Iraj Mesdaghi says he worked with a relative of Hamid Nouri to trick him into travelling to Sweden. Wikimedia Commons
Iraj Mesdaghi says he worked with a relative of Hamid Nouri to trick him into travelling to Sweden. Wikimedia Commons
Iraj Mesdaghi says he worked with a relative of Hamid Nouri to trick him into travelling to Sweden. Wikimedia Commons
Iraj Mesdaghi says he worked with a relative of Hamid Nouri to trick him into travelling to Sweden. Wikimedia Commons

Revealed: Iranian charged over 1988 prison massacres ‘duped’ by ex-inmate


Paul Peachey
  • English
  • Arabic

The first person to face trial over the massacre of thousands of Iranian prisoners more than 30 years ago was snared after a sophisticated sting operation orchestrated by one of his alleged former victims.

Hamid Nouri, who was charged on Tuesday in Sweden with war crimes and more than 110 murders, was tricked into flying to the European country to resolve a custody battle involving his granddaughter, said Iraj Mesdaghi a former political prisoner.

Mr Mesdaghi – who is due to give evidence in court next month against Mr Nouri – worked with the accused man’s estranged son-in-law to lure the former regime official and book flights for him to Sweden and hotels for a subsequent European holiday.

Activists say Mr Nouri was warned about potential arrest but brushed aside the fears to travel to Sweden in 2019 to see his stepdaughter. He was arrested on arrival at Stockholm’s Arlanda airport after officials had been tipped off about his trip and given a dossier of evidence.

Mr Mesdaghi, who has long campaigned to bring those involved in the massacres to justice, said that Mr Nouri had no idea of the former prisoner’s role in organising the travel plans before he was arrested.

“I arranged everything, even the journey,” said Mr Mesdaghi. “I got the ticket and reserved hotels for him in Barcelona and Milan. His relative was helping me.

“She [Nouri’s granddaughter] couldn’t get a passport to go back to Iran. Hamid Nouri thought he would come to Sweden with our money, have a good time and then try to get a passport from the embassy where he had power and influence.”

Mr Nouri is said to have held the role of assistant to the deputy prosecutor at the Gohardasht prison in Karaj, Iran, at the time of the massacre.

Some 50 former prisoners and their relatives are due to give evidence against Mr Nouri during his trial, which is expected to continue until April next year, said Goran Hjalmarsson, a lawyer representing some of those directly affected by the 1988 massacre.

They are being brought to Sweden from across the world, having gone into exile after serving their sentences, he said.

Mr Mesdaghi is due to give evidence on August 23. He has previously spoken of encountering Mr Nouri at Gohardasht jail and Evin in Tehran during the killings that targeted opposition activists.

Days after the end of the Iran-Iraq war, former Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini signed death warrants for thousands of prison inmates.

Three-man death committees identified thousands of dissidents in prisons and ordered the killing of those who failed tests of loyalty to the regime. Within weeks, thousands had been killed, followed by a second wave of executions of left-wing critics of the regime. An estimated 5,000 people died.

Despite a series of critical reports by the UN, lawyers and rights groups, calling for prosecutions, nobody has ever faced justice for the killings. Campaigners have identified Iran’s incoming president, Ebrahim Raisi, as a key figure in the operation.

The prosecution has fallen on the Swedish authorities under the principle of universal jurisdiction, which allows prosecutors to put anyone on trial for crimes against humanity regardless of where they were committed.

Mr Nouri’s lawyer in Sweden has previously told reporters that the arrest was a case of mistaken identity.

While you're here
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Arsenal 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt (Nov 28, Europa)

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Key findings of Jenkins report
  • Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
  • Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
  • Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
  • Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?

The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.

A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.

Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.

The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.

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Rating: 3/5

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What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

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THE BIO

Ms Al Ameri likes the variety of her job, and the daily environmental challenges she is presented with.

Regular contact with wildlife is the most appealing part of her role at the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi.

She loves to explore new destinations and lives by her motto of being a voice in the world, and not an echo.

She is the youngest of three children, and has a brother and sister.

Her favourite book, Moby Dick by Herman Melville helped inspire her towards a career exploring  the natural world.

EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS

Estijaba – 8001717 –  number to call to request coronavirus testing

Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111

Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre

Emirates airline – 600555555

Etihad Airways – 600555666

Ambulance – 998

Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries

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Develop an innovative business concept

Have the ability to differentiate yourself from competitors

Put in place a business continuity plan after Covid-19

Prepare for the worst-case scenario (further lockdowns, long wait for a vaccine, etc.) 

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* Tips from Jassim Al Marzooqi and Walid Hanna

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

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Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal 

Rating: 2/5

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

Jewel of the Expo 2020

252 projectors installed on Al Wasl dome

13.6km of steel used in the structure that makes it equal in length to 16 Burj Khalifas

550 tonnes of moulded steel were raised last year to cap the dome

724,000 cubic metres is the space it encloses

Stands taller than the leaning tower of Pisa

Steel trellis dome is one of the largest single structures on site

The size of 16 tennis courts and weighs as much as 500 elephants

Al Wasl means connection in Arabic

World’s largest 360-degree projection surface

57%20Seconds
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Fixtures

Sunday, December 8, Sharjah Cricket Stadium – UAE v USA

Monday, December 9, Sharjah Cricket Stadium – USA v Scotland

Wednesday, December 11, Sharjah Cricket Stadium – UAE v Scotland

Thursday, December 12, ICC Academy, Dubai – UAE v USA

Saturday, December 14, ICC Academy, Dubai – USA v Scotland

Sunday, December 15, ICC Academy, Dubai – UAE v Scotland

Note: All matches start at 10am, admission is free

MATCH INFO

Newcastle United 3
Gayle (23'), Perez (59', 63')

Chelsea 0

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The biog

Place of birth: Kalba

Family: Mother of eight children and has 10 grandchildren

Favourite traditional dish: Al Harees, a slow cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled cracked or coarsely ground wheat mixed with meat or chicken

Favourite book: My early life by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah

Favourite quote: By Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's Founding Father, “Those who have no past will have no present or future.”

The alternatives

• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.

• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.

• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.

2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.

• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases -  but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.

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Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

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Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

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Volvo ES90 Specs

Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)

Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp

Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm

On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region

Price: Exact regional pricing TBA

Updated: July 28, 2021, 2:57 PM`