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UPDATE: 9:00 PM
Iranians Attend Raisi’s Funeral Procession While Others Hopeful for New Future
Iranians are attending the funeral procession of President Ebrahim Raisi on Tuesday following his death in a helicopter crash, while others, such as the National Council of Resistance of Iran, are hopeful that his demise will be a blow to the Islamic Republic.
The funeral procession is traveling across the country, starting in Tabriz, the largest city near the crash site in western Iran, before going through Qom, Tehran and Birjand before finally stopping in Raisi’s birthplace of Mashhad, where he is expected to be buried Thursday at the Imam Reza Shrine, according to Time.
IRNA, an Iranian-state media outlet, reported that in Qom, people “have been in the streets for hours before the arrival of the body of the martyrs with tears in their eyes and hearts full of sighs and regrets,” as translated. The outlet did not state what the people may have been regretting.
UPDATE: 9:00 PM
Pahlavi Is Iran’s Version Of ‘The Man Who Wasn’t There’
The antics of Reza Pahlavi, the son of the deposed and detested Shah of Iran, remind me of a line from the poem “The Man Who Wasn’t There” by the American Hugh Mearns: “Yesterday, upon the stair, I met a man who wasn’t there. He wasn’t there again today. I wish, I wish he’d go away”.
The poem seems to perfectly encapsulate the way Pahlavi, the man who would be king, suddenly appears out of nowhere each time there is a crisis in Iran. After decades of silence, Pahlavi set off on a whirlwind international tour following the nationwide uprising in Iran in 2022-23.
UPDATE: 12:00 PM
Raisi Is Dead, Who Is in Charge Now in Iran? Activist Shahed Sholeh: “He Was The Butcher of Tehran, The People Rejoice And Are No Longer Afraid”
President Raisi is dead, who is in charge now in Iran and what will happen? These are the questions that have been assailed by the Iranian population and the entire world since yesterday, May 19, 2024, following the helicopter crash that caused the death of the President, his staff and Iran’s Foreign Minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian.
The international community, with a worried look, is waiting to see what will be the new developments in the political situation in Iran and the consequences of the death of the head of state. The Iranian people rejoice and praise the death of the “butcher of Tehran”, while extremist factions, linked to the regime, mourn a leader.
Who will be the new president? Will Iran be increasingly subject to the control of the Supreme Leader? Raisi was Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s right-hand man: what will be the regime’s next move? Tag24 discussed the issue with activist Shahed Sholeh, spokesperson for the Association of Democratic Iranian Women in Italy (ADDI) and a member of the Iranian Resistance.
UPDATE: 9:00 AM
The Death of Ebrahim Raisi: A Turning Point for Iran’s Political Landscape
On Sunday 19 May 2024, President of Iran Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Amir Hossein Abdollahian died in a helicopter crash in northwest Iran. The loss of Raisi represents a significant blow to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and will destabilise the regime. Raisi’s death occurs at a time when the Iranian regime is already struggling with numerous internal and external crises, further exacerbating its vulnerabilities.
Raisi’s notoriety stems from his involvement in the 1988 massacre of political prisoners, a dark chapter in Iran’s history. In the summer of 1988, a fatwa by then-Supreme Leader Ruhollah Khomeini led to the execution of 30,000 political prisoners, most affiliated with the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK/PMOI). Raisi was part of the four-member Death Commission responsible for these executions. Raisi was known as the ‘Butcher of Tehran’. Professor Javaid Rehman, the UN special rapporteur for human rights in Iran, had repeatedly called for investigations into Raisi’s crimes, urging justice for the victims.
UPDATE: 7:30 AM
Why Deceased Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi Was Known as ‘The Butcher of Tehran’
The death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on the 19th of May in a helicopter crash in northern Iran sparked an outpour of condolences on the one hand and celebrations on the other. The 63-year-old Islamist hardliner, also dubbed the “Butcher of Tehran”, was seen as a potential successor to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. However, his death has added to the ongoing tumult in the Middle East. Last month, Iran, under his presidency, launched unprecedented drone and missile strikes against Israel in what Iran called “retaliatory” action after Israel allegedly attacked the Iranian embassy in Damascus, Syria.
Iran consented to a ceasefire imposed by the UN in July 1988 to put an end to the eight-year conflict with Iraq. Soon after, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who was then the supreme leader, issued a fatwa directing the execution of political prisoners who were already serving their sentences. They were brought before four-person inquisition panels—dubbed “Death Commission” by the prisoners—for questioning, and the sessions lasted just a few minutes. The targeted persons mostly included those associated with the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI).
Iran ‘To Rush for NUKES And Purge Dissenters in Chaotic Aftermath of Chopper Crash’ as Pro-Putin Tyrant Poised for Power
THE SUDDEN death of Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi will “absolutely” lead to an increase in executions of dissenters, experts have warned. Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is also feared to be ramping up efforts to get his hands on a nuclear bomb.
