2 Supreme Court judges shot dead in Iran
Two Supreme Court judges were killed in a shooting attack on Saturday at the Supreme Court building in Tehran, state media reported.
“Three judges of the Supreme Court were targeted. Two of them were martyred,” the Judiciary’s Mizan Online website confirmed, adding that the “assailant killed himself.”
State news agency IRNA also reported that one other person was injured in the attack.
Mizan identified the slain judges as Ali Razini and Mohammad Moghisseh, highlighting their involvement in cases addressing “crimes against national security, espionage, and terrorism.”
The motive for the attack remains unclear, but Mizan stated that the assailant was not involved in any cases before the Supreme Court, without providing further details about the attacker’s identity.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.
Veteran judge Mohammad Moghisseh, 68, was sanctioned in 2019 by the United States for presiding over trials deemed unfair, where charges were unsubstantiated, and evidence was disregarded, according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Ali Razini, 71, held several prominent roles within Iran’s judiciary and survived a 1998 assassination attempt involving a magnetic bomb planted in his vehicle, as reported by Mizan.
While attacks targeting judges are rare in Iran, shootings involving high-profile figures have occurred over the years.
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In October 2024, a Shiite preacher was shot dead in the southern city of Kazeroun after leading Friday prayers. In April 2023, cleric Abbas Ali Soleimani was fatally shot at a bank in the northern province of Mazandaran. In 2005, renowned Iranian judge Hassan Moghaddas was assassinated by gunmen who entered his car in a busy Tehran district.
Two men convicted of Moghaddas’ murder were publicly executed by hanging in 2007.
The incident has drawn renewed attention to the security of public officials and the judiciary in Iran.
Written by Sakinat Musa Abubakar, Editor at Neptune Prime
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