• A gunman kills two hard-line Iranian judges linked to the 1988 mass executions of dissidents.
• The attack occurred at Tehran's Palace of Justice and has no immediate claim of responsibility.
• Both judges had a notorious history regarding human rights abuses and were previously targeted.
• The shooter, termed an “infiltrator,” died by suicide after the attack.
• This incident highlights ongoing unrest in Iran amid economic strife and political challenges.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — In a shocking incident in Iran’s capital on Saturday, a gunman fatally shot two prominent judges associated with the controversial mass executions of political dissidents that occurred in 1988. The victims, identified as clerics Mohammad Mogheiseh and Ali Razini, were targeted given their past involvement in what many consider grave human rights violations. No group has yet claimed responsibility for this attack, which represents a rare instance of violence directed at the country's judiciary.

The attack took place at the Palace of Justice in Tehran, a facility known for its tight security, where a bodyguard of one of the judges was also injured. Eyewitness reports indicate that the shooter, armed with a handgun, subsequently took his own life. Initial investigations revealed that he had "no case in the Supreme Court nor was he a client" of the judiciary system, prompting authorities to conduct a thorough probe into this act described as terrorism (AP News).

Asghar Jahangir, a judiciary spokesperson, suggested to state television that the shooter had been an “infiltrator,” possibly indicating that he was known within the courthouse system. Both judges had previously drawn ire: Rajini survived an assassination attempt in 1999 when his vehicle was attacked, while Mogheiseh faced U.S. Treasury sanctions for engaging in what has been described as unfair trials and for harsh sentences against journalists, activists, and minority groups (South China Morning Post).

The executions from 1988 marked a dark chapter in Iran’s history when thousands of political prisoners were killed following a failed military invasion by the exiled opposition group, Mujahedeen-e-Khalq (MEK). Activists estimate that the death toll could range from 5,000 to 30,000 individuals. The Iranian government has long remained silent on this aspect of its past, despite numerous calls for accountability. Razini claimed in a past interview that the actions taken during the 1988 period were lawful and aimed at maintaining security in the country.

The recent violence against these judiciary figures underscores the ongoing conflicts within Iran amid widespread political dissatisfaction and economic challenges, which continue to threaten the regime's stability as external pressures mount.

For further details, visit the original articles by AP News and South China Morning Post.