How the Pahlavi Regime Tortured its Opponents (1)

Torture, in its simplest definition, refers to inflicting physical or mental pain on someone in order to force them to do something. It is one of the methods used by individuals or governments to achieve their goals. The torturing of prisoners, especially political prisoners, is a common practice employed by dictatorial regimes to extract false confessions and hinder their political adversaries.

A prominent example of this type of torture, i.e., that of a political nature, is clearly witnessed during the Pahlavi regime. In this regard, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, by creating two dreaded organizations namely SAVAK and the Anti-Sabotage Joint Committee, carried out the most severe forms of torture against his opponents. These two organizations, which were formed with the support and training of American and Israeli forces, were the most important intelligence and security agencies of the regime. They were responsible for intensifying political repression in the country, and thus played a significant role in fueling popular discontent amongst the masses against the regime.

SAVAK, which operated extensively in suppressing anti-monarchy elements, tortured and murdered many opponents of the Pahlavi regime. While, the Anti-Sabotage Joint Committee, established in 1971 with the help of some SAVAK agents, played a crucial role in suppressing people and committing the worst forms of torture. This article aims to explain some of the methods of torture used by these two organizations.

What is Torture?

According to Article 1 of the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1984), the term “torture” signifies any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession…when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity.”

In this context, torturing political prisoners is one of the common forms of repression committed by dictatorships against activities and movements advocating for change. It is possible to claim that the most horrifying examples of torture in contemporary history can be found during the reign of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, especially those committed by the two intelligence-security organizations, namely SAVAK and the Anti-Sabotage Joint Committee.

SAVAK was an intelligence and security organization founded three years after the August 19, 1953 coup. It was responsible for most of the murders, torture, and suppression carried out on political opponents before the victory of the Islamic Revolution. The Anti-Sabotage Joint Committee was created by order of the Shah in 1971. It was formed to deal with armed groups and facilitate coordination with other security agencies that were operating independently. After the formation of this committee, the torture of political opponents reached its peak, with the worst forms of torture being inflicted on prisoners. Such acts of torture were so severe that figures such as Cyrus Vance, the United States Secretary of State during the Carter Administration, acknowledged the use of inhumane methods by SAVAK in his memoirs. He added that this behavior against suspects and convicts provoked public discontent, thereby creating the ground for the emergence of revolutionary movements and the eventual overthrow of the ruling political system in the country.

In fact, these two organizations, which followed their American and Israeli counterparts in using the more modern forms of torture, employed nearly 100 different types of torture techniques against prisoners, of which the most important ones will be mentioned.

Apollo

Apollo was the name of one of the torture devices invented by the Pahlavi regime. It consisted of a metal chair, shackles and a helmet. The person would be sat on the chair, with his hands and feet secured by the shackles. The torturer would bind the feet of the prisoner such that the soles faced upwards. Then the metal helmet, which would be hanging from the ceiling, would be pulled down, covering the person’s head and shoulders. The torturer would then hit the soles of the prisoner’s feet with a cable. In addition, burning the body with a lighter and cigarette, pulling off the nails with pliers or pushing a needle under the fingernails, were other methods of torture used by the regime. If the prisoner cried out in pain, his screams would echo inside the helmet, thereby causing them to feel more pain.