Two Judges Killed in Shooting at Tehran’s Supreme Court
TEHRAN: In a shocking incident on Saturday, two senior judges were killed in a targeted shooting at the Supreme Court building in Tehran, state media reported.
According to the judiciary’s Mizan Online website, the attack was a “planned act of assassination” targeting Judges Ali Razini, 71, and Mohammad Moghisseh, 68. The gunman infiltrated the court premises, fatally shot the judges, and later took his own life. Another person was reportedly injured during the attack, state news agency IRNA said.
Judges Known for High-Profile Cases
Both Razini and Moghisseh were prominent figures in Iran’s judiciary. They were involved in cases dealing with crimes against national security, espionage, and terrorism.
Razini, a veteran judge, had previously survived a 1998 assassination attempt when a magnetic bomb was planted in his vehicle. Moghisseh, also a seasoned judge, was sanctioned by the United States in 2019 for allegedly overseeing “countless unfair trials,” according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Details of the Attack
Judiciary spokesman Asghar Jahangir stated on state television that the assailant, armed with a handgun, entered the judges’ room and carried out the attack.
The motive for the killings remains unclear, but Mizan Online reported that the assailant had no involvement in cases before the Supreme Court. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.
Growing Trend of Targeted Attacks
Though attacks on judges are rare in Iran, the country has witnessed several high-profile assassinations in recent years:
- October 2024: A Shia Muslim preacher was shot dead in Kazeroun after leading Friday prayers.
- April 2023: Cleric Abbas Ali Soleimani was killed in a bank shooting in Mazandaran province.
- August 2005: Prominent judge Hassan Moghaddas was murdered in Tehran, leading to the public execution of his assailants two years later.
The killings of Razini and Moghisseh highlight a troubling trend of violence targeting high-profile judicial and religious figures in Iran.