The remorse expressed by the head of Evin Prison during the mass executions of political prisoners in 1988: "A crime was committed, and I cannot be cleansed even with holy water."

Hossein Mortazavi-Zanjani, the head of Evin Prison during 1986 and 1987, recently made unprecedented remarks in Clubhouse about the conditions of prisons at that time and the mass executions of political prisoners in 1988.

He condemned the executions in 1988, describing them as a crime, stating that these actions were an attempt to rid the Islamic Republic of the prison issue while Ruhollah Khomeini was still alive. According to Mortazavi-Zanjani, the executions aimed to eliminate the presence of political prisoners in the Islamic Republic and ensure there were no dissenters within the country.

The former head of Evin Prison acknowledged his responsibility, stating, "I cannot be cleansed even with holy water." He also spoke about his disillusionment with the Islamic Republic, claiming he does not accept either the republic or the Islamic nature of the current regime.

While asserting that he did not bear responsibility for the trials and executions, Mortazavi-Zanjani held the committee formed at that time accountable for all that transpired and claimed he expressed his opposition in the meetings held then. He confirmed the transportation of the bodies of those executed by truck for burial outside the prison in Khavaran.

Mortazavi-Zanjani implicitly acknowledged the use of torture at that time and confirmed the issuance of orders for the virginity testing of young women before their executions.

From 1984 to 1987, Hossein Mortazavi-Zanjani held various significant positions in the management of the Islamic Republic's prisons, including the leadership of Gohardasht and Evin prisons.

These important remarks from Hossein Mortazavi-Zanjani were made on the first day of his presence in Clubhouse on June 25, 2023, as selected and written by Babak Ghafouri Azar.