Ebrahim Raisi: The Cleric Who Rose From The 1988 Death Commissions To The Presidency

History · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Ebrahim Raisi was a central figure in Iran's judicial system, rising from a prosecutor during the 1988 political purges to the nation's presidency in 2021. Known as the Butcher of Tehran, his career was marked by controversy, international sanctions, and a complex legacy that ended in a fatal helicopter crash.

Born in 1960, Ebrahim Raisi began his clerical studies at age 15. Following the 1979 Iranian Revolution, he ascended rapidly through the judiciary, serving as prosecutor in multiple cities. By 1988, he was a member of the Tehran death commission, a body tasked with executing thousands of political prisoners. Amnesty International and other observers have described these state-sponsored killings as systematic extrajudicial executions, often involving torture and the use of cranes for mass hangings. Raisi's role in these events earned him the nickname Butcher of Tehran, a label he did not publicly deny, having later characterized the purge as a proud achievement of the system.

Raisi's political career saw him hold high-level positions, including Chief Justice and Custodian of the Astan Quds Razavi. After an unsuccessful presidential bid in 2017, he won the 2021 election with 63% of the vote. However, the election was marked by a low turnout of 48.8% and widespread allegations of rigging, as the Guardian Council had disqualified hundreds of other candidates. His presidency was defined by a hardline stance, characterized by stalled nuclear negotiations, intensified uranium enrichment, and support for Russia during its invasion of Ukraine. He also maintained a confrontational policy toward Israel, threatening major cities and calling for a Palestinian state from the river to the sea.

The latter half of his term was dominated by significant domestic and international friction. In late 2022, large-scale protests erupted following the death of Mahsa Amini, which Raisi’s government struggled to contain. His administration also faced international condemnation for the appointment of officials wanted by Argentina for the 1994 AMIA bombing. Despite these controversies, Raisi remained a protégé of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei until his death in a helicopter crash on 19 May 2024. His tenure remains a subject of intense debate, reflecting the deep divisions within Iranian politics and the country's complex relationship with the global community.

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