Ex-Member of Tehran “Death Committee” Barred From Election Race

Iran's former Justice Minister Mostafa Pourmohammadi has been disqualified from running in the upcoming election for the Assembly of Experts, a chamber of theologians that appoints the Islamic Republic’s supreme leader and oversees his work.

The Borna news agency reported the news on January 25, a day after former President Hassan Rouhani was barred from standing again in the March 1 election.

The decisions to ban the two men were made by the Guardians Council, a hard-line body that vets candidates in all elections in Iran.

The new Assembly of Experts is expected to play a significant role in choosing the successor of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, 84, since its members are only elected every eight years.

Pourmohammadi, as a member of the “death committee” in Tehran in the 1980s, was involved in the extrajudicial executions of thousands of dissidents.

He was minister of justice in 2013-2017, and currently serves as secretary of the Supreme Council of the Combatant Clergy Association, a hardline political movement. 

Iranian registered voters will be called to polling stations on March 1 to choose among thousands of candidates running for seats in the 290-seat parliament and the 88-member Assembly of Experts.

A low turnout is expected, with the Guardian Council having already disqualified approximately half of the hopeful candidates in both elections.