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

Fakhteh Samadi

About

Age: 24
Nationality: Iran
Religion: Unknown
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: October 17, 2007
Location of Killing: Evin Prison, Tehran, Tehran Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Hanging
Charges: Murder

About this Case

News of the conviction and execution of Ms. Fakhteh Samadi, along with eight others, was published on the websites of the Hamvatan Salam newspaper on August 10, 2005, theHamshahri and Iran newspapers on August 11, 2005, Fars News Agency and ISNA (Iranian Students News Agency) on October 20, 2007, Iscanews on October 17, and the E’temad Melli newspaper on October 8, 20 & 26, 2007.      

Arrest and Detention

There are two different versions of the defendant’s arrest in the media. According to the E’temad Melli newspaper, the defendant was arrested, along with her fiancé, under the Seyedkhandan Bridge on January 6, 2002. But, according to the Hamvatan Salam newspaper, after the police recovered the victim’s body, they found out that a woman named Fakhteh, who had been working in the victim’s house for two months, was missing. The police then suspected this woman and began a search for her. They were able to find her phone number and contacted her. They told her that she suspected of a robbery and when she went to the police station, they arrested her.    

Trial

This trial took place at either Branch 1157 of the General Penal Court of Tehran or Branch 1602 of Tehran Criminal Complex.  No further information is available about the defendant’s trial.      

Charges

The charge against Ms. Fakhteh was announced as "murder." According to the media reports, she murdered her boss in his house on December 27, 2001.        

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 evidence provided against the defendant was her “confessions”.           

Defence

The E’temad Mellinewspaper quoted an attorney saying, “The lawyer of Fakhteh Samadi stated that several legal problems existed in the verdict. If proven, the case could be dismissed. For example, the lawyer's claim of insanity needed the forensic commission's involvement. Besides, the legal processes for those who condemned to death were missing.” According to the same newspaper, the defendant had an unsuitable mental state and the doctor prescribed her some medications that could influence her behavior if not taken. According to the defendant’s statement, the victim imprisoned her in his house, hid her medication, and kept the phone away from her until she gave in to having a relationship with him. Fakhteh’s doctor said, “Fakhteh took a life, but, if we look at the circumstances correctly, her punishment based on the Islamic Punitive Law, is both unfair and unjust.” According to Iscanews, in her defence, the defendant stated, “The old man intended to harm me devilishly. Believe me, I just committed the crime to defend myself.”    

Judgment

The court condemned Ms. Fakhteh Samadi to death and the ruling was confirmed by Branch 15 of the Supreme Court. She was hanged in the Evin prison on October 17, 2007. The defendant’s lawyer stated that he had received an order to stop the execution three hours before it was carried out. But, according to the judge the Execution Unit of the Public Prosecution Office of Tehran, no such order was received by that branch.         

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