The U.N. Security Council observed a moment of silence to honor the late hardline Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Monday.
Raisi was often referred to as the “Butcher of Tehran” for his role in the 1988 mass executions of political dissidents, primarily members of the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK) and other leftist groups. As a member of the so-called “death committee,” he was one of four officials responsible for the deaths of thousands. The executions were carried out after a fatwa issued by then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini and involved prisoners who had already been tried and sentenced, with many being rearrested solely for their political beliefs.
Human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International, have condemned the executions as crimes against humanity. The moniker “Butcher of Tehran” references the brutality of Raisi's actions and has been used by critics to highlight his direct participation in the killings.
Raisi died yesterday in a helicopter crash in Northern Iran. The aircraft crashed in heavy fog as he was heading to the city of Tabriz on his way back from a dam opening ceremony on the Azerbaijan border. The crash resulted in the deaths of eight people. Iranian authorities have reported that one person survived for an hour and tried to seek help. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has announced five days of mourning following Raisi's death.
READ NEXT: World Leader Found Dead, Horribly Mutilated
