Ebrahim Raisi: Iranian President's Role In Tehran That Made Him One Of Most Feared Leaders

• Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi died in a chopper crash on Sunday, May 19, in the North-West of Iran
• His hardline stance and ruthless style of leadership saw him earn the name 'Butcher of Tehran' after massive executions of political prisoners in a four-judge panel that he was part of
• Under his reign, 49 women were killed in a long-lasting women's protest after the death of a Kurdish-Iranian girl, who brutally died in police custody

President Ebrahim Raisi's chopper crashed on Sunday, May 19 in the North-West of Iran on his way back from East Azerbaijan.

Raisi died alongside his Foreign Affairs Minister, Hussein Amin Abdullahian, and seven others.

He was a bold and firm leader who was feared in Iran and across the globe. He was known for his hardline stance and ruthless operations.

When he was a judge, Raisi, alongside four other judges, issued orders for the execution of political prisoners in the 1980s, earning him the title The Butcher of Tehran.

He was a firm believer in the Iranian revolution and its mission, with strong revolutionary minds of Iran.

Why was Ebrahim Raisi a feared force in the Middle East?

According to reports by Sky News, Raisi launched an attack on Israel on April 1, the first in his country.

The attack at the Tehran Embassy Compound in Damascus killed seven guards and two generals.

In his response, he said Iran acted in self-defence, and any response from Israel would lead to dire consequences.

Additionally, under his reign, hundreds of Iranians were killed in the oppression of recent women-led protests. According to the United Nations, 49 women were killed in the protests.

The women protested against the brutal killing of an Iranian woman in police custody for violating laws on hijab in 2022.

Why is Raisi referred to as The Butcher of Tehran?

His fearful bond was created in the 1980s when he sat on the Death Panel of four Islamic judges who pronounced sentences to thousands of prisoners to their deaths.

However, Iran has never acknowledged what has been described as a massacre of an estimated 2,800 to 5,000 people, according to Human Rights Watch.

Under his reign, he reportedly helped militia groups in Iraq to attack and, in some instances, kill American soldiers. His adventurous interventions also saw him allegedly help Hamas fight its war against the Jewish state.

What to know about Ebrahim Raisi chopper crash

• Early Monday, May 20, videos capturing Raisi's last moments before the deadly crash emerged on social media
• News about the chopper crash emerged on Sunday, May 19, with rescue missions slowly kicking off due to foggy conditions
• The chopper was later identified as the one ferrying Raisi with other top government officials from the dam site's official visit

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke