Sat Jan 18 09:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Top Iranian Judges Gunned Down in Tehran Courthouse
**Tehran, Iran** – Two prominent Iranian judges, Mohammad Moghisseh and Ali Razini, were fatally shot this morning at the Supreme Court in Tehran. A gunman, described by various sources as a disgruntled employee or an infiltrator, opened fire in their office before apparently committing suicide. A third judge, identified as Judge Miri, was wounded in the attack, along with a security guard.
The attack, which occurred on Saturday, January 18th, prompted the immediate evacuation of the Supreme Court building. Several staff members were subsequently detained, according to reports. The Judiciary’s official statement confirmed the attack was planned, but stressed the attacker had no prior connection to the court or any pending cases. However, conflicting accounts emerged regarding the attacker’s identity and motives. Some reports identify him as a security guard, while others describe him as a service employee who used the guard’s weapon.
Moghisseh, a former head of the Supreme Court, was known for his role in the trials of political prisoners, including those arrested following the 2009 Iranian presidential elections. He faced international sanctions from the EU and US for alleged human rights violations and was reported to have issued 1653 years of prison sentences across 335 cases in recent years.
Razini, the head of Branch 41 of the Supreme Court, had a long and influential career in the Iranian judiciary, including involvement in the 1988 executions and previous assassination attempts. He survived a bombing attack in 1998.
While no group has claimed responsibility, the Judiciary’s statement alluded to recent efforts to counter alleged Israeli and American agents and terrorist groups. The investigation into the attack is ongoing.
First Piper 