Sep

Position in 1988 massacre: Prosecutor; member of the Dezful “Death Commission”
Present post and occupation: Minister of Justice (from September 2017); Head of the Presidency’s Inspectorate Office (until September 2017)
A.K.A. Alireza Avaie, Alireza Avaee, Seyyed Ali-Reza Avaee, Seyyed Alireza Avaei, Alireza Avayi
After receiving Khomeini’s fatwa, he reportedly was the main person in charge of executions in the UNESCO Prison in Dezful (A school facility built during the Shah’s regime by UNESCO to help children. It was transformed into a prison operating under the same name by the current regime).
He has been described by witnesses as one of the cruellest murderers of the prisoners during the 1988 mass executions. According to eye-witness accounts, teenage prisoners were executed in the area behind the prison yard.
The European Union put sanctions on Alireza Avaee and another two ministers in the form of a visa ban and asset freeze in October 2011 due to human rights abuses (Council Decision 2011/235/CFSP of 12 April 2011 concerning restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities in view of the situation in Iran). Link: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2011/1002/oj
The EU ban order described him as “Director of the special investigations office. Until July 2016 deputy Minister of Interior and head of the Public register. Advisor to the Disciplinary Court for Judges since April 2014. Former President of the Tehran Judiciary. As President of the Tehran Judiciary he has been responsible for human rights violations, arbitrary arrests, denials of prisoners’ rights and an increase in executions.”
The Treasury of the United Kingdom also put him among asset freeze targets in October 2011 for the same reason.
Avaei’s name is also included on Switzerland’s sanctions list for human rights violations.
Latest Update
- Call for a UN Commission of Inquiry Into Iran’s 1988 MassacreBy Clerk on January 11, 2021
- Europe’s Inaction Is Fueling Impunity In IranBy Clerk on January 1, 2021
- Iran Breaks Tombstones To Dominate Cemeteries – Radio FardaBy Clerk on December 31, 2020
- UK Human Rights Minister Urges Iran to Allow Investigation of 1988 MassacreBy Clerk on December 28, 2020
- 21 NGOs appeal to UN to investigate Iran’s 1988 massacreBy Clerk on September 22, 2020
- Iran builds road over mass grave of victims of the 1988 massacreBy Clerk on September 15, 2020
- US: Enforced disappearances related to 1988 massacre continue unabated in IranBy Clerk on September 9, 2020
- Tahar Boumedra tells global summit it’s time for UN to probe the 1988 massacreBy Clerk on September 9, 2020
Feature Video
The untold story of the 1988 Massacre in Iran
Justice for Victims of 1988 Massacre in Iran (JVMI)
Is an association of families of the victims of the 1988 massacre of 30,000 political prisoners in Iran.
Former political prisoners, international lawyers and legal experts with an interest in obtaining justice over the massacre and for all the victims of executions in Iran.
Feature Video
The untold story of the 1988 Massacre in Iran