August 26, 2018

Ashough was imprisoned in Iran during the ‘80s. During his trial, the Death Commission tried to make him volunteer as a soldier for the Islamic Republic in their conflict against the PMOI. Upon his refusal to step on landmines, the Commission sentenced Ashough to death.

On the day of his execution, IRGC authorities took prisoners to a remote detention complex and told them to perform the ceremony of the last washing of the dead on themselves, so they could bring him a burial shroud. While the prisoners were dressing in their shrouds, Ashough says they called out their own names.

In his testimony, Ashough describes his escape from the IRGC death squad. He shows viewers the mass execution site and the place where he believes the victims of the massacre on July 30, 1988 lie buried in mass graves.
During 1988, the Islamic Republic of Iran executed some 4,000-5,000 political prisoners. Their remains can be found in about 120 confirmed and suspected mass grave sites around Iran. After three decades, no perpetrator or executor has been held accountable for this atrocity.