Hossein Abedini, the deputy representative of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) in the UK, warned Khamenei is likely to go to extreme measures to maintain control of his country – as anti-regime Iranians launch fireworks and dance in celebration of Raisi’s demise. Mr Abedini told The Sun: “To stay in power, Khamenei will absolutely increase atrocities and execution of its own people to contain the dissent inside the country.
“It will also intensify its terrorist activities in the Middle East through IRGC, Hezbollah and the Houthis.”
Victims of Iran’s President ‘Butcher of Tehran’ Speak of ‘Relief’ After Helicopter Crash
A former political prisoner in Iran who came face-to-face with the Butcher of Tehran Ebrahim Raisi before his death in a helicopter incident has opened up about the ‘relief’ he felt. Funeral processions for Iranian President Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian will begin on Tuesday next week in the northwestern city of Tabriz. While the Islamic Republic’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, announced five days of public mourning, victims have been celebrating.
At the age of 17, he was arrested in Tehran for supporting People’s Mujahedin of Iran (PMOI), a political-militant organisation that advocates for overthrowing the government, and was sentenced to a suspended execution. His sentence was later reduced to seven years in Gohardasht Prison. Iran’s then-supreme leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a formal fatwa – a religious decree – ordering that all Mujahedin supporters be executed unless they repent.
World Reactions to Death of Iran’s President Raisi
Agence France Presse (AFP) – Iran’s powerful allies on Monday mourned the death of its president, Ebrahim Raisi, in a helicopter crash, while regional militants hailed him as a supporter of the Palestinian cause. The United States said the deceased ultraconservative leader “had blood on his hands”, Russia and China called him a “friend”, and Iran’s arch-foe Israel has yet to react publicly. Here is a round-up of key reactions:
Exiled opposition group the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) said Raisi’s death was “a monumental and irreparable strategic blow to the mullahs’ supreme leader Ali Khamenei and the entire regime, notorious for its executions and massacres”, in a statement from the group’s leader, Maryam Rajavi.
Biden White House Stays Unusually Quiet on The Death Of Iranian President And Foreign Minister
Proponents of a hardline strategy against Iran from around Washington celebrated on Monday as news of the apparent death of the country’s president, Ebrahim Raisi, and the foreign minister came in overnight.
In a statement released under the name of State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, the US government expressed “official condolences” over the deaths of Mr Raisi and his delegation. That message was condemned by critics of Raisi’s brutal record.
Maryam Rajavi, president-elect of the NCRI, said Monday in a statement: “The death of Ebrahim Raisi, the clerical regime’s President represents a monumental and irreparable strategic blow to the mullahs’ Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the entire regime.”
“While honoring the 30,000 PMOI members and other combatants who were massacred—and forever remembered by the Iranian people, I emphasize that the pursuit of justice will persist until the regime’s overthrow,” she continued.
Arvin Ghahremani, A 20-Year-Old Iranian Jewish Citizen, Is Facing Imminent Execution
Arvin Ghahremani (Nathaniel), a 20-year-old Iranian Jewish citizen, is currently at risk of execution. The Iranian judiciary had intended to carry out the execution of this prisoner on Saturday, May 18, 2024, but it was postponed until Monday, May 20, 2024.
Based on the reports received by Iran Human Rights Monitor (Iran HRM), Arvin Ghahremani committed “intentional murder” two years ago at the age of 18 during a street altercation, causing the death of a Muslim citizen. He was arrested at that time and subsequently sentenced to death by the Iranian judiciary.
Iranians Celebrate Following Death of President Raisi in Helicopter Crash
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian were killed in a tragic helicopter crash in the mountainous terrain near the Azerbaijan border. State media and officials confirmed the incident on Monday, stating that the helicopter, a U.S.-made Bell 212, went down on Sunday during blizzard conditions. The charred wreckage was discovered early Monday after an overnight search.
Raisi, 63, was a significant political figure in Iran, having been elected president in 2021. He was a hardliner and a close ally of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Raisi played a significant role in the 1988 executions of 30,000 Iranian political prisoners. During his tenure as head of the judiciary and presidency, he led a repressive campaign, turning the presidential system into a direct tool of the security and intelligence agencies. He was a member of the “death commission” that decided their fate Raisi was widely seen as a potential successor to Khamenei, holding substantial influence over the country’s direction in both domestic and international arenas.
Cologne, Germany—May 18, 2024: MEK Supporters Rally in Solidarity With the Iranian Revolution
Cologne, Germany—May 18, 2024: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) held a rally in solidarity with the Iranian Revolution. While condemning the wave of criminal executions in Iran by the mullahs’ regime, they demanded the release of political prisoners and the abolition of cruel death sentences.
Düsseldorf, Germany—May 18, 2024: MEK Supporters Rally in Solidarity With the Iranian Revolution
Düsseldorf, Germany—May 18, 2024: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) held a rally in solidarity with the Iranian Revolution. While condemning the wave of criminal executions in Iran by the mullahs’ regime, they demanded the release of political prisoners and the abolition of cruel death sentences.
Also, read Iran News in Brief – May 20, 2024
