The Trial of Mohammad Mossadegh

After the coup, Mossadegh went into hiding but surrendered to the new regime. He was arrested and, rather than being tried in a civilian court, was brought before a military tribunal. This choice was significant, as it underlined the political nature of the charges against him. The military tribunal was a highly politicized body, designed not to seek justice but to confirm the verdict already decided by the new government. The charges leveled against the former prime minister were accusations of treason and rebellion against the Shah, framed in a way that portrayed his entire premiership as an illegal act.