Hossein Niakan was born in 1963 in Tehran, Iran.
He was 15 when he learned about PMOI through his uncle a fallen hero, Heidar Niakan. His uncle was a political prisoner during the Shah’s era in Iran. Hosain was a student and a peaceful political activist.
He was arrested in 1981. Hosain was detained in Evin and Ghazal-hessar prisons until 1985.
After he has been released, he tried to contact PMOI and for that was arrested again in 1985 and sentenced to 5 years in prison.
In 1988 while he was serving a 5-year sentence, he was hanged in Karaj prison. His sister Zahra Niakan was also executed in 1988 massacre, at the same time in Urmia, Iran.
A Crime Against Humanity
The Facts
- In 1988, the Iranian regime massacred 30,000 political prisoners.
- The executions took place based on a fatwa by Supreme Leader Khomeini.
- Three-member commissions known as ‘Death Commissions’ were formed across Iran sending political prisoners who refused to abandon their beliefs to execution.
- The victims were buried in secret mass graves.
- The perpetrators continue to enjoy impunity.
- Since 2016, the names of nearly 100 ‘Death Commission’ members have been revealed. Many still hold senior positions in the Iranian judiciary or government.
The Human Rights Council needs to conduct an international investigation into the 1988 massacre. This would be the first step to end the impunity for the officials, agents and those who ordered the largest political crime of the century.
Khamenei and other leaders of the regime need to be prosecuted and face justice for committing crimes against humanity.