Human rights groups have urged new Iranian President Hassan Rohani to immediately withdrawal his nominee for justice minister, Mostafa Purmohammadi.
Human Rights Watch (HRW), Reporters Without Borders, and the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said on August 8 that Purmohammadi has been implicated in abuses that may constitute crimes against humanity.
HRW has documented Purmohammadi's alleged involvement in the extrajudicial executions of thousands of political prisoners and assassinations of prominent dissident intellectuals in the 1980s.
"As justice minister he could play a role in influencing investigations into human rights abuses," HRW said in a statement.
Purmohammadi served twice as deputy intelligence minister and was interior minister during former President Mahmud Ahmadinejad's first term.
Rohani presented the list of his nominees for cabinet posts to the Iranian parliament during his inauguration ceremony on August 4.
Human Rights Watch (HRW), Reporters Without Borders, and the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said on August 8 that Purmohammadi has been implicated in abuses that may constitute crimes against humanity.
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HRW has documented Purmohammadi's alleged involvement in the extrajudicial executions of thousands of political prisoners and assassinations of prominent dissident intellectuals in the 1980s.
"As justice minister he could play a role in influencing investigations into human rights abuses," HRW said in a statement.
Purmohammadi served twice as deputy intelligence minister and was interior minister during former President Mahmud Ahmadinejad's first term.
Rohani presented the list of his nominees for cabinet posts to the Iranian parliament during his inauguration ceremony on August 4.
