Two Judges Shot Dead at Iran's Supreme Court

Two Judges Shot Dead at Iran's Supreme Court

Two judges were killed in a shooting attack at the Supreme Court building in Tehran on Saturday, according to state media.

The Judiciary's Mizan Online reported that three judges were targeted in the attack, with two losing their lives, while the third sustained injuries. The assailant reportedly ended his own life following the attack.

The victims were identified as Ali Razini and Mohammad Moghisseh, both of whom worked on cases involving national security, espionage, and terrorism. The motive behind the attack remains unclear, though authorities confirmed the assailant had no direct involvement in any cases before the Supreme Court. An investigation into the incident has been launched.

Ali Razini, 71, had held prominent positions in Iran’s judiciary and had survived a previous assassination attempt in 1998 when a magnetic bomb was planted in his vehicle.

While attacks on judges are uncommon in Iran, the country has witnessed several high-profile shootings in recent years.

• In October, a Muslim preacher was killed in Kazeroun after leading Friday prayers.

• In April 2023, cleric Abbas Ali Soleimani was shot dead at a bank in Mazandaran province.

• In August 2005, prominent judge Hassan Moghaddas was assassinated in Tehran, with the perpetrators publicly executed two years later.

This latest attack highlights the ongoing risks faced by public figures in Iran, particularly those involved in sensitive cases.