Mohammad Reza Naqdi
- IRGC Commander, Gilan Province (1979 - 1981)
- Intelligence Deputy of the IRGC Commander, Western Iran (1981 - 1984)
- Commander of Irregular Warfare Headquarters, Northwest and Western Iran (1984 - 1986)
- Commander of Badr Corps, Iraq (1986 - 1988)
- Commander of NAJA Intelligence Protection Organiszation, National (1992 - 2000)
- Human Rights Violation: Ill-treatment and torture of corruption suspects in Tehran Municipality (1997) read more
- Institution
- Intelligence Protection Organisation
- Location
- Tehran
- Rights Violated
- Right to freedom from torture, Right to liberty and security of person
- Description
-
Mohammad Reza Naqdi, as the Commander of the NAJA Intelligence Protection Organisation, in 1997, played a key role in the arbitrary arrest and torture of corruption suspects in the municipality in order to obtain forced confessions. In March 1999, Branch 8 of the First Military Court of Tehran sentenced Mohammad Reza Naqdi to eight months in prison on the above charges. In an interview with Sharq newspaper, Naqdi claimed that his sentence had been appealed and he had not been imprisoned.
- Sources
Naqdi: they brought us to court for torture, Jahan-e- Eghtesad, December 2016
Naqdi was sentenced to eight months in prison, Hamshahri, 29 March, 1999
https://justice4iran.org/persian/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/NAGHDI-9.pdf
- Human Rights Violation: Participation in suppressing student protests (9 July 1999) read more
- Institution
- Intelligence Protection Organisation
- Location
- Tehran
- Rights Violated
- Right to freedom of assembly, Right to freedom of expression, Right to liberty and security of person
- Description
-
Naqdi, as the commander of NAJA Intelligence Protection, was involved in planning the attack on the university dormitory and the violent suppression of student protests in July 1999.
- Sources
Shatak Khoon: A Documentary about the July 1999 student protests , IranWire, 1398
https://www.radiofarda.com/a/students-protest-in-tir18-after-20-years/30044213.html
Mohammad Reza Naqdi succeeded Hossein Tayeb as the head of the Basij Organization, BBC Persian, 2009
https://justice4iran.org/persian/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/NAGHDI-10.pdf
- Human Rights Violation: Ill-treatment and torture of corruption suspects in Tehran Municipality (1997) read more
- Support and Supply Deputy of General Staff of Armed forces, National (Sep 2000 - Oct 2009)
- Head of the Passive Defence Organisation, National (2005 - 2007)
- Head of Headquarters for Combating Commodity and Currency Trafficking, National (Oct 2005 - Jun 2007)
- Head of the Basij Organisation, National (Oct 2009 - Dec 2016)
- Human Rights Violation: Suppression of peaceful protests (2009) read more
- Institution
- Basij Organisation
- Location
- (National)
- Rights Violated
- Right to freedom from torture, Right to freedom of assembly, Right to freedom of expression, Right to life
- Description
-
Naqdi, as the head of the Basij organisation, has played a key role in suppressing peaceful protests against the results of the 2009 elections, especially during the events of Ashura (27 December, 2009). On 27 December, 2009, Basij forces, under his command, played a key role in suppressing the protests, which led to the killing of at least 15 and the arrest of hundreds.
Following the announcement of the results of the tenth Iranian presidential election and the victory of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, widespread protests were held in Iranian cities. The protests were brutally suppressed by the riot police, the IRGC and Basij, killing at least 70 people, injuring thousands and widespread arrests.
- Sources
Reza Naqdi: People oust the deviants from the revolution up to the position of deputy leader, December 2015
https://justice4iran.org/persian/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/NAGHDI-12.pdf
Exclusive: Narrative of the victims of Ashura day from Meqdad Detention Center, Jaras News Agency, 28 December, 2009
https://web.archive.org/web/20111115133453/http://www.rahesabz.net/story/6535/
- Human Rights Violation: Suppression of peaceful protests (2009) read more
- Cultural Deputy of IRGC, National (Dec 2016 - present)
In a decision dated 13 April, 2011, the EU added Mohammad Reza Naqdi to its human rights sanctions list for his role in gross violation of human rights. According to this decision, Naghdi was banned from entering the EU and all his assets in Europe will be confiscated. According to the EU statement, “Mohammad Reza Naqdi was responsible for or complicit in Basij abuses occurring in late 2009, including the violent response to the December 2009 Ashura Day protests, which resulted in up to 15 deaths and the arrests of hundreds of protesters.”
In March 2011, the US Treasury Department also referred to the role of Mohammad Reza Naqdi as the Basij commander in suppressing protesters against the results of the 2009 election, and his participation as the head of the Basij Organization in the "interrogations at Kahrizak Detention Center" and "extracting forced confessions from reformist leaders" put him on his list of human rights sanctions. Under the sanctions, Mohammad Reza Naqdi's potential assets in the United States will be frozen and he will be barred from entering the country.