In an interview, Parviz Sabeti, a prominent figure of the defunct SAVAK police of Iran’s former Shah regime, vehemently denied any involvement in the torture and execution of Iranian dissidents during the Shah’s oppressive rule. Speaking to Manoto, a Persian channel known for its favorable stance towards the remnants of the Shah regime, Sabeti attempted to distance himself from the heinous acts committed under his watch.
Sabeti, who played a pivotal role in the SAVAK, the Shah’s primary apparatus for suppressing dissent, claimed his role was limited to administrative functions. “I wasn’t involved in investigations and prisons. I was only doing office jobs,” he stated. This statement starkly contradicts historical accounts and the testimonies of numerous victims who suffered under SAVAK’s brutal tactics, particularly targeting members of the People’s Mojahedin of Iran (PMOI/MEK).
The SAVAK, established in 1957, was notorious for its role in spying, arresting, and torturing dissidents. Its ruthless methods were particularly evident in the treatment of PMOI members. Hundreds of PMOI survivors have recounted the horrors they faced in Shah’s prisons, often pointing to Sabeti as the overseer of such tortures.
One poignant testimony comes from former political prisoner Abolghassem Rezai, whose brothers were among the regime’s many victims. Rezai vividly recalled Sabeti’s direct involvement: “He personally oversaw the torture of all the important persons… They all carried out his commands.” These accounts paint a grim picture of Sabeti’s leadership, under which egregious acts of torture, including the use of electric irons, were perpetrated.
The post-revolution confession of Bahman Naderipour, a former guard at Tehran’s Evin Prison, further implicates Sabeti in these atrocities. Naderipour admitted that Sabeti was aware and had approved operations to murder several PMOI members in prison, revealing a level of involvement far beyond mere administrative duties.
Despite these overwhelming accusations, Sabeti, who fled Iran before the 1979 revolution that toppled the Shah, has managed to maintain a low profile over the decades. However, his recent appearance at a rally in Los Angeles, commemorating the 44th anniversary of the 1979 revolution, has reignited scrutiny. The rally, also attended by Reza Pahlavi, the son of the ousted Shah, highlighted the ongoing efforts by some to rehabilitate the image of the Shah’s regime and its officials.
This narrative starkly contrasts with the efforts during the 2022 nationwide uprising, where proponents of the Shah’s regime sought to whitewash its crimes. The glorification of figures like Sabeti and the promise of violence against their opponents underlines the complex and turbulent history of Iran’s political landscape, where the truth often battles against the tides of political agendas and historical revisionism.
