Gary Fitleberg, December 7, 2003

One more evil has finally gone to his grave.

Ayatollah Sadeq Khalkhali who became infamously known as the Iranian revolution’s "Hanging Judge" for ordering summary executions after trials lasting only minutes has died finally of heart and brain failure at the age of 77. The brain and heart failure has plagued the Iranian "Hanging Judge" all his life.

Khalkhali earnestly earned his nickname for the ease with which he condemned defendants to death. He was appointed as the most feared and the most revered of Iran’s judges, under the repressive regime of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and the Islamic revolution, which overthrew deposed Shah Mohamad Reza Pahlevi.

As President of the Islamic Revolutionary Court, Khalkhali was prosecutor, judge, and jury for those deemed to be counterrevolutionaries and "drug dealers" in Iran.

In his autobiography, Khalkhali boasted he ordered executions for 85 members of Shah Pahlevi’s government and Savak security forces. According to other Iranians, Khalkhali sent hundreds to their deaths early without fair trials during his two years as officially sanctioned executor. Dissidents have accused him of personally executing thousands. Regardless the right number, many now are in permanent premature deep slumber.

According to accurate accountings widely reported in Iran, when Nematollah Nasiri, head of the Shah’s Savak secret police went before Khalkhali, the judge gave him his verdict during a "speedy trial" in which he picked up his pistol and shot him dead right on the spot.

Another ally of Shah Pahlevi, Abbas Hoveida, the longest-serving Prime Minister during his reign, had only two brief appearances before Khalkhali. He was then immediately led outside the courtroom compound accompanied by the judge. A shot was fired by Khalkhali killing Hoveida. The judge then calmly returned to the courtroom. Khalkhali announced that the sentence was carried out swiftly.

Even during his early retirement, Khalkhali remained unrepentant. He boldly and coldly boasted that the leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini had given him broad discretion and powers and he felt it was his duty and necessity to exercise them to the full extent whenever possible.

Ayatollah Sadeq Khalkhali gave an entirely whole new meaning as "Hanging Judge" to the right (or wrong as the case may be) to justice and a "speedy trial" in the judicial system.

"I believe, and still believe, that all members of the Shah’s parliament and senate and all provincial governors and generals should be sentenced to death, "Khalkhali declared and wrote in his autobiography, "Ayatollah Khalkhali Remembers" published in 2000.

Khalkhali was a judge until 1981, when he was forced to resign because of a failure to account for millions of dollars seized in raids on alleged "drug traffickers" and amassed from court fines.

Khalkhali then served the Islamic Revolution in the legislative parliament where he headed the Foreign Policy Committee. Later, he taught religious studies in Qom before stopping work due to a stroke during 2002.

Khalkhali’s politics and religious beliefs were one in the same as one of the authoritative leading rulers of the Islamic Revolution.

Khalkhali must now answer to an even higher authority -- The Supreme Judge!!! "Hanging Judge" Ayatollah Sadeq Khalkhali finally faces his death sentence.

May he finally rest peacefully in a cell burning in hell!!!

Gary Fitleberg is a Political Analyst specializing in International Relations with emphasis on Middle East affairs.

Copyright © 2003 Gary Fitleberg