A former high-ranking official under Iran’s deposed monarchy faces legal consequences for alleged human rights abuses as a federal judge dismisses his attempt to block a lawsuit. Accused of overseeing the Shah’s secret police and intelligence agency, the defendant is said to have directed the torture of thousands during his tenure. Plaintiffs claim they uncovered his current residence through a social media post featuring him at a recent anti-government protest. The case could mark a rare legal challenge against a figure linked to the regime’s brutal repression.
Parviz Sabeti denies allegations he led Savak intelligence agency under shah and directed torture of thousandsThe alleged “chief torturer” for the deposed Shah of Iran is a step closer to trial for human rights abuses after a Florida federal judge rejected his demand to halt a lawsuit brought by three former political prisoners.Parviz Sabeti, who was reported last year to have lived in a quiet upscale central Florida community, is accused of being the former head of Savak, the shah’s secret police and intelligence agency. The plaintiffs say they discovered his whereabouts only after a photo of Sabeti at a 2023 protest against the Iranian government was posted on social media by his daughter. Continue reading...
