The first victims were military officers and officials of the Pahlavi government. These executions enjoyed popular support, as no major leftist organization opposed these arbitrary executions. The Tudeh Party infamously supported Sadeq Khalkhali, known as the hanging judge, in parliamentary elections. Even Prime Minister Mehdi Bazargan, who was considered a “liberal” by some at that time, stated that he was “happy” that four military officers had been executed. The Islamic Republic’s blatant disregard for human rights, as well as its anti-American posture, have continued to the present.
