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

Gholamreza Yusefi

About

Nationality: Iran
Religion: Presumed Muslim
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: March 3, 1980
Location of Killing: Evin Prison, Tehran, Tehran Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Shooting

About this Case

Along with that of six other members of the dissident guerilla movement, Forqan, Mr. Gholamreza Yusefi’s execution was announced by the public relations office of the Chief Revolutionary Public Prosecutor. The announcement was published in the Ettela’at daily (March 3, 1980)

Forqan was formed in 1977 by a group of Ali Shari’ati’s followers with a modern interpretation of the Qoran and Islamic ideology. It is not clear whether or not the group was armed, but it went underground soon after its formation. Based on documents available in the archives of the Islamic Revolution Documentation Center (gathered and reported by Ahmad Gudarzi on Bacheha-ye Ghalam website), this group opposed from the onset of the Revolution the involvement of the clergy in the government and the particular interpretation of Islam later implemented by the Islamic Republic authorities. In its short period of post-revolutionary activity, the group was accused of involvement in several assassinations and armed robberies, the first one reportedly as early as May 1979, only a couple of months after the triumph of the Revolution. Based on the above mentioned report, most of the known members of the group were executed or killed in clashes with Islamic Revolutionary Committee forces, which led to the total elimination of the group in January 1980.

Arrest and detention

The circumstances of this defendant’s arrest and detention are not known.

Trial

The announcement specified that the verdict was issued by the Islamic Revolutionary Tribunal of the Center (Tehran); however, no information regarding the circumstances of the trial was provided.

Charges

According to this announcement, Mr. Yusefi was charged with “murdering Martyr Dr. Mohammad Mofatteh, Martyr Haj Mehdi Araqi, Martyr Hesam Araqi, and Martyr Asghar Ne’mati,” and “attempting to assassinate Hojatoleslam Rafsanjani” as well as “armed robbery from the Islamic Republic’s banks.”

Evidence of guilt

The announcement did not contain any information regarding the evidence presented against the defendant.

Defense

No information is available on the accused’s defense.

Judgment

Mr. Yusefi was sentenced to death. The sentence was carried out at 1 a.m. in the Evin prison courtyard.

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