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

Akbar Ruhi

About

Nationality: Iran
Religion: Presumed Muslim
Civil Status: Unknown

Case

Date of Killing: November 16, 1980
Location of Killing: Hamedan Province, Iran
Mode of Killing: Unspecified execution method
Charges: Drug trafficking

About this Case

The execution of Mr. Akbar Ruhi and 9 others was reported by the correspondent of Pars News Agency in Hamedan. The itinerant religious judge who ordered this execution on November 16th was traveling from another location that day where he had ordered the execution of 4 individuals at 11:00 am. The Jomhuri Eslami daily published the report (November 17, 1980).

Arrest and detention

Based on the report, the religious judge traveled to the village of Dareh Morad Beyk in the outskirts of Hamedan to deal with issues pertaining to drug dealing in the region. It was there that, “after necessary considerations,” Mr. Ruhi and 5 others were arrested.

Trial

The report mentioned that the religious judge tried the defendant immediately after his arrest, but no information was provided about the time and circumstances of the trial.

Charges

According to the report, Mr. Ruhi was accused of “drug dealing.”

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. 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 based on trumped-up charges is unknown.

Evidence of guilt

There is no information available on the evidence presented against the accused.

Defense

The report provides no information about whether or not the defendant was given an opportunity to defend himself.

Judgment

The religious judge sentenced Mr. Ruhi to death, following his arrest and trial on the same day. The sentence was immediately carried out in Dareh Morad Beyk, the same location at which he was arrested and tried.

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