In a brazen daytime attack that has sent shockwaves through Iran’s judicial system, two prominent judges were shot dead inside the country’s supreme court building in Tehran on Saturday. The victims, identified as Ali Razini and Mohammad Moghisseh, were both experienced jurists known for handling high-profile cases related to national security, espionage, and terrorism.
According to state media reports, an armed assailant managed to infiltrate the heavily guarded supreme court complex and carry out the targeted killings before turning the gun on himself. The judiciary’s official news outlet, Mizan Online, described the incident as a “planned act of assassination” against the two “brave and experienced judges.”
The motive behind the attack remains unclear at this stage, but authorities have indicated that the gunman was not involved in any cases being overseen by the slain judges. This has raised speculation about whether the assassinations were carried out by a disgruntled litigant or were possibly linked to the judges’ work on sensitive national security matters.
A Dark Day for Iran’s Judiciary
The brazen attack has left Iran’s legal community reeling and raised serious questions about the security measures in place at the country’s top judicial institution. Razini, 71, and Moghisseh, 68, were both veteran jurists with decades of experience handling some of Iran’s most high-stakes cases.
Razini had previously survived an assassination attempt in 1998 when assailants planted a magnetic bomb on his vehicle. Moghisseh, meanwhile, had been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2019 over allegations that he had “overseen countless unfair trials” in which “charges went unsubstantiated and evidence was disregarded.”
The two judges were martyred in the act.
– Mizan Online, Iran’s judiciary news outlet
A Pattern of Targeted Killings
While attacks directly targeting judges are relatively rare in Iran, the country has witnessed a spate of high-profile shootings in recent years. In October, a Shiite Muslim preacher was shot dead in the southern city of Kazerun after leading Friday prayers. Just months earlier, in April 2023, a powerful cleric identified as Abbas Ali Soleimani was gunned down at a bank in northern Iran.
These incidents, along with the audacious attack on the supreme court, have raised concerns about a possible campaign of targeted killings aimed at destabilizing Iran’s power structure. As the investigation into the judges’ assassinations gets underway, many are watching closely to see whether any links emerge between the seemingly disparate attacks.
Demands for Swift Justice
In the wake of the killings, Iranian authorities have vowed to bring those responsible to justice swiftly. President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed his condolences and called on security forces to “take the necessary measures as soon as possible by examining the dimensions and angles of this reprehensible act.”
The judiciary, for its part, has indicated that several individuals have already been identified, summoned, or arrested in connection with the attack. However, details about these potential suspects remain scarce, and it is unclear how close investigators may be to unraveling the full plot behind the assassinations.
A System Under Siege
For Iran’s judicial system, which has long faced criticism from human rights groups and Western governments over allegations of unfair trials and political persecution, the attack represents a major blow to its credibility and authority. The killing of two of its most prominent judges, within the confines of its own headquarters, has laid bare the vulnerabilities of an institution that purports to be the ultimate arbiter of justice in the country.
As the nation grapples with this tragedy, hard questions are being asked about how such a brazen assault could have been carried out in the heart of Iran’s judiciary. The answers to those questions, and the government’s response in the coming days and weeks, could have far-reaching implications for the future of the justice system and the wider balance of power in Iran.
For now, though, the focus is on mourning the loss of two veteran jurists, whose lives were cut short in a shocking act of violence that has left a deep scar on the psyche of a nation. As Iranians come to terms with this tragedy, they will be looking to their leaders for reassurance, accountability, and a clear path forward in the face of an uncertain and perilous time.
