Saed News: In addition to Hadi Ghaffari's account, the Iranian newspaper has also published the testimonies of three other figures regarding the person responsible for the execution of Amir Abbas Hoveyda, the Prime Minister who held power for 13 years (from 1964 to 1977).
According to Saed News and quoting from Nameh News:
Hojatoleslam Hadi Ghaffari:
August 18, 1997: "I had no role in Hoveyda's case, and my only crime was being present in the open court for 10 minutes as a spectator... By the time I got to the court, one of the gentlemen stood up and placed me in the front row, seating me next to Hoveyda. After the court session was almost over, and the accused was taken out, I stood up and left... No one, except Mr. Khalghali and God, knows who killed Hoveyda... 'Hoveyda's grave is in the city of 'Acre,' in an area under Israeli control... As I have heard, Hoveyda's body was taken to the forensic department, mummified, then transferred to Turkey, and from there to a place called 'Hazirat al-Quds' in Acre, which is the Baha'i cemetery. I saw Hoveyda's body, and it wasn’t even circumcised—meaning he was not circumcised. He wasn’t a Muslim and didn’t believe in Islam.’”
Amir Abbas Hoveyda
Ebrahim Yazdi, former Secretary-General of the Freedom Movement:
"When Hoveyda was brought from the Jamshidiyeh barracks to the Refah School, he said to me, 'I have a lot to say... I told Mr. Khomeini that Hoveyda has many secrets... We should let him speak.' Mr. Khomeini accepted my suggestion and told Khalghali to act as I had suggested... When Hoveyda entered the courthouse corridor, one of the clergy present there, whose name I prefer not to mention now, shot him in the corridor with his own revolver."
Asghar Rakh-Saf, Head of Qasr Prison at the time:
"During that period, Mr. Hadi Ghaffari, although without any official responsibility, regularly came and went from Qasr prison. He was involved in transporting detainees, bringing in and out weapons. I repeatedly warned the judges why an individual without responsibility was frequently entering and exiting the prison. On the day of Hoveyda's trial, when he was taken to the back yard of the prison, Hadi Ghaffari shot him before the verdict was announced. I remember, when I heard the gunshot at an inappropriate time, I was very scared. When I went toward the sound of the shot, I realized that Mr. Ghaffari had killed Hoveyda."
Abolfazl Hakimi, People's Representative Present at Hoveyda's Trial:
"Some time passed, and a break was announced. They took Hoveyda out through the back door of the courthouse. I followed them. They had taken him down the stairs. That part of the Qasr prison building had a small yard with two rooms at the end that resembled solitary confinement cells. Suddenly, a gunshot came from the direction of the cells. Moments later, Mr. Khalghali and Mr. Ghaffari emerged from that room. Mr. Ghaffari had a revolver in his hand, and Khalghali was scolding him, saying, 'Why is your hand trembling?' I understood that they had killed Hoveyda."
