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

Karim Taraj

About

Age: 32
Nationality: Iran
Religion: Presumed Muslim
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: July 3, 2013
Location of Killing: Raja’i Shahr (Gohardasht) Prison, Karaj, Alborz Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Hanging
Charges: Murder
Age at time of alleged offense: 28

About this Case

News of the execution of Mr. Karim Taraj, along with seven others of whom only three names are known, was published on the website of the Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran on July 4, 2013. Additionally, news of the execution of 25 individuals with only four names was published on the websites of HRANA (Human Rights Activists News Agency) and the Iran Human Rights Organization on July 3, 2013. According to these reports, 4 individuals were from the Gohardasht Prison and the other 21 from the Qezelhesar Prison. The official media in Iran did not report these executions.

Mr. Taraj, 32, was from Ilam. His brother was killed during an armed clash with the governor of Ilam. According to the Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran, this caused the execution of Mr. Taraj to be expedited.

Arrest and detention

According to the existing information, Mr. Taraj was detained for four years in Section 3 of the Raja’ishahr Prison in Karaj (HRANA). The circumstances of his arrest and detention are not known.

Trial

No information is available on Mr. Taraj’s trial.

Charges

According to the Iran Human Rights Organization, the charge brought against Mr. Taraj was announced as “murder.”        

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. Taraj.

Defense

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

Judgment

Mr. Karim Taraj was hanged, along with three others, in the Gohardasht (Raja’ishahr) Prison yard on July 3, 2013 in the morning.

 

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