The 28th commemoration of the historic Verdict by the Mykonos Court: A Formal Disclosure of Governmental sponsored Assassinations by the Islamic Republic on European Soil

The Mykonos assassination represents a profound crime within the context of political dialogues for which the Islamic Republic has thus far remained unaccountable. Today, April 10, 2025, marks the 28th anniversary of the historic verdict issued by the Mykonos Court. This tribunal, for the first time in Europe, accused and held high ranking officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran responsible for orchestrating the assassination of political opponents abroad.

The Mykonos Assassination: A state Organized Crime Amid Political Dialogue.

On the evening of September 17, 1992, agents of the Islamic Republic executed a mafia-style attack on the Mykonos restaurant in Berlin, Germany, assassinating three leaders of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan and an Iranian political activist during informal political discussions with the Islamic Republic.

The victims:

- Dr. Sadegh Sharafkandi, Secretary General of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan

- Fattah Abdoli, a member of the Central Committee of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan

- Homayoun Ardalani, representative of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan in Germany

- Nouri Dehkordi, an independent political activist

This assassination occurred during the Global Congress of Socialist Parties in Berlin and garnered widespread media attention and condemned by the international institutions.

The Mykonos Court: A Turning Point in International Law.

One year after the assassination, Kazem Darabi (an Iranian citizen affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard and Intelligence services employee) and four Lebanese nationals were arrested on charges of participation in this crime. The trial of the suspects commenced in November 1993 and extended over five years, encompassing 247 sessions, 170 witnesses, and exceeding 9 million Swiss francs in expenses. It is recognized as one of the longest and most significant political-judicial cases in Europe post-World War II. On April 10, 1997, the court issued its final ruling:

- Kazem Darabi and Abbas Raheli: sentenced to life in prison.

- Youssef Amin: 11 years in prison

- Mohammad Atris: 5 years in prison

- Attaollah Ayad: acquitted

The direct order for the assassination was issued by the highest-ranking officials of the Islamic Republic, supporting the regime's official policy of eliminating dissenters. During the trial, evidence was presented indicating that a committee known as "Special Affairs" at the commend of the Iranian government was responsible for issuing the assassination orders. The court explicitly stated that this committee consisted of the highest authorities within the Islamic Republic:

- Ali Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Republic

- Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the then-President

- Ali Akbar Velayati, the then-Minister of Foreign Affairs

- Ali Fallahian, Minister of Intelligence at the time.

The presiding judge, Friederich Kobesch, and the prosecutor, Bruno Just, asserted based on testimonies and intelligence documents that this assassination was part of the official policy of the Islamic Republic to eliminate political opponents abroad.

Political and International Consequences of the Mykonos Assassination:

The ruling of the Mykonos Court in 1997 represented a historical turning point in how European judicial institutions addressed terrorism perpetrated by the Islamic Republic of Iran. For the first time, a European court formally and substantively identified senior officials of a regime as perpetrators of assassination on European soil, resulting in significant repercussions. In response to this verdict:

- Member states of the European Union recalled their ambassadors from Tehran.

- Diplomatic relations between Iran and Europe faced a crisis and were put in a state of semi-suspension.

- The international credibility of the Islamic Republic was unprecedentedly called into question.

- This ruling became the most significant formal condemn of a regime by a European court.

- The Mykonos Court became a legal document for recognizing and documenting Iran's extraterritorial assassination network.

Refraining of Accountability and Denial by the Islamic Republic,

In the face of this historic ruling, the Islamic Republic not only refused to accept any responsibility but also, in a coordinated effort, labeled the court as a political spectacle, accusing the media of perpetuating a "Zionist-Western conspiracy." The officials who were implicated in the ruling as the main decision-makers within the "Special Affairs Committee" faced neither prosecution nor were they compelled to resign; rather:

- Ali Khamenei remained in his leadership position.

- Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani continued to hold significant decision-making roles until his passing.

- Ali Akbar Velayati and Ali Fallahian retained or were promoted to key positions within the Islamic regime.

To this day, there has been no recognition, apology, compensation, or official action taken to address this crime. This silence and evasion of responsibility reflect the ongoing official approach of the Islamic Republic toward the physical elimination of critics and the denial of justice.