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

M. S.

About

Age: 22
Nationality: Iran
Religion: Presumed Muslim
Civil Status: Married

Case

Date of Killing: April 21, 2011
Location of Killing: Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Hanging
Charges: Murder; Rape
Age at time of alleged offense: 20

About this Case

News of the execution of Mr. M. S., along with three others, was published on the website of the Hormozgan Courthouse on April 21, 2011, quoting the Public Relations Office of the Hormozgan Courthouse, IRNA (Islamic Republic News Agency) on April 21, 2011, in the Sobhe-Sahel newspaper on April 23 and 24, 2011, and in the Neday Hormozgan newspaper on April 23, 2011.   

Mr. M. S. was married. His case was related to the rape of a 17-year-old shepherd girl from a village near Bandar-e Abbas on May 8, 2009.

Arrest and detention

Mr. M. S. was arrested by judicial authorities after the victim filed a complaint. However, the circumstances of his arrest and detention are not known. (Sobhe-Sahel newspaper)

Trial

Branch One of the Criminal Court of Hormozgan tried Mr. M. S. No information is available on his trial.

Charges

According to the Social Deputy of the Hormozgan Police, the charge brought against Mr. M. S. was announced as “rape.” (IRNA) According to the Sobhe-Sahel newspaper, Mr. M. S. and another person attacked a shepherd girl from behind and harassed her when she was returning to her home. The other defendant of this case was not charged with rape because before attempting to rape the victim, he had escaped upon hearing an approaching motorcycle.         

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 evidence presented against Mr. M. S. was “being identified by the victim and her complaint,” and his “confession.”

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.

Defense

No information is available on Mr. M. S.’s defense. However, according to the victim, both defendants had consumed alcoholic beverages. (Sobhe-Sahel newspaper)

Judgment

Branch One of the Criminal Court of Hormozgan condemned Mr. M. S. to death and 80 lashes. The Supreme Court confirmed the ruling and the Head of Judiciary validated it. He was hanged, along with three others, in public near Dolat Park in Bandar-e Abbas on April 21, 2011. The lash ruling against him was carried out on the same day. The ruling against the other defendant was not published.   

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