrocities. The death of “Hossein Ali Neiri” is one example of this. His name has been recorded in the recent half century as a symbol of violence and the dark chapters of executions and massacres in the history of Iran. Whenever the massacre of political and ideological prisoners in 1367 is mentioned, Neiri’s name appears as one of the members of the “Death Commission” in that diagram.

Hossein Ali Neiri was born in 1328 in Damavand. He studied until the third year of high school and in 1343, he entered the famous Hagani School. In 1359, Neiri was recommended by Mohammad Beheshti (the then head of the Supreme Judicial Council) and entered the judicial system. According to some accounts, in 1362, he became the chief judge at Evin Prison and held the position until 1368. Neiri was a student at the seminary in Qom, under the guidance of figures such as Mohammad Mohammadi Gilani. This teacher, who was one of the faces of execution in the 1960s, trained his student in a way that he followed the same path as his teacher.

The role of Niri in the tragedy of the country’s prisons became prominent during the massacre of political prisoners in 1367. When he, along with three other members of the “Death Committee,” were tasked by the founder of the Islamic Republic to make decisions about prisoners who “persist in their hypocritical positions” and are “enemies and sentenced to death.” (3) This order and action by Ruhollah Khomeini led to the execution of thousands of political and ideological prisoners in the summer of 67. An act that, according to Hossein-Ali Montazeri (then deputy leader), forever recorded the name of Niri and other members of the Death Committee as criminals in history. (4) In 1401, Niri claimed in an interview that these executions were not due to the prisoners’ previous cases, but because of their “causing chaos again” in prison. (5) In this claim, Niri spoke about the unity and organizational relationship among

According to the deputy leader of the time, after committing a crime, Niri was registered among the criminals in history and during the time of Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the system, he continued to receive judicial sentences and missions. In the month of Dey 1367, along with Ebrahim Raisi, another member of the Death Commission of 67, they were ordered by Ruhollah Khomeini to investigate reports from the cities of Semnan, Sirjan, Islamshahr, and Dowrud and carry out the “divine order” at the request of Ruhollah Khomeini. (7) After that, these two were given another mission to deal with the “judicial problems of Sirjan and Dowrud”. According to Khomeini’s order, they were to act according to their own judgment and within the framework of Islam. (8) This matter was raised to all the stagnant cases in the Supreme Judicial Council on the first

After the death of the founder of the Islamic Republic system, Hossein Ali Nayeri continued his judicial responsibilities. He was one of the trusted individuals of the founder and became a trusted individual for the new leader. From 1988 to over two decades, Nayeri served as the deputy of the Supreme Court. In addition, he was a member of the executive command council of the Imam’s orders, as ordered by the two leaders of the system. From 2013 to 2022, he was the head of the Supreme Court of the Judiciary, as ordered by the second leader of the system. In his last role, from 2022 until his death in the beginning of 2025, he served as the senior advisor to Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, the head of the judicial system.

Nayiri’s name has become entangled with political suppression and executions in Iran, and in international legal proceedings, she has been identified as one of the perpetrators of crimes committed by the Iranian government. Her name has been repeatedly mentioned by prosecutors as a key figure in the 1967 massacre at the Hamid Nouri trial in Stockholm, and her reputation for inflicting tragedy has extended beyond the borders of Iran.

Hossein Ali Neiri was the founder of the ruling system, who crushed political and ideological opponents and forced them to submit to his will. Neiri’s record as one of the trusted advisors of the two leaders of the system, who played a crucial role in the post-revolutionary judicial atrocities in Iran, and the level of trust and confidence that these leaders had in him, is evidence that in what is known as the judicial system in post-revolutionary Iran, those who are more obedient and more criminal occupy most judicial positions and are promoted more within this system. Neiri’s record and fate are evidence that what we know as the judicial power in Iran is nothing but a “butcher power” and that there is no trace of fair judgment, which is recognized in the world, in Iran. Neiri and his presence and performance in this system are a clear example of this. It should be noted that Neiri is not alone, and the judicial system of the Islamic Republic of

Footnotes.

1- What was the track record of senior member of the judiciary, Hossein Ali Neiri?

Center for Islamic Revolution Documents.

April 3rd, 2025.

2- Narratives of Hossein Ali Neiri in conversation with the Center for the Islamic Revolution Documents.

Center for Islamic Revolution Documents.

April 3rd, 2025.

3- Hossein Ali Neiri, one of the judges responsible for the executions of 67, passed away.

Babisi Farsi.

Farsi baby.

April 3, 2025.

4- Unpublished narrative of the meeting between Ayatollah Montazeri and the “Death Commission” on December 67.

Bibisi Farsi.

Farsi baby.

“30 Azar 1398”

5- Death of the Judge: Hossein Ali Neiri took the secrets of the dark chapter of Iran’s judicial history with him to the grave.

Radio Zamaneh.

April 3rd, 2025.

6- Narratives of Hossein Ali Neiri in conversation with the Center for the Islamic Revolution Documents.

Islamic Revolution Documentation Center.

, April 3rd, 2025.

7- Order to Mr. Neiri and Mr. Raeesi (to address the legal status of cities in Semnan…)

Comprehensive website of Imam Khomeini.

11 Dey 1367..

8- Order to Mr. Neiri and Mr. Raeesi (handling legal issues in Sirjan and Douroud).

Comprehensive website of Imam Khomeini.

23 Dey 1367.

9- Order to Mr. Neiri and Mr. Raeesi (handling of pending cases in the Supreme Judicial Council).

Comprehensive website of Imam Khomeini.

January 21, 1989.

10 – Letter to Mr. Neiri and Mr. Raeesi (Execution of “Boundaries” and “Retribution”).

Comprehensive website of Imam Khomeini.

“February 2nd, 1367.”

11- Order to the Head of the Supreme Court of the Country (firm action against immoral activities in Tonekabon).

Imam Khomeini Portal.

February 13th, 1989.

12- Mohrabi, Ehsan, Hossein Ali Neiri; The Secret Box of Confiscated Properties and the Owner of the Last Order of Khomeini, Ehsan Mohrabi.

Iran Wire.

“15th of Farvardin month, 1404.”

13- According to Article 49 of the Constitution, the court requested the formation of a court and the consent of the Imam.

Imam Khomeini Portal..

14 – Hossein Ali Neiri, one of the judges of the 67 executions, passed away.

“Bibisi Farsi” translates to “Farsi baby.”

April 3rd, 2025.

15 – Mahrabi, Ehsan, Hossein Ali Neiri; The Secret Fund of Confiscated Properties and the Owner of the Last Order of Khomeini, Iran Wire, April 4th, 2025.