In Search of Justice in the Time of Impunity: 1988 Massacre of Political Prisoners in Iran

Woman with her eyes blocked from view
Wed, November 3, 2021
All Day
Denney Hall 311

Time: 3-5 p.m.
Event Host: Department of English
Short Description: At this event, we'll gather to reflect on Nouri's ongoing trial, remind ourselves of our responsibility toward ending the culture of impunity, and to rethink our role in actively remembering those who lost their lives to preserve their dignity and humanity.


In 1988, Iran’s then-Supreme Leader Ruhollah Khomeini ordered the executions of political prisoners linked to several leftist organizations, who were still firm on their position against the newly established regime. It is estimated that 3,500-5,000 prisoners who had already served (a portion or all of) their sentences were hanged after being interrogated in the so-called "retrials" that lasted 3 to 5 minutes. For the first time since then, an Iranian regime official, Hamid Nouri has gone on trial in Sweden for his involvement in the 1988 Massacre of Political Prisoners in Iran.

At this event, we'll gather to reflect on Nouri's ongoing trial, remind ourselves of our responsibility toward ending the culture of impunity, and to rethink our role in actively remembering those who lost their lives to preserve their dignity and humanity.

Speakers

Mehrak Kamali Sarvestani 
Parvaneh Hosseini 
Sona Kazemi 

Our featured speaker will be Lawdan Bazargan, whose brother, Bijan Bazargan was brutally executed in the summer of 1988 by the Islamic Republic of Iran. Lawdan will tell us about her and her family's journey on the road to justice for her brother and his comrades.