Assassination of Senior Judges in Iran Raises Concerns Over Legal System Safety

The recent assassination of two senior judges in Iran, Ali Razini and Mohammad Moghiseh, has sparked investigations into the motivations behind the attack, which may be linked to their long-standing roles in the suppression of dissent against the Islamic government.

In a shocking incident on Saturday morning, two senior judges from Iran's supreme court were shot and killed in Tehran. The assailant, who reportedly entered the court, took his own life while attempting to escape, as reported by Mizan, the judiciary's news outlet. A bodyguard at the scene was also injured during the attack, which authorities have classified as a premeditated assassination.

The motivation behind the shooting remains uncertain; however, both judges had extensive backgrounds and were known for their involvement in the government's crackdowns on dissenters since the 1980s. Initial investigations suggest that the perpetrator had no direct connection to any cases before the supreme court, which raises questions about the potential for a broader conspiracy.

Judges Ali Razini, 71, a prominent figure who famously survived an assassination attempt in 1998, and Mohammad Moghiseh, 68, who has faced sanctions from the EU, US, and Canada due to allegations of human rights violations, both held influential positions within Iran's judiciary. Their roles often included the responsibility of confirming death sentences, intensifying the stakes surrounding their assassination.

The attack has drawn attention to the precarious safety of judicial officials in Iran, particularly those involved in politically sensitive cases. With the judiciary's media office calling for comprehensive investigations, officials are working to uncover any additional parties that may have been complicit in the attack.