The release of Hamid Noury, a former assistant prosecutor in Gohardasht prison in Karaj, following a prisoner swap between Sweden and Iran, does not negate his guilt for committing war crimes and 24 counts of intentional murder. The occurrence of these heinous war crimes by agents of the Islamic Republic, such as Noury, has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt in a fair trial. The ruling of the Swedish court, despite Noury’s release, remains a strong judicial precedent and can be cited by other courts.
The Swedish government’s political deal with the Islamic Republic does not invalidate the court’s judgment. Noury’s trial is just the beginning of the process of holding perpetrators accountable, and his release will not stop this process. The victory of human rights defenders in Noury’s trial is significant, and his release through a political deal will only strengthen the resolve of human rights defenders and the families of victims to continue seeking justice.
Noury was arrested at Stockholm airport on November 9, 2019, based on a complaint filed by several former political prisoners, invoking the legal principle of universal jurisdiction. Universal jurisdiction stipulates that in cases of war crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity, and torture, countries are obligated to prosecute and punish the perpetrators, regardless of where the crime occurred or the nationality of the perpetrator or victim. This principle aims to ensure the realization of international justice. Some European countries, including Sweden, have enacted laws to uphold this principle.
Noury’s trial commenced on August 10, 2021, and lasted nearly nine months. The trial court sentenced him to life imprisonment for his involvement in the executions of political prisoners in 1988, the maximum penalty in Sweden. After Noury appealed the decision, the appeals court upheld the life sentence in late 2023.
@iranhrdc
#hamid_noury
The Swedish government’s political deal with the Islamic Republic does not invalidate the court’s judgment. Noury’s trial is just the beginning of the process of holding perpetrators accountable, and his release will not stop this process. The victory of human rights defenders in Noury’s trial is significant, and his release through a political deal will only strengthen the resolve of human rights defenders and the families of victims to continue seeking justice.
Noury was arrested at Stockholm airport on November 9, 2019, based on a complaint filed by several former political prisoners, invoking the legal principle of universal jurisdiction. Universal jurisdiction stipulates that in cases of war crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity, and torture, countries are obligated to prosecute and punish the perpetrators, regardless of where the crime occurred or the nationality of the perpetrator or victim. This principle aims to ensure the realization of international justice. Some European countries, including Sweden, have enacted laws to uphold this principle.
Noury’s trial commenced on August 10, 2021, and lasted nearly nine months. The trial court sentenced him to life imprisonment for his involvement in the executions of political prisoners in 1988, the maximum penalty in Sweden. After Noury appealed the decision, the appeals court upheld the life sentence in late 2023.
@iranhrdc
#hamid_noury