Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran
A/72/322 para 109
Full recommendation
The Special Rapporteur therefore calls on the Government to ensure that a thorough and
independent investigation into the killings in 1998 is carried out.
Assessment using Impact Iran human rights indicators1
President Mohammad Khatami ordered an investigation after a series of intellectual and political
activists who publicly criticized Iran’s government were killed in 1998. Reports suggested that
security agents were involved in the extrajudicial killings.2
The Ministry of Intelligence admitted responsibility for four killings in January 1999, and 18
security and intelligence officials, including former deputy minister of Intelligence and several
senior directors of the Ministry, were arrested and tried.3 However, independent lawyers
involved in these cases, as well as journalists and human rights defenders, believed the legal
proceedings failed to comply with international standards of fair trial and due process.4
According to the lawyers of victims' families, investigations of the 1998 killings were not
independent as the lawyers believed that the judicial officials in charge were heavily influenced
by the government. Defenders and lawyers involved in the cases had limited access to the
details.5
The Article 90 Commission of the Parliament, mandated to investigate complaints against the
Executive, the Judiciary and legislative powers, launched its own investigation in 2000 but could
not complete it as individuals allegedly involved were beyond the mandate of the Commission. 6
Reports document the lack of an impartial and independent investigation as well as a lack of
accountability for the 1998 killings. 7 The Islamic Republic of Iran has not ensured that a
thorough and independent investigation into the 1998 killings has been carried out.
Recommendation Status:
This recommendation has NOT been implemented.
1
CCPR.9.1.S.2; CCPR.6.2.P.1; CCPR.9.1.O.1
Radio Farda, https://www.rferl.org/a/two-decades-later-still-no-justice-for-iran-chain-murders-of-intellectuals/30997536.html
3
BBC, <https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-46356725 >
4
Human Rights Watch, https://www.hrw.org/legacy/backgrounder/mena/iran1205/iran1205.pdf
5
<https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tehranbureau/2011/01/the-chain-murders-killing-dissidents-and-intellectuals-19881998.html >
6
Human Rights Watch, https://www.hrw.org/legacy/backgrounder/mena/iran1205/iran1205.pdf
7
Radio Farda, https://www.rferl.org/a/two-decades-later-still-no-justice-for-iran-chain-murders-of-intellectuals/30997536.html
2
1