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

Farhad Akbari Diba (Akbarinia)

About

Age: 21
Nationality: Iran
Religion: Presumed Muslim
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: December 7, 2005
Location of Killing: 5th km into Arak-Khomein road, Arak, Markazi Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Hanging
Charges: Murder; Armed robbery

About this Case

The execution of Mr. Farhad Akbari Diba (Akbari Diba), son of Mohammad, along with Abdorreza Akbari Diba, was announced on the websites of the Central Prosecutor’s Office and the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) of Markazi province (Dec. 7, 2005).  Both defendants were residents of the Asadabad village near Hamedan. 

Arrest and Detention

The circumstances of Mr. Akbari Diba’s arrest and detention are not known.

Trial

Branch two of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Arak (Markazi province) tried Mr. Akbari Diba.  

Charges

Mr. Farhad Akbari Diba was charged with “armed robbery and murder”.

According to Arak Prosecutor, “Messers Akabrinia were blocking the roads from Arak to Khomein, Zanjan, Takestan, Mianeh, Nobaran in Saveh, and Shustar for extortion, frightening people, and murder”. (Central Prosecutor’s Office and ISNA - Dec. 7, 2005) 

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 Islamic Republic authorities have brought trumped-up charges against their political opponents and executed them for alleged drug trafficking, sexual, and other criminal offences. Each year Iranian authorities sentence to death hundreds of alleged common criminals, following judicial processes that fail to meet international standards. 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 Mr. Farhad Akbari Diba. The report refers to the confessions of Abdorreza Akbari Diba who was executed along with the defendant. According to Iran newspaper, Mr. Abdorreza Akbari Diba had confessed to extortion and armed robbery in the vicinity of Saveh (Markazi province) and disclosed the details of a “horrible crime” at Khomein intersection. 

International human rights organizations have repeatedly condemned the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran for its systematic use of severe torture and solitary confinement to obtain confessions from detainees and have questioned the authenticity of confessions obtained under duress. In the case of political detainees, these confessions are, at times, televised. The National Television broadcasts confessions during which prisoners plead guilty to vague and false charges, repent and renounce their political beliefs, and/or implicate others. Human rights organizations have also pointed to the pattern of retracted confessions by those prisoners who are freed. 

Defense

No information is available on Mr. Akbari Diba’s defense. 

Judgment

The Public Prosecutor of Arak called Mr. Farhad Akbari Diba “at war with God and a corruptor on earth.”  He was hanged in the presence of the victims’ families and other observers at the place of the crime in Arak on December 7, 2005. 

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