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

Mohammad Qoli Ranjbar

About

Nationality: Iran
Religion: Presumed Muslim
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: July 1, 1980
Location of Killing: Khoy, Azarbaijan-e Gharbi Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Shooting
Charges: Drug trafficking

About this Case

Mr. Mohammad Ali Ranjbar was among the eight individuals shot to death by the Revolutionary Guards (Pasdaran) of Tabriz. Based on the account given by the Revolutionary Guards headquarters of Tabriz to the correspondent of the Jomhuri Eslami daily (July 3, 1980), Mr. Ranjbar and seven others attempted to escape when they were being driven from the Special Islamic Revolutionary Tribunal for Drugs and Narcotics to their execution site in Khoy Prison. Five of the convicts were shot to death on the spot by Revolutionary Guards, and the remaining three were shot at the execution site.

Arrest and detention

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

Trial

No information is available on the circumstances of Mr. Ranjbar’s trial.

Charges

Based on the report, Mr. Ranjbar was convicted of “professional and international drug trafficking.”

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’s authorities have brought trumped up charges against their political opponents and executed them for drug trafficking, sexual, and other criminal offences. Thousands of alleged drug traffickers have been sentenced to death 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 report contains no information regarding the evidence presented against the defendant at the trial.

Defense

No information is available on the defendant’s defense.

Judgment

Mr. Ranjbar was sentenced to death by the religious judge at the Special Islamic Revolutionary Tribunal for Drugs and Narcotics.

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