Abdolreza Akbari Monfared was born in 1963 in Atabak district, south-east Tehran. His friends used to call him Abdi.
He was a supporter of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK).
In 1981 was arrested for distributing the PMOPI’s newspaper. He was sent directly to the notorious Evin prison.
Abdi was sentenced to three years in prison, but the Iranian authorities refused to release him at the end of his sentence. They kept him behind bars because he didn’t agree to be interviewed on TV and condemn the PMOI.
Abdolreza Akbari Monfared was executed on July 30, 1988, during the massacre of 30,000 political prisoners.
Most of the victims of the 1988 massacre were serving prison terms issued years earlier. Some had been detained for years without trial, and some had already completed their sentences but were due to be released. Most had been imprisoned because of their political opinions and peaceful activities, such as distributing leaflets and attending demonstrations.
Abdi’s sister, Roghieh was also executed during the massacre.
The Iranian regime verbally informed the family that their children were executed but has never revealed their place of burial.
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.
