The funeral ceremony of Hossein Ali Nayiri was held today, Saturday, April 6, in front of the Arak Mosque in Tehran. The solemn event drew a large crowd, including high-ranking government officials, members of the judiciary, and Nayiri’s family. Notably present was Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Ejei, the current head of the Judiciary, whose attendance underscored the importance of Nayiri’s role in the Islamic Republic of Iran’s judicial system.
The ceremony marked the end of the life of a man who played a significant and often controversial role in Iran’s post-revolutionary justice system. Born in 1956, Nayiri began his religious studies at the Qom Seminary at a young age. There, he studied under prominent cleric Mohammadi Gilani. His close association with Gilani—who was himself a staunch supporter of Ruhollah Khomeini—propelled Nayiri into the heart of Iran’s revolutionary political sphere.
At just 26 years old, in 1983, Nayiri was appointed as the Sharia judge at Tehran’s Evin Prison, known for housing political prisoners. His early entry into such a sensitive judicial position set the tone for a long career intertwined with the Islamic Republic’s efforts to consolidate power, particularly during times of internal unrest and external threats.