Abdorrahman Boroumand Center

for Human Rights in Iran

https://www.iranrights.org
Omid, a memorial in defense of human rights in Iran
One Person’s Story

Fazlahmad Nurzehi

About

Nationality: Afghanistan
Religion: Presumed Muslim
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: August 6, 1997
Location of Killing: Gonabad, Khorasan\Khorasan-e Razavi Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Hanging
Charges: Possession of arms; Drug trafficking

About this Case

The execution of Mr. Fazlahmad Nurzehi, son of Nurmohammad and an Afghan citizen, along with four other individuals, was announced on the website of the Hamshahri newspaper on August 7, 1997 and the Kayhan newspaper on August 12, 1997 (as Fazlahmad Nuri).

Arrest and detention

The circumstances of this defendant’s arrest and detention are not known. According to the Kayhan report, the defendants were arrested following continuous operations by the security forces in Gonabad (Khorasan province).

Trial

No information is available on the defendant’s trial. According to the Hamshahri newspaper, the trial of this defendant took place at the Islamic Revolutionary Tribunal of Torbate Heidarieh (Khorasan province).

Charges

The Kayhan report announced the charges against the defendant as “causing insecurity in the region, smuggling opium, and possession of arms.”

The validity of the criminal charges brought against this defendant cannot be ascertained in the absence of the basic guarantees of a fair trial. International human rights organizations have drawn attention to reports indicating that the Islamic Republic’s authorities have brought trumped-up charges against their political opponents and executed them for drug trafficking, sexual, and other criminal offences. Thousands of alleged drug traffickers have been sentenced to death following judicial processes that fail to meet international standards. Scores of them were executed based on a 1989 law imposing mandatory death sentences on drug traffickers found in possession of specified amounts of proscribed narcotics (5 kg of hashish or opium, and more than 30 grams of heroin, codeine, methadone, or morphine). The exact number of people convicted based on trumped-up charges is unknown.

Evidence of guilt

The report of this execution does not contain information regarding the evidence provided against the defendant.

Defense

No information is available on Mr. Nurzehi’s defense.

Judgment

Mr. Fazlahmad Nurzehi was condemned to death and the Supreme Court confirmed the ruling. He was hanged in public at Ahmadian intersection in Gonabad on August 6, 1997.

Correct/ Complete This Entry