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

Hamid Heidari

About

Nationality: Iran
Religion: Presumed Muslim
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: January 10, 2001
Location of Killing: Shahr-e Rey, Tehran Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Hanging
Charges: Murder

About this Case

News of the execution of Mr. Hamid Heidari, known as Shirzad, was published on the website of ISNA (Iranian Students News Agency) on January 10, 2001, and in the Jomhuri Eslami and Ettela’at newspapers on January 11, 2001. Additional information was taken from the Jomhuri Eslami newspaper on July 1, 2000 and the Ettela’at newspaper on July18 and September 9, 2000. This case was related to the murder of a Basij member in 2000.   

Arrest and detention

According to the Ettela’at newspaper on July18, 2000, all defendants charged with the killing of a Basiji in Shahr-e Ray were arrested. According to the Jomhuri Eslami newspaper, Mr. Heidari was arrested and transferred to the Qasr Prison. However, because of his fighting and arguing, he was transferred to the Qezelhesar Prison.

Trial

Branch Twelve of the Public Court of Shahr-e Ray tried Mr. Heidari. According to the Jomhuri Eslami newspaper, quoting the Head of the Shahr-e Ray Courthouse, the trial took place in an open session in the presence of the victim’s family and the defendant’s attorney.  

Charges

The charges brought against Mr. Heidari were announced as “murder and drinking alcoholic beverages.” According to the Ettela’at newspaper, quoting the Public Relations Office of the Tehran Courthouse, “In June of 2000, a fight broke out between the defendant and five others on one side, and a group of Basiji members from the base in Shahr-e Ray, who had performed inspection and promoted virtue and prevented vice, on the other side, which resulted in the killing of a Basij member from the base.”         

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 authorities have brought trumped-up charges, including drug trafficking, sexual, and other criminal offences, against their opponents (including political, civil society activists, as well as unionists and ethnic and religious minorities). 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 and executed based on trumped-up charges is unknown.   

Evidence of guilt

The report of this execution did not provide any specific information on the evidence presented against Mr. Heidari.

Defense

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

Judgment

The court condemned Mr. Hamid Heidari to death and 80 lashes. The Supreme Court confirmed the ruling. He was hanged in public at the Ebnebabuyeh Quarter in Shahr-e Ray on January 10, 2001. According to the Jomhuri Eslami newspaper, quoting the Head of the Shahr-e Ray Courthouse, “Several institutions including so called human rights organizations had sent recommendations to some authorities in order to stop this execution; however, the Head of Judiciary personally observed and investigated the case and confirmed the ruling being carried out on the specific day.”  

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